Lake Michigan from 30,000 feet flying over Chicago this past Thursday.
What’s the importance of this photo other than the incredible view? Lake Michigan. Notice something? No ice. Brutal winters froze Lake Michigan leaving nothing more than a very thick sheet of ice across the lake the past two winters.
What does this mean to the steelhead angler? It means the winter weather patterns this year have been very mild. It means this is the first winter where Lake Michigan was not covered by ice allowing steelhead a much better opportunity for food, light, and the unobstructed possible early migration.
Although no one can know for certain how good the spring steelhead run will be this year. What we can predict from the lack of ice on the lake this winter compared to the past two years is the steelhead have a much better opportunity to transition form Lake Michigan up the river systems to start the spring migration.
post by: Jon Fortuna