Ice fishing season in this area varies widely depending on the weather. There have been times when anglers could safely make their way onto Lake Erie in late December. There have been seasons where there was no safe ice fishing on Lake Erie. The relatively warm start to this winter put the idea of ice fishing on hold for a while. Ice didn't start to show up on Lake Erie and most area ponds until the first full week of January. Some inland lakes that are relatively shielded from the wind have some ice cover in Michigan. But safe ice fishing in Ohio remains hard to find. At first hint of safe ice, shanties and fishermen dot the Lake Erie basin. This photo was taken by Blade photographer Jack Ackerman near Monroe for publication on Feb. 8, 1959. Fishermen swarmed onto the lake, erected shanties and augured holes into the ice to bring their catch to the surface. Minnows were the preferred bait of the day, and that is still true. As Blade Outdoors Editor Matt Markey reported in January, if you want to go ice fishing, be careful and check the ice often. Look for at least 5 inches of ice, and clear water beneath the ice. Then, happy fishing.
Toledo Blade file photo by Jack
Volunteer hair cutter Brenda Hogrefe, of Liberty Center, left, cutting the hair of Perrysburg High School ninth grader Connie Christiansen. It is the fifth time she has had her hair cut to benefit St. Baldrick's. "I encourage you to do it. It's fun and easy", says the 14-year-old. Hogrefe and the other hair cutters are from Ambrosia Salon and Spa. They have donated their services for four years. The fourth annual St. Baldrick's head-shaving at Bowling Green State University in Bowling Green, Ohio on January 31, 0216. The event, a fundraiser for childhood cancer research, is sponsored by the BGSU Office of Residence Life and is sponsored and organized by the National Residence Hall Honorary.
The Blade/Jetta Fraser
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The gate to the front of St. Hedwig Catholic Church in Toledo is locked.
The Blade/Lori King
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A selection of Looney Tunes-related characters, part of a collection of Kelli King that is on display. Wood County Historical Center & Museum officials kick off the center's first exhibit at the newly renovated museum with more than a dozen collections from community members, at the facility in Bowling Green, Ohio on January 29, 2016. The interior renovations will be done by April 1, and the installation of an elevator and site landscaping is scheduled to be completed by the end of May.
The Blade/Jetta Fraser
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Instructor Emily Ellis, and Taryn Knighten, 14, of Toledo, on the silks. Emily Ellis instructing children in an advanced Bird's Eye View Circus youth class at the Collingwood Arts Center in Toledo, Ohio on January 30, 2016
The Blade/Jetta Fraser
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Sammy Burgert, 4, of Toledo, hides in the trunk of a 2016 Volvo XC60 T5 while his grandmother Cindy Bramson, left, looks around during the first day of the Toledo Auto Show at the SeaGate Centre on January 28, 2016.
The Blade/Amy E. Voigt
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Lead male Domonique Glover, center, and the cast rehearse for Rite of Spring at the Toledo Ballet in Toledo.
The Blade/Lori King
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Clyde Hogan holds picture of his father William Hogan Sr., left, and his mother Mildred Hogan on January 25, 2016. The Hogans' families migrated from the South to Toledo during what was called "The Great Migration." Mr. Hogan holds picture of his father William Hogan Sr., left, and his mother Mildred Hogan
The Blade/Amy E. Voigt
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Lourdes University employee Larry Drozdowicz (cq), takes the Christmas decorations off of an approximately 65 ft tree on the campus on January 25, 2016. Drozdowicz said it will take a couple of days to complete the project. "It goes a lot quicker than putting them up," Drozdowicz said. It took two weeks to decorate the holiday tree before Christmas Drozdowicz said.
The Blade/Amy E. Voigt
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Matt Tyson, right, makes a balloon animal for Andrew McQueen Jr., 21 months, who was attending the last day of the Greater Toledo Auto Show with his father Andrew McQueen, of Toledo, at the SeaGate Centre on January 31, 2016.
The Blade/Amy E. Voigt
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A boat is hard aground in the ice in North Maumee Bay, near Stearns Road in Erie Township, Mi., Wednesday, January 27, 2016.
The Blade/Andy Morrison
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Fremont Ross High School photography and art teacher Bradley Scherzer, right, takes the students on a mural tour in Downtown Toledo. Though Scherzer didn't paint the Toledo Loves Love wall, he was chosen by Art Corner Toledo to paint the mural perpendicular to it, which features a pet-rescue themed mural entitled 'Amazewall.'
The Blade/Lori King
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Member Nancy Grindulis, of Toledo, works on attaching a spout to a teapot she is making for her daughter as a birthday gift while spending the afternoon at the Toledo Potters Guild in the Toledo Botanical Garden on January 26, 2016.
The Blade/Amy E. Voigt
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Member Rita Hungling, of Luckey, works on a bowl while spending the afternoon at the Toledo Potters Guild in the Toledo Botanical Garden on January 26, 2016.
The Blade/Amy E. Voigt
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Small sun spots are visible as the sun tries to burn through the clouds as seen from East Toledo, Wednesday, January 27, 2016.]
The Blade/Andy Morrison
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The sun tries to burn through the clouds as seen from Riverside Drive in East Toledo, Wednesday, January 27, 2016.
The Blade/Andy Morrison
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Carol Van Zile, 60, center, and her students Malora Hakkarainen, 10, left, and Kendra Hakkarainen, 13, run through one of their movement forms together at Great Lakes Global Tae Kwon DO in Sylvania. Though originally a gymnast, Ms. Van Zile has been practicing the martial art of Taekwon-Do since 1990, when she was 36. The sport's ranking for Black Belts goes to the Eighth Level. Ms. Van Zile is Seventh Level Taekwon-Do Black Belt, and believes herself to be the eldest practicing member of that rank in the country. "I'm the oldest fart out there," she joked.
The Blade/Katie Rausch
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The referee separates Bowling Green State University forward Brandon Hawkins (18) and MichiganTech forward Brent Baltus (28) during a hockey game Friday, January 29, 2016, in Bowling Green, Ohio.
THE BLADE/JEREMY WADSWORTH
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Notre Dame's Mariah Copeland (3) shoots against Whitmer's Sara Semler (11) during a girls basketball game Monday, January 25, 2016, in Toledo, Ohio.
THE BLADE/JEREMY WADSWORTH
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Ottawa Hills High School player Logan Crider (12) chases down a rebound against Toledo Christian High School during their basketball game at Toledo Christian High School, Friday, January 29, 2016.
The Blade/Andy Morrison
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University of Toledo head coach Tricia Cullop watches the action against Bowling Green State University during a MAC basketball game Saturday, January 30, 2016, at Savage Arena in Toledo, Ohio.
THE BLADE/JEREMY WADSWORTH
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Young fans cheer on the Walleye during men's hockey action at the Huntington Center on January 31, 2016.
The Blade/Amy E. Voigt
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Toledo Walleye goalie Jeff Lerg (1) wears a special ECHL jersey against the Fort Wayne Komets at the Huntington Center, Saturday, January 30, 2016.
The Blade/Andy Morrison
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A referee jumps in to break up Brampton's Mike Vernace (18) and Toledo's Joel Chouinard (72) after Chouinard delivered a hard hit to Brampton's Steve Kaunisto (9) in the first period of the Friday, January 29, 2015, ECHL hockey match up at the Huntington Center. The Walleye led Brampton Beast going into the second, 2-0.
The Blade/Katie Rausch
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At left; Patricia and Doug Christopher, accepting for Patricia's father inductee Ted Garvin, inductee Glenn Ramsay, Tim Gladieux, accepting for his father inductee Virgil Gladieux, inductee Rick Judson, and inductee Kyle Rogers, right, as the Hall of Fame banners are raised before the Toledo Walleye play the Fort Wayne Komets at the Huntington Center, Saturday, January 30, 2016.
The Blade/Andy Morrison
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Toledo Hockey Hall of Fame inductee Kyle Rogers signs autographs as his daughter Kendra, 6, right, sits behind him.
The Blade/Katie Rausch
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