Ice Fishing Western basin

[West Basin]

Fishfinder,

I'm by no means the ice fishing guy. Only been out on Erie twice, back during that 2014-15 (or was it 2015-16 - Juls stated it) season. Went out first time with some very experienced locals (charter boat captains) and the second out a well traveled trail out to a group (actually walked all the way to South Bass Island and back). I went mostly to see and learn about the ice (video on Youtube) but did some fishing too. Have also talked with a lot of experienced Erie ice fisherman as well as a few ice guides over the years. I think you may have been "scared" away from ice fishing Erie. While everything that has been said so far is good truthful info, I think the idea that it's typically not "safe" to fish from the mainland isn't quite correct.

As you might expect, it all comes down to the ice. Because Erie is a huge lake with a lot of water differences (temperature, clarity, depth, semi-sheltered vs. open, currents, etc.) it doesn't freeze like smalller bodies of water. The first thing you need is long very cold weather with little wind. The ice needs time to form at least a few inches over a wide area to set the stage for good ice conditions. Then a short warm spell or some wind won't effect it nearly as much as when it's thin ice. If you get that first cold spell and you get that intial good ice, then if it either stays cold or you don't get more than a day or two or warmer weather and/or wind, the ice can continue to get thicker. If the conditions stay very favorable and the cold weather continues, the ice can thicken up enough that it "locks in" like Jules said. This happens along the the shoreline, especially from Port Clinton to Catawba and the Bass Islands. If it gets thick enough and a big enough "sheet" then it can withstand the currents and winds that will break up and shift around thinner ice. IF we get those conditions then ice fishing from the mainland can be very "safe". If, like that great season already mentioned, we get that kind of real cold mostly light winds for over a month or longer the ice can freeze up to two feet thick and ice fishing happens from off the reef complex (crane creek) all the way out to West Sister Island then east to the Islands. But this is rare. The best you can usually hope for is a smaller version of that where it's "safe" to ice fish out off Catawba for a few miles and also around the Bass Islands. When we get real good conditions, it's safe for snowmobiles, ATV's, and even lighter vehicles (although hardly anyone uses those anymore).

Now, there are a lot of other factors that come into play. That big lake doesn't let the ice freeze solid in one big "sheet" without a lot of adjusting. If the ice hasn't gotten thick enough to withstand a big wind event, then one big wind can jumble up the ice, move it around, break it up into numerous separate sheets. Huge "ridge lines" can form where one ice sheet piles over and/or under another, caussing "ice shoves" of broken up ice that can be 10-15 feet high, like jagged mountain peaks. A few years ago this happened just before the ice got thick enough to withstand it. A lot of ice shoves formed out off Catawba. Afterward cold weather froze the nearby water again enough for ice fishing, but getting around or over all the ice shoves and ridges was a huge issue. Plus there can be thin ice areas around those shoves. Dangerous at best. Then there are currents that can slowly or in some cases quickly wear away the ice from underneath. The ice can be thick enough, safe, one day and the next too thin. There is also the ice itself. The best ice frezzes slowly and consistantly so it doesn't get a lot of air bubbles in it. It looks clear. 5 inches of good solid clear ice is better than say 8 inches of white or less clear ice that has a lot of air bubbles in it. Freeze and thaw also effects the quality of the ice. All these factors combine to make Lake Erie ice a tricky proposition even on a good ice season.

The best thing to do is go to sites like this, or the ice fishing sites, or the few bait shops that are open, and get the latest update on the ice conditions - from reliable sources. The first few times you go out - go with a guide. Ask questions and learn about the ice. Otherwise if the ice conditions are really good, there will be "trails" out on the ice from the access locations. Stick to the well traveled ones and where the experienced anglers are going. Don't venture out away from those areas. And ALWAYS keep updated on the weather, especially the wind direction and speed. An area can be "safely" fished for days and then a wind comes up and within 30 minutes or less a big 50 yard wide crack of open water opens up and you can't get back to the shore.

I'm sure others can add to this. Info, stories, and photos (I have some of big ice shoves). The take away is you can get some great ice fishing on Erie, either from South Bass Island or the mainland, IF the ice conditions are good and IF the weather is good.

WB