Catch Walleye through the ice

By Kelly Riesen
Contributing Writer
Union County Post

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. You’re best defense against the cold is to come prepared with the proper clothing.
You’ll need to start with a layer of long underwear and sock liners. 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.
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 percent 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.
Carry Neoprene gloves that can help keep hands dry when you have to grab fish out of the water.
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.
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 and knowing when it’s safe.
Many guides also provide services such as transportation to a heated shanty, food, lodging, and 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.
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.