Episode 7
The Return of Erie Hardwater
Show Date: February 14, 2026
Location: Lake Erie, Port Clinton, Ohio
It had been more than ten years since we’d stood on truly solid ice on Lake Erie, so when veteran guide Mike Patterson called and said conditions were lining up, we didn’t hesitate. In recent winters, consistent hardwater on Erie has been rare — almost mythical — but this year was different.
Ice conditions were running about 10 to 12 inches thick — respectable by Erie standards — though as every experienced angler knows, no ice is ever truly “safe.” The real concern out here isn’t just thickness, it’s the pressure cracks that snake across the lake and can shift without warning. That’s why heading out with someone like Mike, who understands this big water and reads it daily, is critical.
We loaded up snowmobiles and ATVs and made the long run — nearly 12 miles offshore — across a frozen horizon that seemed to stretch forever. The scale of Lake Erie is hard to grasp until you’re riding across it in the dead of winter.
We kept the crew small and were grateful to tag along with a few of Mike’s customers over the two-day stretch. The weather cooperated beautifully, with a solid stretch of sunshine on day one and calm, manageable conditions throughout the trip — something that doesn’t always happen on the Great Lakes in winter.
Standing miles from shore on one of the largest freshwater lakes in the world, fishing through ice that hadn’t locked in like this for years, was a reminder of why anglers wait patiently for seasons like this. When Erie freezes right, you answer the call.
Huge thanks to Mike and his crew for letting us be part of such a rare and memorable hardwater opportunity.
