Anyone who ’ s watched the Warner Bros . 1993 movie , “ Grumpy Old Men ,” saw lots of ice fishing and the culture surrounding it . In reality , the film crew arrived in Wabasha , Minnesota , in January , and had to wait a month to begin filming because there was no snow !
According to local bait shop owners , the ice in Erie can also be unreliable and has not developed for the past two years . The seasoned fishermen acknowledge , however , that the frigid temperatures needed for freezing the lake can be cyclical , and this may be the year the ice returns .
According to The Old Farmer ’ s Almanac , it looks as though western Pennsylvania will experience above-normal snowfall and colder temperatures than average .
But even if the lake never ices over , Presque Isle and the entire region offer excellent fishing opportunities in the winter season . Anthony , the owner of Poor Richard ’ s Bait Shop in Fairview , is enjoying a booming business right now and says , “ This is when the fishing starts getting good . This is our busiest time of year .”
Indeed , people from all over the country come to Lake Erie to enjoy fishing for yellow perch , northern pike , bluegill and panfish . Presque Isle Bay was ranked one of the top 10 winter fishing spots among 2,000 destinations in 2022 , and according to a 2016 study by Penn State , recreational fishing generated $ 40.6 million in economic impact for the area .
And with the right clothing to brave the cold , the winter waterways can be a beautiful setting to experience nature . There are no ski boats , no beach goers ... just the quiet stillness of a frosty winter landscape that can be almost meditative .
For those who want a bit more active fishing adventure , steelhead trout fishing in the Lake Erie tributaries is probably the way to go . Of course , you should also enjoy standing in cold water in waders . Steelhead fishing is wonderful starting in autumn and lasts throughout the winter season . Most anglers use single eggs and egg sacks to attract these beautiful silvery fish . But for a different type of lure and technique , you can check out the video on the Nathan Quince Fishing YouTube channel , youtube . com / watch ? v = bnwUFL3dK4s .
We couldn ’ t talk about fishing in Erie without noting the Save Our Native Species ( S . O . N . S .) of Lake Erie Fishing Club . This nonprofit organization of 3,000 members supports free public access to the waters of Presque Isle Bay and Lake Erie .
Established in 1981 , the group works to improve fishing on Lake Erie and its tributaries and has a fish hatchery that annually stocks approximately 1 million walleye and 2 million yellow perch into Presque Isle Bay . S . O . N . S . also produces steelhead and brown trout , and participates in the Adopt-A-Stream program for cleaning and stocking local creeks .
The organization hosts and partners in many wonderful events throughout the year , including events for children . Visit sonsoflakeerie . org for more on this active and important organization . And for the most up-to-date information on closures of certain park areas , hours and regulations , visit dcnr . pa . gov / StateParks / FindAPark / PresqueIsleStatePark .
Winter is a great time to enjoy the magnificent natural water resources we have in our area . Don ’ t miss a single season ! n
MILLCREEK ❘ WINTER 2024 43