8-8.5 “ of ice
Easy walk out with a few small shoves.
There was crack opened this morning around 2’ wide and only 1” thick. Easy to cross but it look like a snowmobile track. BE CAREFUL!
About 1.5 miles NW from Catawba now.
Wind picked up, wind chill is brutal,and fished bite slowed down.
Caught 5 kept one at 16” not 26”

 

Thanks for the report

 

Great report ! And the heads up on the ice condition .

 

That crack was about a mile west of the beach it was very noticeable this morning but on the way in around 3 it was starting to freeze over again and not as clearly seen but one could still go through if not careful

 

I saw the crack this morning, but didn't see it again at 4:15 when I headed back in. The current and wind were very strong, though, so it could very well open another one back up.

 

Question for the seasoned bigpond hardwater vets. Is it common for folks to work their way to fish west of Catawba from East Harbor or West Harbor accesss points? The majority of the ice reports seem west of Catawba. I know the lake usually seems to freeze slower east of the island string, and the channel near mouse, possibility for ice to shift with current/wind and open cracks and probably a bunch of other dangers I'm not aware of but wanted to know if its ever been safe to go around the horn on the ice? Anyone gone that way yet this season? Thanks for sharing your knowledge.

 

The ice will probably get trashed the next couple days from the southwest winds

 

Great question. Looking forward to hearing the replies. I'm not a longtime veteran, but fished a few years up there. I'm guessing most will say don't do it, but I have wondered the same thing.

 

It is possible, every great once in a while, but even most ice seasons it is a no go. Seems like once per decade we have good enough ice that guys will go out from Mazurik. I wouldn't want to try it. I'm not even sure I'd try to access from East Harbor, just because I don't know what the current would be like in the channel.

 

Any channel coming into lake or any funnel or pinch point will create current and undercut Ice it changes daily at those spots guy will go over these spots but ever changing conditions will dictate what is safe and what is unsafe question germharness why would you not want to leave out of CSP or crane creek ???

 

Thanks for the info, it would be a long way through some skinny channels from either west or east harbor. An acquaintance has a place on east harbor I could park at. Having heard about restricted parking at camp perry and figuring csp will fill fast I was pondering other options but east will be a no go.

 

Is crane creek the same as magee marsh and ottawa wildlife refuge?

 

Look at today's satalite picture and you won't have to worry about parking

 

Ya I saw that. No doubt it doesn't look good for this weekend. Maybe by the 13th if they can keep the barges n tugs out.

 

we need real report from ice.
the picture will not tell you anythink.
that is like you sit home and you gess.
if I live 60 milles from lake I will go there and put report on.
after report you are responsible for your self.

 

Steve is asking for REAL TIME reports. Here is a definition to help those out that think a view posted from a satellite image (that is time and date stamped...NOT current) is real time. The objective of this thread was for someone, standing on the ice/shore, to tell us what they see and where they see it. There are PLENTY of other threads going to post conditions from your couch. This is the SECOND safest way to know actual conditions. The first would be YOU being the one standing there on the ice with a spud bar in YOUR hands.

Let’s be safe and courteous!

 

Steve is asking for REAL TIME reports. Here is a definition to help those out that think a view posted from a satellite image (that is time and date stamped...NOT current) is real time. The objective of this thread was for someone, standing on the ice/shore to tell us what they see and where they see it. There are PLENTY of other threads going to post conditions from your couch.

View attachment 252043

Been on Catawba ice three times already so I'm not posting from the couch was just trying to give a little insight to using the satellite pic to help stay safe was all

 

Taken just a few hours ago off Catawba. Have fun with that.

 

View attachment 252046

Taken just a few hours ago off Catawba. Have fun with that.

The ol 911 crack....does it to ya everytime....lol..seen that crack go from closed in the morning with minimal wind to open up 6 ft by 100pm. Always good to take ramps if you have um. That same scenerohappen to me 3 years ago. Thank goodness I had my ramps with 4 in to spare. About 30 other guys thanked me too...ha ha ha for a sled no problem

 

This is exactly why i hired pistols charters to take me out...i dont know the lake and i don't want to learn the hard way

 

Just booked today with Pistol Charters. Seems to be a heck of a nice guy. Talked to him for twenty minutes and knew I wanted to sign up with him. See you on Jan 22nd Pistol!

 

I was out of Catawba today and it is some of the scariest looking ice I,ve seen in a while. big cracks refreezing crystal clear and only 3-5 inches thick.found myself in a huge clear spot that cracked as I went across.ice shifted hard all day and current was unfishable by 3;00.i weighted my bait down and still couldn,t get straight down.ice isn,t like '14 or '15 ice, its goes where the wind blows.be careful

 

Went out of Catawba today, was out 2 1/2-3 miles NW. The crack was there in the morning and was still there on the way in near dark but the dusting of snow that we got made it harder to see. We spudded it on the way out and I’d say it was 2-3 inches. Didn’t check on the way in because we were over it before we realized it. Be very careful out there and have fun.
On a side note: thanks to the guys from Akron that gave me a jump at Catawba hope you did well

 

So some of u were u were born with experience right????
I didn’t think so
The only way one gains experience is through trial and err. I’m no ice expert by any means
nor was I when I bought my first boat over 6 years ago
but I can only thank my friends for advice and time spent on the water to put me where I am now most of us can not afford for a charter to give us the “experience” one needs to venture out on their own so with that said lets help each other out and teach those who may not have the “experience” u. May have and give them the knowledge to pass along to the generations that will outlast us. U ice fisherman are among some of the worst I have seen on this site as far as bitching and complaining goes , and it’s embarrassing to say the least I personally owe this site more than I can ever repay because u have been my mentor and teacher along the way but some of the things I see this time of year are not helpful to those who will be fishing along side of us. No one will learn this lake more than time spent on the water weather it be frozen or open and if u care about the well-being of those around u than give solid advice STOP acting like u have some kind of knowledge they are unable to obtain because u all got yours with time spent on the water the exact same way we will all learn

 

Who are you referring to? The two previous posts? The were just giving us reports.

 

Hmmm...I don't know how to take that last comment on experience and sharing. In one breath you are saying you only learn through trial and error, then you say to pass on what you learn to next generations. So are you learning from trial and error, like you said it's the only way to learn? Or are you learning from the previous generation? To me, like in my job, you spend long hours in classroom training. I look at that as ogf being the classroom, then the meat and potatoes is in the hands on training you experience in the field. You don't go right from the classroom to being on your own the next week. You spend many months with a senior employee ensuring you can do it on your own. We fished the bay in our teens then I was in my early 20's myself and my bro took it upon ourselves to ask the old timers and join up with them on the lake and help those guys. In turn they would pass the knowledge along. Hardly trial and error. To this day, I still proceed with caution and several times when others are out we don't feel comfortable with conditions and stay home. It's what you are comfortable with. Now saying that, info sharing in ice conditions it's a tough thing. I feel personally responsible for putting someone in a potential bad situation. I don't want that on my hands. Do some networking, be honest with what you want and share within your network and you will find it a smoother road vs the hostility I detected in your post. I may have read it wrong but perception is key

 

There is a saying among bush pilots in Alaska. There are old pilots and there are bold pilots,but there are no old bold pilots.

 

I’m sorry if something came off wrong what I’m saying is experience comes through doing and this site has and can be so helpful to people trying to gain it. But for some reason most of what I see lately are a people arguing about this and that which gives a reader no helpful insight.

 

These are all great real time Catawba ice reports!!!!!!! Thanks guys and gals!

 

Good reports but the back and fourth gets old sometimes.

 

The old timers and locals are always taking guys under their wing. A few kind words in the parking lot will get you in. No one wants to fish alone on the ice.

 

I am one of the ol guys who grew up on the lake. I allways share what I know with anyone who wants to listen.With that said, it amazes me at all the knit-pickin that goes on about reports. Pull up your bigboy pants, and quit being negative nellies! I think that alot of folks miss the big picture. Spending good time with friends and meeting new ones and enjoying the day..hey if you catch fish..its a bonus! I sometimes wonder how I ever caught so many fish without all the electronics and camera, etc. I appreciate all the great video reports for the guys that take the time to post. Lets quit the BS and share life and the big lake with others, think sometimes those walleyes make folks nuts!! See ya on the lake and thanks OFG

 

I think the popular opinion is ,if you were there post,if you were not there read and keep your comments,questions and opinions to yourself.having been there yesterday(Thursday),I can say that this is some of the sketchiest ice I,ve ever seen.if you go,YOU ARE ON YOUR OWN-BE PREPARED.if your not prepared,stay home.bait(good bait) is hard to come by right now,the ice is constantly moving and re-freezing,and if that doesn,t scare you,REMEMBER, YOUR ON YOUR OWN.quit listening to some of these opinionated ,dime- store,"experts" and go find out for yourself.if you are physically challenged in any way,require help or assistance , and not in prime physical shape,YOU HAVE NO BUSINESS BEING THERE.its tough condtions and absolutely NOT like 2014 or 2015.i will not post fish pictures or give fishing reports because I don,t want to entice any newbie into a potentially dangerous situation.THIS FORUM IS FOR PARTICIPATING FISHERMAN-NOT SPECULATORS,DREAMERS ,OR AMATEUR IDIOTS IN SEARCH OF "EXPERIENCE".you want my experience,then get up at 4:00 a.m. drive for 1 1/2 hrs. pull all yourself out on the ice,spend all day, load up at dark,drive an 1 1/2 hrs. home and wait till 10:00 p.m. for your fish to thaw out so you can clean them and go to bed at midnight.if that sounds like fun to you,then maybe I,ll see you out there some time, if not,please read and don,t re-post.

 

if it takes that long to catch 6 walleyes it's not worth that much effort...I don't ice fish anymore...when boat fishing spring, summer, and fall I expect to have my 6 by noon or before...doesn't always work out that way but most times it does.

ant my experience,then get up at 4:00 a.m. drive for 1 1/2 hrs. pull all yourself out on the ice,spend all day, load up at dark,drive an 1 1/2 hrs. home and wait till 10:00 p.m. for your fish to thaw out so you can clean them and go to bed at midnight.if that sounds like fun to you,then maybe I,ll see you out there some time, if not,please read and don,t re-post.

 

I am no speculator I’m a fisherman inside and out in fact I was out on Erie this week and I posted the conditions that I came across in this very thread
My trips to the lake start and end very similar to that which u described and I make it multiple times a year like many of us do I wouldn’t be surprised if u and I have crossed paths at one time or another out there on the water/ice and even fished some of the same spots most of us are in the same boat here chasing the same fish learning more and more from one trip to the next there’s no point in turning it into some kind of cock fight