Oh my achin' hips., Lake Erie perchin'

Hi all.
Finally! Lake Erie. Sherkston shores. Beautiful day, sunny, no wind, best access to the lake in 10 years.No giant ice pile to climb over. Just miles of clear ice. Straight out from Pleasant Beach rd. But..... the first hundred metres are small snow capped ice chunks. Not terrible but tricky. Then open ice. Wish I had my ice creepers. 45 minute walk and there is an open lead. Okay, drop in the transducer and 48 ft. In goes my go to lure. Small perch coloured buckshot. Jig, jig , tap. 8" perch.  maybe. Nope, nada, nothing. 50 ft. over. Down, jig, jig, tap. 'nother 8" perch. Maybe, nope, nada,  50' more. Down, jig, jig, jig ,jig, jig.zilch. (Thought), how big is this lead. Oh crap, I think it goes all the way to Pt. Abino. Could step over it in a few places but I see more leads out there. Few Whistler ducks heading out. Must be open water near. Maybe I can still get to the recreational canal. Pack up and head in. Oh oh. Temp. 35F. 2 hours of bright sun shine. Ice is like oiled glass. REALLY wish I had my creepers now. 45 min. out, hour and 15 back in. Looking for every stray snowflake for traction. 45 min. on the way in and not even close to shore ice. A tear rolled down my cheek. Finally got to the shore ice. What had been a field of ice chunks was now a field of icy bowling balls. Another tear. Finally made shore. My left n't is out there somewhere. I keep veering to the right now. Maybe next time.

Great report !! You made me laugh my a## off with the last part of your report. I did a total of 9 k on LS last Saturday with similar results. Hope better luck for you on your next rip ,cheers

Thank you. I will never give up until I limit out on jumbos. Thank God He gave us two of the essentials. See you oput there.

Now that is determination

gl man

IF YOU DO NOT ME ASKING.WHAT WAS THE THICKNESS OF THE ICE I HOUR OUT. THAT IS A LONG WAY TO HIT 45 FEET OF WATER

Hi pickerel24. On that particular day there was 5-6"s of black ice. It was the open leads that concerned me. Ice that can move does't thrill me. Lake Erie is big and it does not take too much wind to move things around. What you stepped across an hour ago can become a gulf to big to cross. With the sun and warm weather there was some signs that it was starting to break down a bit. I haven't been back since but with the cold weather it will tighten up quickly. I drill test holes to check thickness if there is any question. Tight lines and stay safe.

Thanks Coldmiser, it must have set up again. I am seriously thinking about going out tomorrow to check it out. I want to get some fishing in locally while I can.

Okay well as promised, I went out yesterday (Sunday). Same area you mentioned Sherkston Shores. Walked a good mile out there to some people fishing. there were about three groups of people all around a mile or mile and a half out. The fist bit it was rough but it eventualy smoothed out. I had to cross the occasional pressure crack but I was cautious.
I got to the first group of ppl fishing. The guy had an 18 inch pickeral and a perch. Not bad for an afternoon IMO. And that far out, he said there was around 8 inches of ice. The snowmobiles that were out told me there was a good amount of ice anyway. So, if I get time I might visit that spot again with my fishing rod....

Jason

Hi Jasonb. Not very often do you hear of walleye thru the ice in our end of Erie. Most perch are caught in or around 60+ ft. of water at this time of the year. Runnin' and gunnin' 'till you find 'em. Hope to get out this week. ight lines. Coldmiser

been a busy year thus far trying the northern lakes and of course quinte. now time for local on erie. this weekend for sure. daughters stag & doe out of the way no stopping me. well rain will but fingers crossed.

I was out at Holloway bay yesterday. about 2 miles out 15" of ice. got about 30 jumbos.

Nice, let me know how you make out. I didn't know that about the perch at lower depths. Am just getting back into ice fishing after a long time of not doing it.

Jason