Ice fishing on Lake Erie   Save
Ohio Guide Photographs
Description: This photograph shows a group of ice fishing houses (shanties), as well as a few vehicles, on a portion of Lake Erie. Though a scene similar to this could be found in countless places in Ohio during the winter, this was most likely in the area of Sandusky Bay and the Lake Erie Islands, as it was grouped with other photographs from that area. Neuman Boat Dock offers the best vantage point for viewing the water front and Sandusky Bay. It was located at the foot of Columbus Avenue in Sandusky, and was a particularly popular place in winter, with skaters, ice sailers and fishing shanties all vying for a piece of the ice. Ice fishing is the practice of catching fish with lines and fish hooks or spears through an opening in the ice on a frozen body of water. Ice anglers may sit on a stool in the open on a frozen lake, or in a heated cabin on the ice, some with bunks and amenities. Fisherman walk onto the ice with sleds made of plastic or wood with equipment. They drill holes with hand augers or power augers with a motor that turns the auger or drill. Many fishermen will go out with 2.5 inches of good ice for walking, but the recommended is 4 inches, 5–6 inches for Sleds (Snow Machines, Snowmobiles), 7–12 for light cars and 14–16 inches for full-sized trucks. Care must be taken, because sometimes ice will not form in areas with swift currents, leaving open areas which freeze with much thinner ice. On the Great Lakes, off-shore winds can break off miles-wide pans of ice, stranding large numbers of fishermen. In Ohio, ice fishing usually starts mid-January and ends in early March, but this greatly depends on the weather. The Lake Erie Islands are a chain of archipelagic islands in Lake Erie. Most islands that are large enough are popular tourist attractions with car ferries running from the mainland and between some islands and some small airports and numerous private marinas offering other ways to reach the islands. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: SA1039AV_B08F08_006_001
Subjects: Ice fishing--North America; Ice fishing Architecture, Domestic--Ohio--Pictorial works.; Lake Erie Islands (Ohio)
Places: Lake Erie Islands (Ohio); Erie County (Ohio); Ottawa County (Ohio)