Anglers heading to Long Point Inner Bay’s hardwater fishery

Dan Yeoman shows off a classic Lake Erie ‘jumbo’ caught during the 2025 ice-fishing season. Anglers are back out on the ice this year in search of a shared experience capped by a tasty perch fry. (File Photo)

Jeff Tribe, Post Correspondent

Freeze it, and they will come.

“It’s exciting,” said Brad Woodward Jr. of Woodward’s Ice Fishing (519-586-7510) out of St. Williams, taking a moment to chat during a busy afternoon. “Nice to see everyone get back down here, happy and chipper.

“And to see the fish come in.”

Long Point’s Inner Bay can be a four-season fishery - when Mother Nature cooperates. When it freezes, anglers do in fact come, in the main seeking perch fishing action backed up with a tasty feed. They’re a mixture of do-it-yourselfers and those looking to access one of four area ice fishing outfitters.

“We’ve got lots of ice and it’s just getting better,” said Woodward on Jan. 29, his previous measurement revealing between eight and nine inches. “There’s probably more than that now.”

It must be emphasized, no one should head out on ice of any perceived thickness without caution and experience. Brad certainly qualifies given the Woodward family has been operating the business for eight years, he works at a marina during the summer and is also a commercial fisherman.

“Fishing here forever.”

Woodward’s began operation Jan. 27. Clients are loaded on a sleigh, shuttled to one of 26 ice huts, a fire lit for them, holes drilled and minnows supplied. The fishing day runs per client’s individual choices between daylight and 4:30 p.m.

“The fishing is not too bad right now,” said Woodward, noting a majority of perch being caught, with the odd pike. “Seems to be getting better every day, so that’s a good thing.”

Woodward, who enjoys his perch in a fish taco, says clients come for both fishing and the experience, family and friends spending time together.

“The views are pretty epic too.”

It has been ‘happy chaos’ next door at Bayside Ice Fishing (519-586-2666) says Crystal Lambrecht, also operating out of St. Williams.

“My phone is going nuts,” she reported of a busy start to their hard water season, which opened Jan. 26.

Lake Erie ice fishing is special says Lambrecht, in the sense that rather than working off electronics in deeper water, anglers can watch fish approach their bait in its comparatively shallow depths.

“You can see the action happening when it’s happening.”

Lambrecht prefers a breaded perch fillet, and while catching and eating is certainly part of the ice fishing experience, so too is the camaraderie inside a hut, as evidenced by the reaction of a couple of first-timers earlier that day.

“All of them said they’re coming back, they really enjoyed it.”

James Carroll of Jimmy Riggin’ (519-586-7990) operates out of Old Cut, where ice was a little earlier and a little thicker, deeper yet as of Jan. 29.

“Right now, we’ve got 14 inches - a lot,” he reported.

Carroll took his 20 huts out Jan. 22 and 23, opening for business on Saturday, Jan. 24.

“Tons of fish,” reported Carroll, noting to date, there have been a number of smaller perch mixed in with the jumbos. He had also seen two pike, which is normal for this time of year.

“It’s early, the pike don’t usually start until a little later.”

Given the amount and quality of ‘good, black ice’, Carroll is hoping for a lengthy season. It might be considered a mixed blessing given operators face both heavy physical labour when moving huts and also brutal winter weather - particularly this year - seven days a week, without letup.

“It can quit snowing,” Carroll laughed. “It’s going to be a long one,” he added, enthusiastic despite inherent challenges. “I love it.”

Collins Harbour Bait & Tackle (519-586-2212) is not a traditional ice fishing operator, but its model of offering bait, tackle and an offshore shuttle has proven popular with clients calling from as far away as Windsor, Niagara and north of Guelph.

For a fixed access fee per adult (kids 12 and under are free), clients receive parking and access to regularly running shuttles from 6 a.m. to 5 p.m. They board the shuttle near shore and ride out to a flagged location roughly a kilometre offshore. When they wish to return, they return to the flag and await the shuttle’s arrival.

“It’s like a bus stop,” said operator Marshall Collins.

There are two shuttles, one for carrying people, the other freight. He anticipated both would be operational around press time (Feb. 5) or into that weekend when ice in front of the 274 Front Road property (formerly, Shady Akers) firmed up a little more. As of Jan. 29 he was measuring between 8.5 and 10 inches.

“I like to see a solid ten inches,” said Collins.

Interested persons are advised to call the office to check on operational status. In the interim, some patrons are parking, purchasing minnows and walking out on their own power.

“Keeps us busy during the winter,” Collins concluded.