Jan 16, 2025
Tasty crappies have been hungry in several Western New York ice-fishing locations. Take note of minimum size and daily bag limit regulations depending where you fish. Photo by Steve Hawkins
The weather gods have ice forming all over Western New York as we enter week three of January 2025.
It’s good news for hundreds of sportsmen who enjoy getting off the wintertime couch roost to exercise while walking on water with an ice-auger. For the first time in years, thickening ice completely covers Chautauqua Lake. At Chautauqua Lake, a diverse range of fish including yellow perch, walleye, and even an occasional musky have provided tight lines for lucky anglers. Mike Sperry at Chautauqua Reel bait shop at Asheville Bay Marina says, “We have 4-6 inches of ice on most of the lake now, but always use caution and spud out to be safe. We have lots of perch with some crappies mixed in on jigs tipped with minnows or waxworms. Sunfish and bluegill are hitting jigs tipped with waxworms or spikes. I heard some reports of walleyes in 30- 40 feet of water hitting #7 and #9, jigging Rapala’s. Most are saying it’s a light bite, however. We stock waxworms and fathead minnows at the store with more live bait for this weekend, including spikes, emeralds and golden shiners.”
Camera views of the lake from Mayville show dozens of huts at that end of the lake, with anglers parking at Lakeside Park there and walking out. Call Sperry for updates and advice at 716-763-2947.
For Buffalo area anglers, there are dozens of ice huts on the Buffalo Small Boat Harbor at the State Park on Fuhrmann Boulevard. Steve Hawkins, the proprietor at Captain Bob’s bait shop there, says anglers are catching crappies, panfish, yellow perch and an occasional northern pike. Hawkins provides a daily update on ice conditions on his Facebook site, or he advises anglers to call him to check on harbor ice conditions and available winter fishing bait supplies at 716-407-3021.
Honeoye Lake and Silver Lake are frozen, with cautious angler access from the state boat launch parking area at the south end. Harwood Lake is providing anglers with surprising crappie limit catches, and Cuba Lake is alive with crappie, bluegill and fat northern pike action on the south shore. Parking is always a problem at Cuba Lake, though. Private property owners are quick to call the local sheriff, and parking tags are costly. Be safe, and get permission first wherever you intend to park.
A small heater, a sonar unit, and a small diameter ice auger inside a portable fish hut is the usual setup for fishing on ice during frigid winter weather as lake winds create below freezing chill factors. Is it fun? Most anglers say, “YES!” Many say they would rather ice fish than fish from a boat. Why? “It’s cozy.” Photo by Rich Davenport
Remember, safety is paramount in all ice-bound lake areas. Always walk out with a spud bar and ice picks if you are on new ice. The extended freeze forecast is good, and it appears that the ice will be around for a few weeks, but the freeze will curtail the shore-based steelhead fishing in the Lake Erie tributaries. So, while you enjoy the thrill of ice fishing, ensure that your safety is never compromised.
To enjoy the cold air in a warm place in Dunkirk, the NWTF Lakeshore Longbeards are asking for your support in conservation and support for youth outdoors. The 26th Annual Conservation and Hunting Heritage Banquet Event, open to the public, is set for this Saturday, Jan. 18, 2024, at the Blessed Mary Angela Parish Center, 324 Townsend Street in Dunkirk. This is their annual fundraiser supporting Jake’s Day that is held at the Westfield Fish and Game Club each year. Local support at this event is crucial to the Longbeards’ mission. It allows them to purchase insurance and supplies to conduct the event where dozens of youths are introduced to firearm safety, fly tying, fishing, flora and fauna; they build bluebird houses, can sign up for turkey hunting, trap shooting and more. These lessons are conducted through individual learning stations set up at the club. A single ticket for the fundraiser is $50 and includes dinner and membership, and a couple’s ticket for two is $85. The banquet event will feature gun raffles, auctions and fun stuff for all ages. Call Bob Turk at 716-680-3715 or Scott Dibble at 716-673-6703 to purchase tickets.
Gotta love the outdoors!
Outdoor Calendar:
Jan. 16: Southtowns Walleye Association, monthly meeting, 7PM start, 5895 Southwestern Blvd., Hamburg.
Jan. 18: NWTF Lakeshore Longbeards 26th Annual Conservation and Hunting Heritage event, 5PM start, Blessed Mary Angela Parish Center, 324 Townsend St., Dunkirk. Call for tickets: 716-680-3715 04 716-673-6703.
Jan. 21: Junior Olympic Archery Development (JOAD) Program, 6-9PM, West Falls Conservation, 55 Bridge St., West Falls, see Bob/Eileen Pfeil.
Jan. 21: Erie County Fish Advisory Board, monthly meeting, 7PM, Bison City Rod and Gun, 510 Ohio St., Buffalo, open to the public.
NOTE: Send Calendar info or related outdoor news to forrestfisher35@yahoo.com.
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