Ice covers most of Lake Erie, but it’s not safe More than 80 percent of Lake Erie is covered in ice, but officials in both Michigan and Ohio are cautioning fishermen and others to stay off. “Just because it’s covered in ice doesn’t make it safe,” said Wendy Stevens, chief of the Frenchtown Township Fire Department. “The ice is not safe. Stay off.” While the formation and depth of Lake Erie ice depends on weather conditions, the days of ice breaking often result in anglers and others getting stranded on ice floes. Just this week in Erie Township, a man who was crossing the ice on foot had to be rescued. That's only one of the examples in recent days in Michigan and Ohio where the ice melt became dangerous to people venturing out on the open lake.