Put-In-Bay, Ohio — It is never certain how long it will last, but at the time of this writing on Jan. 19, ice fishing is underway in certain locations on Ohio’s north coast.
Going from temperatures that were over 50 degrees after Christmas that allowed the Miller Boat Line to continue ferry service to South Bass (Put-in-Bay) until Jan. 2 to frozen water as far as the eye could see a week later was a weather surprise that few saw coming.
Bays Edge Bait and Tackle reported brisk sales of their popular tungsten jigs used for bluegills in the sheltered, shallow waters of nearby East Harbor, with buckets of these tasty panfish being brought in daily to its fish cleaning facility.
Ice fishing got underway there during the first full week of January and an ice fishing village has formed near the East Harbor State Park’s kayak ramp. Some of these inhabitants will depart if the main lake freezes well enough to divert their attention there.
MORE ICE FISHING COVERAGE FROM OUTDOOR NEWS:
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Unfortunately, the relentless wind has been preventing the ice from locking in the South Passage between Catawba and the islands to date. However, single-digit highs were forecasted to begin the first few days of the third week of January, which may allow the water to finally harden there and elsewhere along the south shore.

The protected coves and funnels of the Bass Islands provided an ice platform that allowed the first of Put-in-Bay’s “Viking” explorers to stand on two inches of ice 100 yards off South Bass Island’s “new ramp” by Jan. 9.
A few shanties towed on foot followed in the coming days and dozens now dot the ice between South Bass, Middle Bass, and Rattlesnake islands. On Jan. 14, residents of Middle Bass Island marked their trail to South Bass, where it was reported to be between 6 and 8 inches by then.
There have been scattered reports of walleyes being caught in modest numbers to date in the clear water that was present during the early ice period.
Russ Brohl welcomed his first “keeper” walleye of 15.5 inches long by inviting it to dinner that night.
One of the best walleyes landed to date that was brought to Ohio Outdoor News’ attention was caught by Susan Byrnes of Put-in-Bay. She caught a trophy walleye while fishing with her husband, Mike, that pulled the scale down a little past 10 pounds.
It hit her lure in the first five minutes of their first day out on Jan. 16, around 3:30 p.m. In what appeared to be a good omen started and stopped with that one fish, as neither got another bite the rest of the afternoon.
READ THE LATEST FISHING REPORT FROM OHIO OUTDOOR NEWS:
Ohio’s statewide fishing report on Jan. 23, 2025
The current Siberian Express may not have been popular with everyone but was welcomed with open arms by all outdoor enthusiasts who have been anxious to use their winter toys.
Islanders only had a few days of ice fishing last winter before warm rains marked the end of the season and mild temperatures prevented any fishable ice from re-forming.
In the Lake Erie Island communities, ice fishing is a long and still cherished cultural tradition that dates back decades to when selling a fisherman’s daily catch provided extra winter income.
While no longer legal to sell sport-caught fish from Lake Erie, anglers still always hope for a long ice-fishing season, but Mother Nature always has the final say.