WCO Report for Erie County o4/14/04: Erie area, PA,
WCO Report Posted: April 13, 2004

Brought to you by FishLakeErie.com


[FishLakeErie.com] [ PA Fish Reports ] [ News/Articles ] [ More WCO Reports & Photos ] [ Recent WCO ]

Posted by DWCO Randy Leighton on April 13, 2004 at 22:32:52:

WEST ERIE COUNTY / DWCO Randy Leighton, WCO Brook Tolbert

Conditions:
West County tribs have been low and clear over the last week although considerable rain on Tuesday of this week has the tribs swelled and flowing. With a few dry days before the opener on Saturday, the tribs should be in good shape for the weekend. Predicted weekend temperatures in the 60's should bring the crowds out for the opening day of the regular trout season. A good number of steelhead still remain in the tribs although the numbers are down somewhat. The upper stretches are still holding a fair number of steelhead. Fresh steelhead are still being hooked at the access area at Elk Creek, and in limited numbers at the mouths of Trout and Godfrey runs. The Manchester hole on Walnut Creek is still holding a good mix of wintered and fresh steelhead. Warmer temperatures this weekend, could trigger good crappie opportunities in and around Presque Isle Bay.
Off shore water temperature on Lake Erie as of this writing is 40 degrees.

Trophy Bass Season on Lake Erie and the Tributaries and Presque Isle Bay:
Trophy Bass Season on Lake Erie and its Tributaries and Presque Isle Bay begins April 17th and runs through June 11th. The minimum size limit during this season is 20 inches with a creel limit of 1 fish. Regular bass season for the these areas ,begins June 12th and runs through December 31st. with a minimum size limit of 15 inches and a creel limit of 4 fish. A good number of "bass" boats have been observed on Presque Isle Bay the past few weekends although we have no reports of strong activity.

Walnut Creek Access Area:
The office at Walnut Creek is now open weekends, Friday through Sunday from 7:00 AM
until 5:30 PM.
The office will be open regular hours beginning May 8th, Monday through Thursday, 8:00 AM - 6:30 PM, Friday and Saturday, 6:00 AM - 10:00 PM and Sunday, 6:00 AM - 8:00 PM

The Walnut Creek Access office offers a variety of services including license sales, ice, vending machines and facilities as well as information and printed PFBC publications.

Dredging at the Walnut Creek Channel:
Dredging is currently underway at the Northeast Marina. Upon completion of the work there the equipment will be moved to Walnut Creek. This should take place in the next week or so according to Harrisburg. Docks should be in by May 8th pending weathere. Boaters attempting to access the Lake through the Walnut channel should be advised the channel is significantly filled in at the mouth and as only ankle deep in some areas.

Conneaut Creek:
150,000 steelhead smolts were placed in Conneaut Creek recently in a cooperative effort by Pennsylvania and Ohio. 75, 000 were stocked by each state. If caught, please release them carefully.

A Few Words About This Weekend:
Anglers fishing this area are only too well aware of the loss of angling access due to posting. There is really no need at this point to dwell on what has been lost. We are all aware of the crowded conditions we generate and the tension it can cause with local landowners. Future access along the area tribs is in the palms of our hands and it is our choice as sportsmen to treat the given access we have with respect or to lose it all together. This special weekend brings an overlap of steelhead season with opening day of regular trout season making Erie County one of the hottest spots in the state on opening day. In our area this can mean excessively crowded conditions and excessive angling pressure along the tribs. Think about the area you may be fishing and understand that it may be through the generosity of a local land owner that you are able to fish there. Treat these and all areas as if they were your own. If you are fishing near a residential area, keep noise and lights to a minimum and leave with everything you brought in. If an area is posted, respect the rights of those that own it by staying out. Be aware of where you park observing any posted signs and assure that you are not blocking any right of ways. It's really not much to ask when you think about the consequences

Local Weather:
Wednesday night
Partly cloudy in the evening, then clearing. Lows in the lower 30s. Northwest winds 10 to 15 mph.
Thursday
Partly cloudy. Highs in the mid 50s. North winds around 10 mph.
Thursday night
Partly cloudy. Lows in the upper 30s. Northeast winds around 10 mph in the evening, becoming southeast after midnight.
Friday and Friday night
Partly cloudy during the day, then becoming mostly cloudy at night. Highs in the mid 60s. Lows in the upper 40s.
Saturday
Mostly cloudy. A chance of showers in the afternoon. Highs in the upper 60s. Chance of rain 30 percent.
Saturday night
Mostly cloudy with a chance of showers or thunderstorms. Lows in the lower 50s. Chance of rain 40 percent.
Sunday
Partly cloudy. Highs in the lower 70s.
Sunday night
Partly cloudy in the evening, then becoming mostly cloudy. A chance of showers and thunderstorms. Lows in the upper 40s. Chance of rain 40 percent.
Monday
Mostly cloudy in the morning, then becoming partly cloudy. Breezy. Scattered showers. Highs in the lower 60s. Chance of rain 30 percent.
Monday night and Tuesday
Partly cloudy. Breezy with lows in the mid 40s. Highs in the lower 60s.




[FishLakeErie.com] [ PA Fish Reports ] [ News/Articles ] [ More WCO Reports & Photos ] [ Recent WCO ]


(199.239.208.7)