The question isn't when you can get a boat in. It's when it's actually reasonably safe to take it out on the open Lake and not be concerned about hitting ice.

Right now there is a lot of ice on Lake Erie. NOAA says Lake Erie is around 70-80% ice covered. Reports from South Bass Island ice fishing have 12-14 inch thick ice, and they are ice fishing. Thinking all that ice is going to go away anytime soon is foolish. Once it starts to break up, wind will move it around. One day no visible ice. The next, it's full of flows.

Yes I know it's anticipation time for the upcoming season. With the good ice coverage this year, I wouldn't think it will be safe on any given day until at the earliest the third weekend of March. And that's if we get consistent warm temperatures and a decent amount of rain. That said, I know some people will go out when the area they want to fish has open water. Remember there is ice out there. Just because you don't see any doesn't necessarily mean there isn't some out there. BE CAREFUL.