The thick ice west of Catawba Island has lured hundreds of walleye fishermen this week. Overflow parking at Catawba Island State Park has cars and trucks parking on the ice off the area’s launch ramp. (Photo by Greg Peiffer)
BY D’ARCY EGAN
Arctic temperatures have created a thick ice cover around Western Lake Erie for the first time in a decade, and anglers are signing up to compete in the inaugural Lake Erie Walleye Trail’s Bay’s Edge Ice Shootout on Saturday, Feb. 28.
Ice fishing shanties are popping up along the west side of the Lake Erie Islands, west of Catawba Island and the nearshore areas west of Port Clinton all of the way to Camp Perry and the Toledo Water Intake.
“We’re starting to see coolers of walleye coming in to the Bay’s Edge Fish Cleaning facility, as well as lots of crappie and bluegill being caught around East Harbor,” said Mark Cahlik. “We haven’t seen thick ice on Lake Erie like this in quite a few years, and we hope it lasts until early March.”
The Bay’s Edge Ice Shootout is a two-angler team event, with the tournament anglers competing from 7 a.m. until 4 p.m. The weigh-in begins at Bay’s Edge Bait and Tackle, 5339 E. Bayshore Rd., Port Clinton.
The walleye and yellow perch fishing this winter on Lake Erie is the best it has been in decades. (Photo by D’Arcy Egan)
Entry is $150 per team at lakeeriewalleyetournament.com, which also lists the tournament rules. In case the tournament has to be cancelled due to brisk winds or warming temperatures that make the ice unsafe, all entree fees will be refunded.
Tournament boundaries are very basic. Ice fishermen can cut holes on Lake Erie west of the Vermilion River, including harbor and river areas. One member of each team must check in before the tournament begins at Bay’s Edge Bait & Tackle on Friday, Feb. 27 (6-9 p.m.) or Saturday, Feb. 28 (4-6 a.m.).
Historically, the walleye have been reluctant to bite right after good ice forms on Lake Erie, but fishing success quickly improves the longer the ice cover allows anglers to scout for the schools of fish. When the frigid waters under the ice begin to warm a degree or two, look for fish to go on a feeding binge.
Fishermen are reporting their sonar fish-finding gear is marking fair to good numbers of walleye and yellow perch. While ice fishermen generally focus on the Lake Erie bottom for hooking yellow perch and walleye, savvy anglers often suspend bait or lures to attract feeding walleye closer to the surface. When fish are reluctant to bite horizontal lures, such as the Rapala Jigging Rap or blade baits, switch to small spoons.