Presque Isle Bay in Lake Erie is one of the top winter fishing destinations in the U.S., according to FishingBooker, an online booking service for fishing trips.
The online service looked through its database of trips booked by users to develop a top-10 list from across the U.S.
“Among such a mix of best winter fishing destinations, we would be remiss not to mention Presque Isle Bay as a great ice fishing contender,” noted Fishing Booker.
“This little bay is tucked away in the nook of Lake Erie and is the first to get a safe ice-over. The quickest and easiest way to reach it is from the city of Erie, though you can easily drive here from Pittsburgh or Cleveland.
“Presque Isle Bay is one of the first spots to provide safe ice for anglers to fish through, and this can happen as early as December. As soon as the conditions allow it, excited ice fishermen flock from all over the country and start drilling holes.
“The prospect of yellow perch, northern pike and panfish will be enough for you to forget about the cold, too. The top of the bay is usually the best place to start your ice fishing excursion.
“If you don’t like the idea of being exposed to elements the whole day, there are ice huts that you can use to stay warm.
“Presque Isle Bay is the entrance to the world of Lake Erie ice fishing, which is what makes it such a loved winter fishing destination. To get a head start, stay on top of the weather reports and be ready to hit the ice as soon as the chance arises.”
Other destinations on the top 10 list are Kenai, Alaska; Morro Bay, California; South Padre Island, Texas; Lincoln City, Oregon; Orange Beach and Gulf Shores, Alabama; Bristol, Tennessee and Virginia; Elephant Butte Lake, New Mexico; and Bozeman, Montana; and Miami.
Presque Isle is a 3,200-acre sandy peninsula that arches into Lake Erie from a point 4 miles west of downtown Erie in northwestern Pennsylvania.
Nearly all the peninsula is occupied by Presque Isle State Park, a day-use park that offers Pennsylvania only “seashore,” with recreational activities including birding, swimming, boating, fishing, hiking, bicycling and in-line skating.
The peninsula creates 5.8-square-mile natural bay off the coast of Erie. It is about 4.6 miles long and 1.8 miles across at its widest, with an average depth of about 20 feet.
FishingBooker offers more than 30,000 fishing trips in more than 2,000 destinations worldwide.
Contact Marcus Schneck at mschneck@pennlive.com.