No Ice Fishing Yet On Presque Isle Lake Erie 2012

Here it is in February in Erie PA and I wake up to warm temps. Sunny and warm today hitting 45 degrees. Our bay, which is loaded with yummy yellow perch is totally open water. In 40 years I do not remember open water in February. Last year we had a good 10 weeeks of solid ice for ice fishing. My question is, how will this affect the perch fishing for the upcoming 2012 season? Usually in February the perch are in the deepest parts of the channel and can be readily caught through the ice. Pier fishing usually begins in mid to late March and you can find the perch starting along the Western part of the Erie bay front. Here it is is in February, no ice and I have confirmed reports of Perch hitting on the Western piers. Big lake Perch come in from Lake Erie and spawn in our Bay. They blow their eggs, follow the emerald shiners out through the channel and into our lake to head for deep water. The best perch fishing is from the piers in mid to late April. What happens now? My thought is this will be a very early season with difficult cold winter shore fishing fighting high Northeast winds. My guess is the perch will be long gone by late March and anglers will miss the run. I suggest trying now for perch, and yes I already have been chasing them. The bite will be hot in February and early March! This is my prediction. Dress warm and be careful out there.