Ice Fishing 2026

[West Basin]

Happy New Year to all!

12 degrees in Port Clinton this morning, and Lake web cams show ice on the Lake at Catawba, Put-in-Bay, and other places. Weather forecast for continued ice formation is good for the rest of the week, but then gets warm, day time highs in the mid upper 30's and into the 40's. Even if the Lake gets some areas with good enough ice to fish (East Harbor, Put-in-Bay Harbor, possibly near Put-in-Bay and right off Catawba), doesn't look like it will last long. Long winter ahead, so hopefully by the third week of January we get a good long cold spell to create at least a few weeks of good ice fishing.

Buddy caught a Brook Trout in East Harbor ice fishing two weeks ago. Just goes to show, you never know what you might catch in Lake Erie and it's bays, harbors, and rivers.

[30th Arty]

Happy New Year to all!

12 degrees in Port Clinton this morning, and Lake web cams show ice on the Lake at Catawba, Put-in-Bay, and other places. Weather forecast for continued ice formation is good for the rest of the week, but then gets warm, day time highs in the mid upper 30's and into the 40's. Even if the Lake gets some areas with good enough ice to fish (East Harbor, Put-in-Bay Harbor, possibly near Put-in-Bay and right off Catawba), doesn't look like it will last long. Long winter ahead, so hopefully by the third week of January we get a good long cold spell to create at least a few weeks of good ice fishing.

Buddy caught a Brook Trout in East Harbor ice fishing two weeks ago. Just goes to show, you never know what you might catch in Lake Erie and it's bays, harbors, and rivers.

How thick is the ice off Catawba State Park?

[West Basin]

Report a few days ago from buddy on South Bass Is said ice was 8-10 inches. Which means by today (Tuesday, Feb 03) it is probably a few inches thicker, more like 10-12 or more. A few days of little or "neutral' ice growth, then we hit the figid temps again for the weekend.

Heard Catawba State Park had to shut down parking last weekend due to overcrowding.

Ice crack opened up off Turtle Creek a few days ago. Haven't heard if it blew back or iced over.

Catch rates seem to be hit or miss. Yes, most people that did well didn't post anything. 0-4 walleye seems to be the overall success, but location is hard to come by. Lot of area out there now to fish, and the fish move around, so pick a spot, check it with your fish finder (if you have one), / fish it for awhile, and if no luck - move!

As always - be darn careful! Stay away from anyplace that looks "iffy" and stay on the traveled paths.

[stampman]

As a person who believes in equality I have my wife walk ahead of me on the ice.

[West Basin]

This morning a few people out off Catawba, only half mile or so. Saw one guy out there yesterday. Don't know the ice conditions, I just look at the web cam. Someone local who knows will have to let us know.

[West Basin]

Ice fishing has started! Several people out off Catawba State Park. A few shanties off the west side of South Bass Island. And... it's 1 degree out there (wind chill -9)! Crazy people!

With the frigid forecast the next 10 days, and the Lake not forecast to get a lot of snow with the coming Saturday night / Sunday snowstorm, expect ice conditions to continue to improve with more areas open to fishing.

Here's a very interesting article about walking across Lake Erie on the ice to Canada. From 1978. Let's hear some stories about the "way it used to be" with winter ice.
I Walked Across Lake Erie — Alone

Also, an ice fishing video I made back during the real cold 2015 winter. Shows what the ice column looks like.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p1xP3mJdwtA

Give you something interesting to read and view while you're holed up over the weekend.

[gb1234]

Fascinating video! Thanks for sharing!

[West Basin]

A LOT of people out on the ice over the weekend. From Metzger Marsh / Crane Creek all the way around and up to / out to the Islands. Ice is from 15 - 20+ inches. Fishing success has been spotty, with most folks only managing a few walleye and a few yellow perch. Those that found a good spot have got close to or a limit of walleye, including some "hogs", along with some nice size yellow perch. It's generally taken 5-7 hours to get that kind of result. Temperatures overall are forecast to remain cold through the coming weekend, but not the frigid teens and single digits we've seen now for three weeks. So the ice fishing should remain solid (pun intended) through the weekend. After that, current forecast has warm then cold spells the rest of the month. So the ice fishing looks to continue through the rest of the month, and maybe into March. We'll see.

[airshot]

I retired from ice fishing years ago due to age and health, however, I do enjoy reading, looking at pics and videos on fishing lake erie. So bring on what is happening out there, how thick is the ice, what ya catchin, and how big.....we armchair ice fishermen need to know !! Thanks

[West Basin]

Long term forecast changed to warmer. Current forecast through end of month / early March doesn't have any more real cold spells. Instead a lot of daily highs in the 40's and even a few in the low 50's. A few cold nights and days in the low 30's, but overall it looks like from this point forward the ice will slowly deteriorate. If the forecast holds, I would think ice fishing will enter the "be very cautious" stage by next weekend, but should continue for some time. Ice is very thick, so we'll have to go week-to-week. As far as the open water season, it might arrive earlier with this forecast, but once again it's not a matter of open launch ramps and getting out to the Lake. It's much more a matter of Lake ice. If the Lake still has a lot of ice on it, moving around, you don't want to be out there in those dangerous conditions.