The winter of 2026 will certainly be remembered as one of the best ice fishing seasons, conditions-wise, that WNY has experienced in quite a while.  With most inland waterways sporting safe ice by mid-January, and even Lake Erie offering safe ice conditions before the end of January, certainly is a welcomed change from recent past, and the ice fishing community has been drilling holes and jigging up fish throughout this time, as the periodic thaws have only served to improve ice conditions, rather than harm it.

 But some changes are not so welcomed!  In viewing social media posts, many ice anglers that ply the frozen waters of Chautauqua Lake, the typical complaints of small yellow perch, and white perch seems to be a common thing the ice warriors are sharing on many social media groups and pages.  Although I don’t normally put a lot of stock in such complaints, I, too, have been observing some troubling things over the past 5 or 6 years, with this season being a very pronounced and obvious difference than years past.

 For some background, I’ve been fishing Chautauqua Lake for over 50 years now, including over 30 years ice fishing this “lost” finger lake.  I’m a deep-water guy, targeting yellow perch and walleye exclusively in depths from 40-60 feet.  In years past, no matter the size of fish I’ve caught, 100% of them would greet me like Linda Blair did Father Merrick in that classic movie, The Exorcist, vomiting up massive gobs of daphnia and midge fly larva; so much so that my snow pants and shanty walls are stained with this disgusting mixture of vital zooplankton that is the foundation of this lake’s food chain.  One of my favorite spots, code-named “The Aquarium”, a name I gave this deep hole on the North Basin some 20 years ago, has, over the course of the past decade, has shown a big change.  When I first located this area (calling it “the abyss”), I was utterly shocked to see massive schools of yellow perch, holding 20-30 feet off bottom (the max depth of this hole is about 61 feet deep), feeding on the plankton that piles up when it hits the slower moving waters that deep waters deliver.  The depth these fish have been found at does correlate to the surrounding bottom around this hole, or about 43 feet.  As the plankton is carries by the natural north to south currents, the plankton will pile up as the current slows, acting like a fish magnet.  However, over the past decade, the fish residing in that area are more bottom oriented now – no longer showing me that “Christmas Tree” on the Vexilar.  I figured it was just me, and seasonal patterns do fluctuate, but this year, I haven’t caught very many fish at all that have blown chunks into my hair and face when extracting the hook.  Is it just me?

 I posed this question to the social media boards, to see if it was just me.  Turns out, it isn’t.  In fact, every response to the question has brought nearly identical observations from my ice warrior brothers and sisters.  Although speculation to the cause varies from angler to angler, this common observation is not a coincidence, as rarely anything with shared natural observations is.  Time to start digging.

 Those who know me, know that I am a data-driven individual, not prone to speculation devoid of scientific fact.  My methodology for troubleshooting is pretty simple; start with asking, “what’s changed?”  The change that I have found correlates with the changes I have seen in the lack of fish in the areas they have been over 20+ years, and the lack of the gobs of plankton being vomited up in every fish that I catch (yellow perch, white perch, white bass and even walleye).  That change appears to be the recent use of an herbicide called 2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic acid, or 2,4-D, a substance that is in crystalline form, and is then mixed with water and applied via targeting spraying.  Its first year of use in the south basin of this lake resulted in a nearly complete wipeout of all the weeds in that basin, resulting in a lost generation of young fish.  Permits are once again being issued for use of this substance in the efforts to control the invasive Eurasian Watermilfoil, a fast-growing, fast spreading organism that does displace the natural grasses that are native to our northern lakes and streams.  Application of this herbicide is targeted, with areas of the north basin also being added to the treatment plan starting a few years back.

 Researching this herbicide, I discovered that 2,4-D is also a primary herbicide also used in terrestrial broadleaf weed control.  In other words, the chemicals used for lawn treatments to control dandelions.  Although the permits for aquatic weed control define strict time periods when it can be used, these controls do not apply to residents along this lake opting to treat their lawns to reduce weeds, and deliver that golf course looking verge that gives many properties added visual value.  This substance has a half life of up to several weeks, and does runoff into the lake during rainstorms.  Some residents also have a habit of dumping grass clippings into the lake, potentially furthering exposing this chemical to the ecosystem beyond the windows set by NYSDEC.

 The chief zooplankton that comprises that fish vomit includes daphnia and midge fly larva, or Chironomidae larva.  We anglers often simply call them “bloodworms”, due to their hemoglobin-rich, bright red color.  But, they are not true bloodworms, just how we describe them (easier to say bloodworms than Chironomidae, right?)  Houston, do we have a problem?

 This has led me to some scientific research papers from University of Wisconsin that indicate, although not immediately toxic to the specific zooplankton involved, 2,4-D can get into the sediment and inhibit the hatching of the plankton eggs the following year, with repeated exposure having the potential to alter the ecosystem’s base of the food chain profoundly.  The lack of the fish vomit appears to be a symptom of this information researchers have shared.

 These organisms are the building blocks of the food chain.  They feed on the phytoplankton, or plant-based plankton, and the zooplankton nourishes baitfish, game fish young (fry), and is the easiest forage for all fish during the winter months.  These organisms, especially the “bloodworms”, are also an important part of the diet of muskellunge, the lake’s top predator, and you can often see big musky “sipping” at the surface, feeding on emerging midge flies, during the evenings throughout late spring and summer when the hatches are occurring.

 This combination of direct application to aquatic weeds, and indirect exposure through runoff appears to be having a much larger, and troubling impact on the lake’s health as a whole.  Is the pursuit of making boaters happy, and property owners desire for golf course quality lawns harming the foundation of this lake’s food chain?  I think it’s a question worth answering.  This could also help further explain the slow growth rates of yellow perch in recent years. 

 This one is worth understanding.  Problems at the bottom of the food chain eventually work their way up.  And with the lack of this plankton showing in fish that should be loaded with them this time of year, the clock is ticking.

 Houston, we may have a problem!

Welcome back, old-fashioned winter!  I know, many are dreaming of sunshine and swimwear, cursing the cold, and wondering why we live here, right?  Here in WNY, winter is just another fact of life and learning how to enjoy the winter certainly helps maintain one’s sanity and bright outlook on life, and getting out of the house is the best way to do just that!

 This year we had a very cold December – one of the coldest on record, which help start the freezing process of both inland lakes and the Great Lakes as well, with ice cover on Lake Erie reaching nearly 30% shortly after the new year.  High winds broke apart the newly formed ice, but the return to single digit temperatures set up a flash freeze on the Big E, the likes of which not seen since 1977.  In fact, this year marked the first time I was fishing Lake Erie before January gave way to the groundhog.  All area fisheries that can support ice fishing are open for business, and business this year has been brisk!  Some are starting to take note of this activity, and the related economic benefits ice fishing delivers to this region.

 Ice fishing enjoyed a resurgence in popularity with the release of the Grumpy Old Men movies, starring the late Walter Matheau and Bob Lemmon.  These comedies centered around the pastime of ice fishing, complete with shanty towns and traditions of chasing that big fish.  The advent of portable ice shanties, modern outerwear and the ever-advancing portable fish finder technology has transformed this once curious sport into a mainstream winter activity that young and old alike can enjoy when the weather is inhospitable to other, more traditional outdoors fun.

 Ice fishing offers anglers a unique opportunity to fish in places that would otherwise require a boat to get to.  The vertical nature of this sport lends itself well to chasing prized WNY species, including walleye, yellow perch and northern pike.  It doesn’t take much to get started, but it’s always best to hook up with some seasoned pros to learn the ins and outs of this challenging and exciting form of angling.

 Basics of needed gear is pretty simple.  Well-insulated, thick-soled waterproof boots are a must.  LaCrosse Alpha Burly boots work well, as does insulated Muck boots.  Next is your outerwear.  Waterproof, windproof clothing that is well insulated helps keep the bitter wind from shortening your trip, and specially constructed ice fishing outerwear is available from brands like Clam Corp Ice Armor, Striker Ice and Arctic Armor.  Many of these two-piece suits are also designed to float, in the event the ice gives way.  Waterproof, well insulated gloves, like the kind snowmobilers will use, waterproof mittens, etc., to protect your hands – it’s good to practice handling stuff with the gloves on, as keeping your hands warm and dry is just as important as your feet.  A knit hat, scarf to close off your neck area, and perhaps even a pair of snow goggles to protect your eyes and cut down on the sun’s glare off the ice and snow truly helps.  Dress in layers, and choose wicking, hydrophobic materials, like berkaline, wool, polyesters or any other material that will draw moisture way from your skin, not hold it like cotton will.  Ice picks wore around your neck at the ready, and an ice chisel (commonly called a spud bar) offers a degree of safety.

 Inland lakes and ponds offer the best ice surfaces, often being smooth and easy to walk – snow and slush notwithstanding.  Lakes like Chautauqua, Silver and Cuba lakes offer great ice fishing opportunity for a number of species, with most good fishing within a close walk.  Great Lakes fishing, however, is a different ballgame, often bringing shove ice, under-ice slush, with the potential for ice to shift with the winds, depending on where any open water may be located, and long walks to get over the depths fish are active in.

 Speaking of Great Lakes ice fishing, Lake Erie is once again ice covered, which many believe will bode very well for the walleye and yellow perch spawning success.  Based on last year’s ice cover, and the following open water walleye fishing, perhaps this year is signaling the hay days are just beginning?

 Whether young or old, a novice or a seasoned pro, ice fishing I a great way to enjoy the winter months and reduce that cabin fever we all seem to get as spring inches closer.  More seem to be enjoying this unique fishing experience.  This season is a good time to try your luck!