Ohio Valley Outdoors Magazine

Kelly’s Catch
Ice Fishing Lake Erie 101
Cold weather sports don’t have to be miserable

If the thought of ice fishing sends shivers down your spine in anticipation of hypothermia and frostbitten fingers, think again. High performance clothing, heated shanties, and high-speed rides over the ice make Lake Erie ice fishing more than bearable these days; it’s fun.
Cold weather sports are no longer for the insanely hard-core, especially with the advent of new technology in outdoor apparel.
Before you even think about fishing, consider what you’ll wear. Even though many ice shanties are heated these days, it will still be cold. You’re best defense against the cold is to come prepared with the proper clothing.

You’ll need to start with a layer of Capilene or polypropylene long underwear and sock liners. Whether you are sitting or running, your body is constantly releasing water from pores in the skin. The beauty of Capilene and polypro is that they keep you dry and warm by wicking moisture away from the skin.

The middle layers add the insulation that will help hold heat. Use wool or synthetic fabrics like polyester microfleece. Wool holds its heat even when wet, and synthetics like microfleece dry quickly and hold some heat when wet.

Opt for thinner fabrics so that you can add more layers without additional bulk. A layer or two can always be removed if you are too warm.
To those who are fans of cotton, I personally consider it to be “death fabric” when it comes to cold weather gear, and recommend leaving it at home. While cotton is great for normal wear, it actually holds water and is absolutely useless when wet.
The final layer is a wind and waterproof shell that will protect you from the elements. Wind will be your enemy while ice fishing on Lake Erie and there are few days without brisk winds.

Don’t forget about your head, feet, and hands. Up to 50% of your body heat is released through your head, so it’s important to cover it. A wool hat should suffice, unless it’s really cold, and then it will help to wear a balaclava with the hat.
On your feet, you’ll need wicking sock liners, covered by a good pair of wool socks. Make sure the socks are at least 65% wool. Finish this off with a pair of waterproof, cold-weather boots to keep your feet dry and warm all day.

Carry two or more pairs of gloves. Neoprene gloves can help to keep hands dry when you have to grab fish out of the water. In addition to these, have several pairs of wool gloves in your pocket, just in case.
Ice fishing involves a lot of sitting, which can make you get cold faster, so if you are a real cold-baby, have a supply of hand and toe warmers. These can keep you comfortable and save the day if it’s miserably cold.

Once you are outfitted with the proper gear, it’s time to think about fishing. A productive season of ice fishing is predictably dependent on the ice and weather, and there is no way to know for certain if this winter will be a boom or bust.
Most Lake Erie ice fishing occurs in the western basin near the islands, and in some harbors and marinas scattered about the lakeshore. The season typically lasts from mid-January to mid-March.

Assuming cold temperatures and good ice cover, walleye fishing should be spectacular this winter. The four-year-old walleye are the most abundant class of fish and they are now 20 to 22 inches in length.
Lake Erie ice fishing is much different than ice fishing on a small lake or pond. It takes longer for the ice to form, wind and water currents are huge issues affecting ice safety, and it can be much more difficult to locate fish.

Captain Pat Chrysler has fished for Lake Erie walleye through the ice for the better part of 40 years, and now operates an ice guide service based out of Put-in-Bay.
“Last season’s warm conditions and crazy weather only gave us about 19 good days of ice fishing, but we caught a lot of fish during those few days,” notes Chrysler.
How much ice is enough? This is a hard question to answer. “No ice is ever totally safe,” says Chrysler, “and your best bet on a lake like Erie is to hire a guide.”

Living on the islands and watching the ice form year after year, Chrysler and other local ice guides have the advantage of understanding how the ice forms on a lake as large as Erie, and knowing when it’s safe to be out there.
In addition to getting a safer experience, many guides also provide other services such as transportation to a heated shanty, food, lodging, and even pre-warmed rods and reels.

Chrysler tells me to bring my venison steaks and we’ll cook them over his gas BBQ grill while we fish. Now that’s my kind of fishing.
The life of a Lake Erie ice guide also entails many hours spent hunting for fish using modern electronics such as a sonar transducer to see fish through ice, and a GPS unit to mark pockets of fish.
If you plan to go it alone, you’ll need heavy doses of common sense, time, and money. To be a successful ice angler on Lake Erie, it takes a lot of time and effort spent finding fish with expensive equipment.

“For the guy or gal that just wants to come up and have a good time on a weekend and catch fish, a guide service is worth the money”, says Chrysler, who spends much of the season cold and wet while using an auger to punch up to 250 holes in the ice to find fish.
Ice fishing may not be for the faint of heart, but with advances in modern technology and guide services, a greater level of comfort is achieved, making trophy class walleye fishing accessible to all.