Ice Fishing Updates 2025

[West Basin]

Buddy was over on South Bass Monday Tuesday Wednesday. 11 inches of clear ice on Tuesday, between South Bass Island and Rattlesnake Island. He did pretty well on Walleye, with a few big ones. I will update when I talk with him.

Other buddy is fishing East Harbor today. I will give report after I hear from him.

I don't have any reports from Catawba or anywhere else.

[West Basin]

Buddy got 44 total walleye with another guy this past week at South Bass. Two days with limits. 11 inches of ice on Wednesday. Another buddy got a good mess of panfish and a nice crappie on East Harbor on Friday, 12 inches of ice. Plus two nice Largemouth Bass, which he released.

Looks like Erie ice fishing is on good! I heard of a freighter caught in the ice in the Eastern Basin. Need to confirm that.

Maumee River at the spring walleye run areas in almost all froze. Saw that on Friday. Buttonwood area. Only open water is a few small areas. Current is flowing under the ice in most areas.

[DW72]

Hi WB,

Hope you enjoyed the holidays!

Are the guys able to get that far out going out of Catawba or are they coming off of South Bass?

I see on the Catawba shoreline camera there are lots of huts recently. We fished out there many years in the past but I'm leary of marginal ice out there for good reason as I am sure you know we should be as guys that arenon-locals. One day we had 11 inches of ice at daylight and we lost 4" from the underside in about 6 hours due to warm water and undercurrents. The holes were opening up and swirling a little😳. It can also be inconsistent thickness.

Curious if this weather holds for a couple more weeks if we could use machines and safely get out to the islands from Catawba.

I value your knowledge and any other locals who are experienced.

[fisherman 2]

news said 4 got rescued today off catawba

[DW72]

Thanks fisherman 2. I am not surprised at all. I looked at the cameras again today after posting and it looked like some cracks of open water. I also didn't see any huts.

I'm not even gonna think about it again knowing this and seeing warmer temps coming soon.

Hope we can get on the open water again in March. That'll be here soon enough. I'm going to start in the Huron area again this season.

Cheers all...

[itsbob]

Hi WB,

Hope you enjoyed the holidays!

Are the guys able to get that far out going out of Catawba or are they coming off of South Bass?

I see on the Catawba shoreline camera there are lots of huts recently. We fished out there many years in the past but I'm leary of marginal ice out there for good reason as I am sure you know we should be as guys that arenon-locals. One day we had 11 inches of ice at daylight and we lost 4" from the underside in about 6 hours due to warm water and undercurrents. The holes were opening up and swirling a little😳. It can also be inconsistent thickness.

Curious if this weather holds for a couple more weeks if we could use machines and safely get out to the islands from Catawba.

I value your knowledge and any other locals who are experienced.

You would need an extremely cold winter to make ice thick and safe enough to travel from Catawba to south Bass. I would think it's been a long time since anyone has accomplished it.Most of the ice fishing that occurs off south bass is on ice locked in between South Bass,Rattlesnake,Green and Middle Bass. I do not think anyone ice fishes off the south side of South Bass.If planning to ice fish off Catawba,you would want wind with a northerly direction to keep cracks and ice flows from opening up.

[DW72]

Yeah, we used to do it in the late 2000's with a friend who had an airboat. Haven't been since and I am not expecting to honestly.

I'm considering trying Saginaw Bay sometime as it's a different thrill on the ice. However, I most likely will just wait for open water. I am thankful to have plenty of fillets left and vacuum sealed from last summer and fall.

Last year out of Huron we had 38-39 degree surface temps and it was great fishing!

I appreciate all the great folks who share info on this site and the Central Basin. Have met a couple in person. Have also worked with several via texting while fishing and have had some great times!

🎣

[West Basin]

Haven't heard much since weather turned. It appears the wind shifted a lot of ice. Open water along the Catawba Point / Marblehead South Passage. Appears they are still ice fishing off the NW corner of South Bass Island. I saw the Maumee River today at the 475 bridge west of Maumee and there was a channel of flowing water about 1/2 half the width of the river. Last week it was 1/10th.

My time has been very limited due to family issues. I doubt I will be able to get up even if the ice fishing continues well into February. Forecast isn't real good for ice fishing, but it's not currently a killer either. We'll just have to wait and see.

Lake ice has so many factors. One of the biggest is wind. During early formation and then all through the winter season. Wind has not been favorable, and that looks to continue for at least awhile. We did get very favorable temperatures, but unfortunately that wasn't enough to create good all around ice conditions, except in a few areas.

One can look forward, as I always do, to the winter fishing shows. Columbus Fishing Expo is this coming weekend, February 7 - 9. I hope to attend and go to the Lake Erie / walleye and other seminars. If family time doesn't prevent it.

WB

[DW72]

Enjoy WB! I will be watching cameras, weather, water temps and if course this message board almost daily.

Will be out to Huron as early as possible when the air temps at my place are staying above freezing.
Hooefully March like last season!

DW

[West Basin]

Buddy is out off Rattlesnake Island today. 7 walleye in 7 hours. Two nice size. Plenty of shanties and 'tents' out there.

Two off Catawba on the webcam. Only out about a quarter mile.

Looks like South Bass Island is the only place really main lake ice fishing right now. I will get a report from my buddy this evening.