Why would you need to de-winterize the boat to ice fish? Although the way the ice has been around here it is probably not a bad idea. We lost a fisherman to thin ice last week not far from my home. There have been very few days when the ice is what I would consider safe. Wasn't it Erie that had a bunch of fishermen stranded on ice floes last year or so? I remember a news article about a bunch of guys who found themselves floating around on a chunk of ice when it broke up suddenly.

Pegsguy, The lake is open, it was a joke. we are trolling and jigging for eyes, no ice anywhere here.

You got me this time. In the future, I'll check the sattelite picture before I insert my foot! There is a bit of ice in some of the Il. Lk Mich harbors but it is thin or loose pack type ice and no-one is trying it.Some hardy folks are getting some perch and a few trout from the piers and breakwaters.