Fishing Suggestions Welcome!

[West Basin]

Maumee River is out for at least a week. I will post some photos in a day or two but the river is way over flood stage and full of ice chunks. There are huge ice piles at the flood line, some as big and tall as many have seen in years. There will probably be a lot of damage to traditional fishing access areas such as Buttonwood, Side Cut Park, and Orleans Park. I would guess the river fishing won't really start for two weeks assuming they don't get more significant rain. It will probably take time to clear and repair access areas once the water level does come down enough to get into those areas.

On Lake Erie there is some open water in the North West corner of the Western Basin, at the entrance of the Detroit River, but that is in Michigan Waters. The previous post mentioned a boat launch ramp in that area. Launching a boat anywhere on Lake Erie the next two weeks or more is crazy (stupid).

I am not an experienced Lake Erie ice fisherman, so the following is just based on what I've been told by the experts. Safe ice fishing is over. If the wind cooperates the next few days the ice along the southern shore - Crane Creek to Catawba and the Islands - MIGHT still be thick enough and stable enough to get out a LITTLE WAYS. The runoff from the Maumee is quickly warming up Maumee Bay and pushing currents around the Western Basin, degrading the ice. The ice surface is warming, honey combing, and pooling water. NO MATTER WHERE YOU MIGHT BE CRAZY ENOUGH TO TRY AND GO IT WILL BE DANGEROUS! If you really want to find out, call a local bait shop and ask before you go. I am pretty certain they will tell you it's very risky or they may (probably) tell you the season is over, do not go. I imagine there will be a few die-hards that will try and go out (probably walk) until the last possible moment. Remember there is a whole season of open water fishing ahead, so don't take any unnecessary risks. Good luck.