Has anybody ridden his or her quad from Port Clinton (Ohio) to South Bass Island? I am planning to go ice fishing the beginning of February and was wondering if there was an alternate way to get South Bass. Rumor has it there is a fairly heavily traveled road/path. It is my understanding that the only other way to get there in the winter is by puddle hopper ($50 round trip).

Any help about the logistics would also be appreciated.

Thanks in advance.

 

Paul

I am afraid I cannot help you out on the logistics much as I have never ventured out on the ice. I would call some of the bait shops in Port Clinton and see if you can get an ice report. I saw on the Toledo news that a lot of people were going out fishing and doing well, but its been warmer lately. As you probably know, the ice on Lake Erie can change very quickly. As for another means to get to South Bass, I know of none. They were talking about having a hovercraft service out of Toledo to the islands that could run all year, but don't count on that ever happening.

If you do take your atv out on the ice, you are braver than I am. I have seen to many people get stranded out there for me to take my $5000 atv out there and have it drop to the bottom. Good luck. Nothing taste better than fresh Walleye.

 

We used to ride sleds to the north side of North Bass, but that was when we were kids. Honestly, until this year, I haven't seen ice like this. There's over a foot in some places and open water in others. All depends on the reefs, wind, etc. There are lots of people fishing off of Catawba State Park. I haven't heard about the ice thickness around the islands, but historically, the ice is thicker. By the time February gets here, who knows.. I heard rumors that the Coast Guard will be posting ice thicknesses of popular fishing spots even though they still say "no ice is safe". In years past, there has been a trail from Catawba to South Bass lined with small evergreen trees stuck in the ice to mark the way. All I can say is be safe, stay away from the reefs, and get insurance (ATV and LIFE). Ride on.......

 

I just thought I would post an update to this thread. Yesterday (2/6/01), three ice fisherman died on Lake Erie. Apparently, they were riding an atv out to their ice shanty and got disoriented by the snowfall. They rode away from the "safe ice" and into the more open waters where the ice is thin. The divers found all three of them at the bottom about 10 feet from the atv. None were wearing life jackets. I am not posting this to scare anyone from venturing out on Lake Erie ice fishing or to justify me being too chicken to go out on the ice, but just to encourage anyone venturing out on the ice to be careful. Thin ice is nothing to play around on. Ride safe.