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.

2012 Perch Season Underway Lake Erie

With a mild winter with no ice fishing in sight, I decided to take my boy to do some pier fishing for yellow perch. Never in 40 years have I seen open water in the Bay of Presque Isle in February. Had a few hits from shore, caught some small perch. Even had double headers. My son nailed a nice perch before dusk and had first perch of the year for the bucket.

Chukars Abundant on Game Preserve Albion PA

Went to a local Game Preserve in Albion PA to do some Chukar hunting. Took a few kids to enjoy walking and learning the sport of bird hunting. Got some good action with a pile of birds to clean for the freezer. New pup was hot today. Found several birds and worked the scent trails endlessly. Kids had a lot of fun. Nice place to bird hunt, reasonable rates. Give them a try sometime.

Pheasants And Chukar Hit Hard In Pennsylvania

Went on a special bird hunt at a local game farm in Pennsylvania. Two of us filled the truck with birds with heavy shooting. New dog found droves of birds as I put down 17 birds. Amazing time and great day for the dog. Dog got lots of scent and learned quickly how to locate birds. She did great locating, tracking, and retrieving birds. Very impressed as she is just 7 months old. Good Chesapeake Bay Retriever instincts at work.

Bluebills Hit Hard With Steel On Presque Isle

Went out for an early morning hunt on Presque Isle. Got into a flock of Bluebills with some hunting buddies and hit them hard. One large group of birds decoyed and we smacked them. Rest of day was very slow with unseasonal warm temps for November in Erie PA. Still waiting for a snow storm!

Scaup And Bufflehead Duck Hunting Lake Erie

Went out for a early duck hunt on Lake Erie. Lots of sun and warmer temps. Not a great duck day, but was able to knock down two birds. Drake bufflehead and a hen Scaup. Duck hunting should get much better as the weather worsens.

Fall Perch Action On Lake Erie

Decided to try something different. Had a beautiful Sunday for November in Erie PA. Went down to the Bay to try for perch. Most anglers are targeting Steelhead at this time in the tribs, but why not perch? Had constant bite with perch being landed easily. Caught at least 30 perch in a couple of hours. Only kept 4 of any eating size though. Had fun with the bite and my son caught several on his own. Fall is a great time to fish the shoreline as the water temp is dropping and the fish are hungry feeding before winter.