Last year was one of the coldest, snowiest winters on record with the entire Lake Erie frozen over.  This year, just the opposite.  With an "El Nino" winter we've seen very mild temperatures and hardly any freezing anywhere on the lake.

Contrast the two images below.  That tells the whole story.  Ice fishermen aren't pleased but the early spring open water jigging should be fantastic for Lake Erie Fishermen.

February 2016 Lake Erie satellite image

April 2015 Lake Erie satellite image showing lake just beginning to thaw.