Ice fishing requires plenty of patience, something James Shutlack from Blasdell has been practicing for decades, hooked by the hobby as a kid while fishing with his father.

But patience might be wearing thin this winter for those who enjoy ice fishing on Lake Erie.

"If I came out today and I was ice fishing, I'd bring a lunch, I'd bring my hut. I'd stay probably from day break to sunset," Shutlack said while fishing from a dock at Buffalo Harbor State Park on Wednesday.

Without a prolonged deep freeze this winter, Lake Erie is less than one (0.5) percent covered in ice, according to the Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory.

For comparison's sake the lake was 90.9 percent ice-covered on the same date in 2019 and 94.7 percent in 2018.

"Usually got ice for the most part, at least in the harbor here and usually the fishing can be pretty decent in here," said Evan Walsh of Lancaster.

Like many anglers, he's had to hit Western New York's smaller inland lakes and streams to find the ice, or just stay on shore for his fishing fix.

Most fishing organizations recommend ice fishing on ice that's at least four inches thick for safety reasons.

"It's unfortunate that it's all open water, but I'll still get out here in my kayak or shore fish," Walsh said.

While freezing temperatures later this week will some bring hope for frozen lake, Lake Erie's ice fishers are finding out this just might not be their year.

"It's a big bummer.  It stinks, but you take the good with the bad," Shutlack said. 

But frozen or not, the fish — and the fishermen — are still taking the bait.