Ice Fishing the Bay

The bay's a big chunk of water.Gills,crappie,perch,steelies,northern pike and bass provide the most action.Some years smelts may be in the bay also,the bay is very clear,a lot of guys use under water cams, a Vex is also helpful,gills run 7.5 - 8.5 and thats what the locals call bulls or keepers,I've caught some real nice crappie 13 -14 slabs some years.The gills are mostly in the weed beds but can be caught in deeper perch spots.Perch tend to roam so the run and gun approach sometimes works best. Don't be afraid to go off a hunderd yards away fron shanty town because sometimes there not getting fish or spooking them. I'm showing my age but 40 years a 1.5 to 2 lb perch there common in the 70'and 80's I could pull 9.5 inch plus pumpkinseeds all day in front of the monument in P.I. Guys fish off the two walls that enter the lake for Burbot (open water) gob afew emerals on a hook with a big weight 2 oz or more,the local guys can put a lot time in and never get one. I seldom fish there any more because I target big gills,my go to lake is 11 miles from my house and I don't keep gills under 8.5,so why tavel to the bay for a few keepers that meet my standards. I've had banner day on hog perch 12-14 inchers and fill a 5 gallon bucket up but that was years ago, filling up a bucket of giant Pumpkinseed was pretty common years ago. Getting away from ice fishing I've had some great ice out to april fun at the head of bay,Really nice crappie,some bigger gills an steelies and a pike or two into the mix all in the same day.

Lets hope there is ice fishing this season, it looks like it will be 60 again next week so that is not going to help get it started.

slabdaddy
Yeah the forecast I have seen says 50's this weekend and we should break 60 on Monday or Tuesday.

I'm sure someone has caught a eye in the bay at ice time,but not me. I've caught a handful in 40 years fishing for smallmouth in the bay in May and early June. Best bet for ice ice is Pymy or if you got big b-lls,Ohio lake Erie 5 plus mile quad ride from shore,or guided ice boat.I caught a lot eyes at L. Chatuqua N.Y., plus nice perch. 

Well, I guess that answers my question! LOL! Thanks guys. I guess if I want to pull eyes out of the ice, I had better go elsewhere. I'd still like to try it for the perch and steel though.

KDKA says high of 77 low of 41 for next Monday (Pittsburgh Area).....Might be awhile for the ice.

sorry fellas ...but I'd  find NOTHING depressing about 50-60 degree temps all winter long `
matter of  fact, nothing would tickle me more ...
 
a repeat of last winter would be dandy-fine  too
 
 
..L.T.A.

This weather is driving me nuts. The wife bought me a nice frabill suit last year for ice fishing, and didn't get out once. Looking very similar this year. I am also a beginner of sorts in ice fishing, but have fished the bay a few times and had fun each time, with perch, bass and gills being caught every time. Can't wait!

All I can say to you guys that didn't make it out last year is you didn't look hard enough. I made it out a at least a dozen time last year and only had to take a 20 min drive from my house and no I wasn't fishing on bad ice.

Heck yea ice fishing was different last year but was still a blast with many of fish caught and lots of new techniques learned

Inland lakes the bay never froze

Slabdaddy
You might try this link it's The Sons of Lake Erie web cam it overlooks part of the bay from the Bicentennial Tower on State St.
http://www.sonsoflakeerie.org/web%20cam%20page.htm

Catchabigone

Slabdaddy
You might try this link it's The Sons of Lake Erie web cam it overlooks part of the bay from the Bicentennial Tower on State St.
http://www.sonsoflakeerie.org/web%20cam%20page.htm

That's a wonderful resource. Thank you.

Catchabigone

Slabdaddy
You might try this link it's The Sons of Lake Erie web cam it overlooks part of the bay from the Bicentennial Tower on State St.
http://www.sonsoflakeerie.org/web%20cam%20page.htm

I just tried it out. You have to buy a membership to view the camera.