Just a random thought, but I generally fish Lake Erie and I've never seen this much ice before. On all the lakes in fact. Anybody have ideas on what this does to the smallies come spring/summer?

Thanks!

Ice at right now has no affect on smallmouth in spring and summer. The weather between now and summer will. A warm spell could clear the ice early or continued cold could delay ice out. 

Last spring the Pre-spawn Smallmouth bite on Lake Erie seemed a bit off for both numbers & size.

 

 So I'm going with  - Every year is a different deal.

 

Even when they appear to be similar, each one is different.

 

That's my story & I'm sticking to it.

 

Besides, I have a friendly but fierce "tournament" coming up there this spring and would really prefer schools of cooperative bass to help out the cause . . . .

 

A-Jay

What about last year? It's my understanding all the lakes (Great) were frozen solid... Is this year worse?

Probably worse.

Love global warming. tonite -20

This year was better than last year. At least it was up here.

Here's an article I just read concerning Lake Erie

 

http://www.aol.com/article/2015/02/19/lake-erie-almost-completely-frozen-over/21144494/?icid=maing-grid7%7Cmain5%7Cdl19%7Csec1_lnk2%26pLid%3D615652

 

According to the article, there was more ice last year at this time, but either way, it is freakin' cold!!  I know for me, the Spring Erie Smallmouth bite was way off and the "Winter" extended into May.  I just hope there is some Caribbean Vortex that blows up a lot of warm air soon and gets the thaw process going!!!

I'm painting up some jerkbaits - going with custom colors just for the Lake Erie pre-spawn.

 

Here's what I'm using to help me match the hatch  . . . . . .

 

 

A-Jay

 

I'm painting up some jerkbaits - going with custom colors just for the Lake Erie pre-spawn.

 

Here what I'm using to help me match the hatch  . . . . . .

 

 

A-Jay

 

 

Haha...Nice!

 

I have an Ice Auger that I may have to break out.  I wonder how a Lucky Craft Pointer 100 SP would work if I just twirled it around in circles through the hole?

That looks like Southern ice, but we usually put them in a glass

and marinate them in distilled brown water.

 

 

 

 

I have fished Erie every April and May since 2003 and I agree every year is different.  Last year the big fish bite was off, not near the 5 and 6 pounders that we normally see.  Last years ice out was later than what I was used too and I even pushed my first trip back a week because ice out date and water temps. It looks like this year may be late as well based on what we are seeing right now. 

I have fished Erie every April and May since 2003 and I agree every year is different.  Last year the big fish bite was off, not near the 5 and 6 pounders that we normally see.  Last years ice out was later than what I was used too and I even pushed my first trip back a week because ice out date and water temps. It looks like this year may be late as well based on what we are seeing right now.

I heard from a guy who's job is to track the great lakes condition. He is forecasting this years iceout will be one to two weeks behind last years. Last year there was a warm-up in February. This years average February temps might have set a record for low temps.

I heard from a guy who's job is to track the great lakes condition. He is forecasting this years iceout will be one to two weeks behind last years. Last year there was a warm-up in February. This years average February temps might have set a record for low temps.

 

Though I Clicked that I liked this -

 

I really don't.

 

 

A-Jay 

Yea I don't like it either.

^{I don't like it either Dwight.  Jeff Amos and I were talking about you last night.  Were your ears burning?} 

Looking at the latest MODIS image Erie is locked up tight with only a crack of open water just east of the islands and a small area at the discharge of the Michigan Edison power plant at the western end.

^{I don't like it either Dwight. Jeff Amos and I were talking about you last night. Were your ears burning?}

Jeff is a pretty good stick. But I gotta tell you the man really knows how to trap. Amazing pictures he sends me.

LOL  When I first read that I thought you meant his prowess with a Rattle Trap!  But yes he can catch those fur coats.

Great lakes frozen at 88.8% with a possibility of breaking the all time record within the next two weeks. Last year at the same date the percentage was 85%.

More ice last year on all Great Lakes.  Last I heard this winter was 85.4% ice on great lakes.  Last year 2013-2014 was 94.76 percent ice.

 

Two consecutive years with Grea Lakes over 80% ice--first time since 1970's.

 

Here in Michigan, seemed everything was delayed all year long from bass to salmon.  Spring was cooler last year.  We'll see what happens this year with temps etc.