Lack of Great Lakes ice could affect spawning

[MeghanOOD]

https://oodmag.com/lack-of-great-lak...fect-spawning/

A warmer-than-normal winter has resulted in less ice cover on the Great Lakes, which could have an impact on fish spawning.

[werner.reiche]

A bit puzzled by this statement. "Both species require three to five months of sustained cold temperatures for adequate reproductive growth,” OFAH Fisheries Biologist Adam Weir said."

The temperature at the depth the fish are at in winter won't be a lot different with or without ice cover.

The questions I would have re: that article are:
- what is the target winter water temp for walleye/perch reproduction? the internet seems to think temps under 50F are okay.
- how far from this target winter water temp were the actual water temperatures where the walleye/perch spend the winter? the internet seems to think the walleye are feeding in considerably cooler water about 42F. Any walleye ice fishermen out there who check the water temps at the depth they are fishing?

My guess is someone told him to write an article about climate change...

[werner.reiche]

There's the great lakes departure from normal ice coverage for Feb 7 2023 from the Canadian Ice Service link provided.
Just a side note - I worked as a contractor at the ice service from 1992 to 2007 on the software which generates these charts - although I presume now it's been replaced new software - but the charts look the same.

Red indicates less ice than the long term average.
So while the "less ice coverage" might be true for Erie - it doesn't look like the case elsewhere.

20230206180000_WIS58DPTCT_0012473445.jpg