Jig season

**Capt Juls** · 03-12-2014, 08:32 AM

Warmer temps earlier this week, with gale force winds today, along with insulating snow coverage...with melting run off this weekend... should start breaking up the western basin pretty good.

The latest satellite pic shows a lot of open water east of the islands, so there is room for anything that breaks up to get past the islands with the right winds.

North and northwest winds today, so it's going to pile up on our shores and open the Canadian side. Then, we just need a good southwest and west winds to push it out of here.

The monthly forecast shows warmer temps coming, so I do believe that we will be fishing out of boats by the second week in April.

Hoping so anyway...fingers crossed.

**wakina** · 03-12-2014, 08:41 AM

Capt Juls: I hope you are right but with the amount of ice that was made this winter there may be a delay in the thaw in the marinas and boat ramps even if the lake would be fishable! Most ramp areas and marinas in the western basin within a couple of miles of the reefs are protected and don't receive the water flow and the resulting water current to help with melting the ice. I am talking from Magee East to Toussaint River, most are in harbors and man made areas out of the water flow of the main creeks and rivers.

**Capt Juls** · 03-12-2014, 08:43 AM

Yes, I can see those ramps staying iced in longer. I'm over here in Port Clinton and a few of the ramps have a better chance of opening up sooner.

**wakina** · 03-12-2014, 08:52 AM

If this wind does break up the ice and it starts to break up on the south shore due to the water rising under it the whole area along the West Lakeshore Drive could become treacherous. As a youngster and as a teenager I personally saw ice pushed up on old route 2 what is now West Lakeshore Drive so bad that it had to be move with dozers and end loaders so traffic could pass. Never underestimate mother nature.

**Capt Juls** · 03-12-2014, 09:13 AM

Originally Posted by wakina

If this wind does break up the ice and it starts to break up on the south shore due to the water rising under it the whole area along the West Lakeshore Drive could become treacherous. As a youngster and as a teenager I personally saw ice pushed up on old route 2 what is now West Lakeshore Drive so bad that it had to be move with dozers and end loaders so traffic could pass. Never underestimate mother nature.

Well, that would suck, because that's the way I go into town. lol

I suppose I could take RT2 in if I have to.

I would like to see the ice mountains...

**Lakeerieguy** · 03-12-2014, 09:37 AM

I dont think this wind is going to do anything to the ice . It is still frozen solid across the Western basin all the way to Canada . No room for it to be able to move this year. Earlier we had a few days with gust over 40 mph for the SW and the ice didnt budge . We have had open water East of Kellys pretty much all winter long as this is the norm for Erie .

No one has really seen ice like this since 79 so no one really knows for sure what and when the ice will go bad .

With the rivers having so many ice jams in them , it will restrict the flows out to the lake until some of them are gone . The last warm up we had took like 2-3 weeks before seeing any dirty water that had come out of the rivers due to the ice jam problem in the rivers . Another reason the runoff will not be as bad is the fact that the ground is still frozen .

Dont get me wrong as I love the boating season as well , but think we are looking at a good month to get rid of the ice in both the lake and channels to have enough room to fish out there .

The shore ice will go bad before any of the other ice and air boats will be the only means of fishing at that point for a couple of weeks .

Like I said you never know with this much ice still out there but this is just my thinking .

Dale

**wakina** · 03-12-2014, 09:58 AM

Did this ice breaking actually take place? If so the ice had or has room to move and work!

http://community.walleye.com/showthread.php?t=7413

**fishinnotcatchin** · 03-12-2014, 06:00 PM

This is my 1st post,but have been reading the forum all winter.Fishin has been exceptional for most this yr,congrads! A lot of debate about takin so many HAWGS! I can see both sides of the conversaion,I guess time will tell. We like to fish just after the spawn,when the EYES are in transition,and getting in on slammin some crappies!!! Anyway I found it interesting seeing the current river conditions on (2014 Maumee river walleye run fishing report) by Dr Walleye. Recent pics of the river,and his report!Loooks like an era of EYE fishin I have never seen b4.I am not a local of Lake Erie,so my opinion is just that.I cannot see this years spawn or run,being one where the fishing is going to be as gr8 as the ice has provided. Good luck to all,have fun and enjoy what the lake provides!!I am so ready to get out on the lake and other spots,to relax and fish!! Thanx to all for the reports(tho I don't ice fish) and mostly enjoyed the pics!!!