WCO Report for Erie County 11/30/2010: Erie area, PA,
WCO Report Posted: November 29, 2011

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Posted by DWCO Randy Leighton on November 29, 2011 at 20:54:36:

November 29th, 2011

West Erie County, DWCO Randy Leighton, rglerie@msn.com

Conditions:

Off and on rain Monday and an all day soaker Tuesday brought the the Lake Erie Tributary levels up to fast and muddy conditions There is rain and possible snow in the forecasts which may help to which may spawn additional steelhead movement and help keep water levels up and flowing. Catches have been good with anglers doing very well at the mouth of Trout and Godfrey Runs and throughout most of the trib areas. The rain triggered some action at the Walnut Creek Marina basin with a good number taken over the past week on shiners, paste baits and tipped jigs. With the on and off rainfall, Crooked creek has been productive and less crowded than the lower sections of Walnut and Elk.. Current Lake Erie water temperature is 48 degrees. Area tribs were flowing and muddy as of late Tuesday afternoon.

A Special Thanks to Our Fellow Officers:
This season as in past years, additional PFBC officers from around the state have given valuable time and considerable effort in many cases to come to Erie to assist local officers and deputies. The tireless hours and effort put in to assist the so often overburdened local officers has not gone unnoticed. These officers, although perhaps not always visible, have made a significant law enforcement presence during our crowed steelhead season. These combined weekly details have been a productive part of maintaining a high level of law enforcement that has become so important during the fall steelhead season.

Fishing Licenses for the Holidays: 2012 Fishing licenses and gift vouchers will be available December 1st on line, through our local issuing agents, and by mail. Fishing licenses make great Holiday gifts for the Seniors on your list, close friends or even a spouse. A new license for the young angler who has recently turned 16 would make a delightful stocking stuffer as well. A license purchased in December may used for the remainder of 2011 as well as throughout 2012. Anglers fishing the Lake Erie, its tributaries and Presque Isle Bay and its connecting waters are reminded that in addition to the regular license, a Lake Erie Permit and if targeting trout including steelhead, a Trout or Combo Stamp is required. For more information including regulations, fees, and FAQs, go to Buy a Fishing License

Wear Some Orange: We again want to emphasize that it is wise to wear at least some orange in the out lying areas of the tribs especially on Elk, Crooked and Conneaut Creeks. With the rainy weather we had for opening day and the kill possibly down, many deer hunters will be out over the next two weeks as the colder weather and possible snow reaches our area. Don't put your self in their sights, wear some orange. If you are on State Game lands, wearing orange is a requirement during hunting season.

Perch Regulations: Perch Regulations Change December 1st Erie:
Perch must be a minimum of 7" beginning December 1st through March 31st, 2012 for Lake Erie and Presque Isle Bay. The creel limit remains at 30 fish.

Tips Before Heading to the Taxidermist?
Having that trophy fish mounted will verify your bragging rights for years to come and steelhead can make spectacular mounts. Proper field care of your catch will go a long way in helping your local taxidermist give you a quality, natural looking mount. The following points of field care may be helpful:

1) Carefully examine the fish for damage and determine the best or "show" side. Netting the fish will cause the least damage. Take care to not damage the tail or any Although Although they can be reproduced, typically most taxidermists use the real fins

2) Take a several good color photos with good sharp close ups. Avoid bright sun and flash photos (too much glare).

3) Keep the fish alive or get it on ice as soon as possible and do not place it on a stringer. If putting the fish in a cooler, keep the "show" side up and do not put anything on the fish that could distort or discolor it. The longer the fish is exposed to light the quicker the natural colors will distort. Carry a small plastic bag of borax (yes the 20 Mule Team type is fine) to spread on the fish immediately after dies to help "set the color". Then bag the fish or put it in a closed cooler.

4) If you cannot bring the fish in to the taxidermist right away, then you must freeze the fish. Wrap the fish in clean, wet rags or paper towels, then place in a dark plastic bag (garbage bags work well).

5) Do not gut the fish.

6) Do not wrap the fish in newspaper. News print can be absorbed by the fish skin and may be hard to cover. Newspaper also dries out the skin leaving the fins very fragile.

7) If you practice catch & release, you may want to have a reproduction of your fish done, instead of a skin mount.

8) Many taxidermists do not do fish, especially trout and sometimes will sub this work out. Trout can be difficult to mount and take time due to assuring that the skins are dry and oil free. Most trout mounts will be a combination of an artificial head and the actual skin and fins stretched over a foam or plastic mold. Get references and ask to see examples of previous work.

If you wish to have a reproduction mount made observe the following:

1) Measure the length from the nose to tip of the tail. Fan, or spread, the tail when measuring.

2) Measure the girth (circumference) of the fish around the belly.

3) Weigh the fish, if possible.

4) Note the sex of the fish (when possible) and whether or not it is spawning. This is most important for members of the
trout & salmon family. Other notes as to coloration or any unusual markings may be helpful for accuracy.

5) Take several good quality color photos of the fish. Do not use the flash if possible and avoid bright sunlight (too much
glare).

6) Release the fish (or fillet it).

Local Weather:

Wednesday Night...Mostly cloudy with a chance of rain and snow showers in the evening...then partly cloudy after midnight. Cold with lows in the lower 30s. West winds 15 to 20 mph with gusts up to 35 mph...diminishing to 5 to 10 mph after midnight. Chance of precipitation 40 percent.

Thursday...Mostly sunny. Highs in the mid 40s. Southwest winds 5 to 10 mph.

Thursday Night...Partly cloudy in the evening...then becoming mostly cloudy. Cold with lows in the lower 30s. Southwest winds 10 to 15 mph.

Friday...Mostly cloudy with a chance of rain and snow showers. Highs in the upper 30s. Chance of precipitation 30 percent.

Friday Night...Mostly cloudy. Cold with lows in the lower 30s.

Saturday...Mostly sunny. Highs in the mid 40s.

Saturday Night...Mostly cloudy. Lows in the mid 30s.

Sunday...Mostly cloudy with a 40 percent chance of rain. Highs in the upper 40s.

Sunday Night...Mostly cloudy with a 40 percent chance of rain. Near steady temperature in the lower 40s.

Monday...Mostly cloudy with a 30 percent chance of rain. Near steady temperature in the upper 30s.

Monday Night...Mostly cloudy with a 40 percent chance of snow. Near steady temperature in the mid 30s.

Tuesday...Mostly cloudy with a 40 percent chance of snow. Near steady temperature in the lower 30s.




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