Few Fish to Fry

Unsafe ice conditions and unpredictable fish patterns wreak havoc on winter fishing

By Deb Dent | March 11, 2023

It’s officially fish fry season here in northern Michigan, with many local establishments featuring specials on fish on Fridays during Lent. (Check out the end of this story for inspiration!)

But if you want to DIY your own Friday dinner, you can’t have a fish fry without the fish. And thanks to the unseasonably warm weather we’ve had this year, winter fishing has been challenging at best for local fishing charter services. From bad ice to canceled reservations to unusual fish behavior, it’s been a perfect storm…without the cold and snow they need.

C.A.R.M.A. Sport Fishing Charter Service

Captain Randy J. Cornell of C.A.R.M.A. Sport Fishing Charter Service, based out of Cadillac, says that the warmer weather has absolutely had a negative impact on his business.

“It is difficult to adapt to warm weather when ice fishing,” he explains. “This winter we have gone from no ice to not enough safe ice, and good ice with 4 inches of standing water on top of it. It’s an odd situation for guiding. We can’t get out on the ice because it isn’t safe, and we can’t put a boat in the water because there is too much ice.”

Cornell also points out that considering the safety of the ice is different from the perspective of a professional guide and that of a fisherman. “A full-service guide has to carry enough gear for one to five or six clients. That is typically three rods per client, a couple of augers, a pull-behind two-person flip-over fish shanty, or a six-to-eight-person hub style-shanty, two heaters, propane tanks, and all the tackle and bait. It takes a vehicle to get it all on the ice, and if there isn’t 8 to 10 inches, it isn’t safe enough to withstand the weight of all the clients and the gear.”

The real challenge, he feels, is that there is no real feasible alternative to ice fishing when the weather won’t cooperate. And with most clients booking their trips up to a year in advance, it’s very difficult to try and reschedule them.

“Poor ice conditions, lack of ice, days of rain caused complete cancellation of our ice guiding in December and January,” Cornell says. “We lost every booking we had because of weather. A weather cancellation is a total loss, and sometimes you lose the client completely.”

Compared to previous years, C.A.R.M.A. would have 15 to 20 guided trips during this season. As of late February, they had had only two.

The warmer temperatures this season also have an influence on the behavior of the fish themselves, according to Cornell.

“We usually have had the fish set up in the winter patterns along the weed lines [feeding grounds] that are still green and producing oxygen in the lakes. The bait fish and water insects live in the oxygen rich areas, and the predator fish migrate to where the food is, providing excellent opportunities to zero in on active fish. The inconsistent weather and lack of ice this year has allowed the weeds to not die off with any significance, and the fish are scattered everywhere.”

Cornell says that this dynamic means that one day you’ll find a spot where you’re really catching fish, and the next day they will be completely gone from that area, forcing you to start the process of searching for them all over again.

He believes that the weather is the biggest factor in determining fishing success. “Warm and cold fronts, high- and low-pressure systems, and the wind that accompanies them are the biggest conditional circumstances we have to adapt to as fishermen.”

All in all though, Cornell tries to keep a positive attitude despite the weather-related challenges. “I try to focus on the fishing as the adventure and just enjoying being outside doing what I enjoy doing. Catching anything then becomes the bonus to the day!”

Learn more at carmasportfishing.com.

Storm Hawk Sport Fishing

According to Captain Brady Anderson of Storm Hawk Sport Fishing in Traverse City, the biggest hurdle this season “has been the need to be flexible to what the conditions allow.” When taking his clients out on guided ice fishing expeditions, Brady generally targets winter fish like walleye, perch, pike, lake trout, and panfish. He says we’re lucky to have such a diverse fish population in a winter like this one, because it makes it a little easier for him to switch gears and focus on a different type of fish if needed.

But the fish aren’t the only tricky part of the equation. Often, because of the fluctuating temperatures, Anderson and his clients are forced to seek out different lakes in the area where the ice is safer and more solid. Some areas aren’t freezing much at all, or at least not up to normal winter levels. In fact, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) reported that the Great Lakes have been experiencing record-low ice cover. As of February 13, only 7 percent of the total surface area of the Great Lakes was frozen, compared to the 35-40 percent norm for mid-February.

Due to the weather this winter, Anderson feels that the demand for guided ice fishing trips has been less than in years past, and most cancellations are because of the poor ice conditions. Ultimately though, he says the season has been decent so far, and that the Storm Hawk team has been keeping themselves busy.

When asked if he thought the warmer weather this season will affect the fishing come spring, he answers with some optimism.

“The warmer winter has me excited for the fishery,” Anderson says. “With less pressure on the lakes, it may help give the fish a little break from being targeted. It’s unfortunate for now, but long term I feel it will be a good thing for our lakes. It will also be great for our baitfish population in Lake Michigan since alewives spawn in the spring and have thrived in the past when we have had mild winters.”

Learn more at stormhawksportfishing.com.

Friday Fish Fry

Need to skip the meat on Fridays this March? Here are a few local establishments offering a fish fry and/or specials on fish on Fridays during Lent:

- Sleder’s Family Tavern, Traverse City: all-you-can-eat fish fry
- J&S Hamburg, South Airport, Traverse City: all-you-can-eat fish fry
- Randy’s Diner, Traverse City: all-you-can-eat fish fry
- Lil Bo, Traverse City: fish fry from 5-9pm
- Jolly Pumpkin, Traverse City: fried fish and chips special
- Dillinger’s Pub, Traverse City: all-you-can-eat fry
- Sacred Heart Church, Elk Rapids: fish fry from 5-7pm, eat in or take out
- Knot Just a Bar, Omena: all-you-can-eat fish fry
- Brady’s Bar, Traverse City: fish fry special all day
- Curly’s Bar & Grill, Cadillac: all-you-can-eat fish fry