WCO Report for Erie County 12/10/03: Erie area, PA,
WCO Report Posted: December 09, 2003

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Posted by DWCO Randy Leighton on December 09, 2003 at 19:45:07:

WEST ERIE COUNTY, DWCO Randy Leighton

Conditions:
Low and gin clear have been the words lately. The tribs are still holding good numbers of steelhead. The Manchester hole is "black" with fish and the Project Waters at Walnut have fish scattered through out. This past Sunday there was a noticeable lack of anglers although conditions were good in most areas. A good number of fish are still holding at the Elk Creek Access area especially along the rock wall by the boat launch. The upper hole at the Legion Park area had a good number of fish with only a few in the lower hole. Reports indicate that fishing has been good around Follys End and in the deeper pockets at the Struechan Flats area. Good clear water baits have been white sucker spawn patterns, singles eggs and maggots light line and size 18 to 22 hooks. A number of anglers did well over the weekend just east of the channel at Walnut along the lake shoreline. We have also had reports that anglers have been catching some steelhead in Presque Isle Bay near the Channel and in Misery Bay near the Perry Monument. Current Lake Erie temperature as of this writing is 43 degrees.

DR. DOUGLAS AUSTEN SELECTED AS FISH & BOAT COMMISSION EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission (PFBC) named Dr. Douglas J. Austen as its choice for the agency's next Executive Director. The selection was announced during a special commission meeting in Harrisburg. Dr. Austen has more than 25 years of fisheries and natural resource management in a variety of top-level positions. He is currently the head of the Technical Support Section of the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) and an Adjunct Faculty Member in the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences at the University of Illinois. He has held his current post since 1996 and was responsible for the integration of a watershed and ecosystem approach to natural resources within the Office of Resource Conservation. From 1994-1996, he was the Head of the Fisheries Analysis Section of the IDNR. He earned a Doctorate from Iowa State University, the Department of Animal Ecology, in 1992. In addition, he holds a Master of Science Degree with an emphasis in Fisheries Science from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University and a Bachelor of Science in Wildlife and Fisheries Science from South Dakota State University. He is a Certified Fisheries Professional by the American Fisheries Society. Dr. Austen’s work has been published in a variety of professional publications. According to Samuel M. Concilla, President of the Fish and Boat Commission, the selection of Dr. Austen culminates a process reviewing many fine candidates. “The Commissioners used a nationwide search to identify a new director to address the many challenges facing the Commission and our resource. We are convinced that Dr. Austen’s knowledge, background and experience will stand him and the Commission in good stead as we move forward,” Concilla said. “I want to thank all those who applied for this important position.” Dr. Austen’s selection will undergo additional personnel reviews as part of the state employment process. No effective date has been established for him to assume the position of PFBC Executive Director.

Fifth in a Series of Local Tributary Descriptions, Trout and Godfrey Runs:
Godfrey Run is a nursery water and fishing in the creek is prohibited. However, fishing at the mouth of Godfrey for steelhead and walleye is popular when lake conditions are favorable. The mouth of Godfrey can be accessed from Fairplain Road (Township Road 4031), which loops around south of Route 5. There is parking on the West side of the loop beyond the no parking signs. Walk back north and down the dirt access road to the lake. The dirt road accessing the Lake is private and parking is not permitted.

Trout Run is a nursery water and fishing in the creek is prohibited. The mouth of Trout Run is the most popular place for shore fishing in the lake for steelhead and walleye. The Fish and Boat Commission maintains a nursery upstream on Trout Run, where it raises and milks steelhead. Thousands of steelhead return to Trout Run every year. This provides excellent fishing for steelhead off the mouth when the fish school trying to enter this relatively small and shallow creek. Likewise, when the fingerlings leave the creek in the spring, the walleye lurk just offshore at night looking for an easy meal.

If you want to see if the steelhead run has started, or if you want to see steelhead or show them to others, go to the mouth of Trout Run. In the fall the creek can be stacked with large steelhead, many with their tails sticking out of the water. It is a sight many children (and anglers) enjoy.

The mouth of Trout Run is at the foot of State Route 98 (Avonia Road) directly north of the town of Fairview. Parking is permitted only in certain areas along the road. Parking between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m. is also prohibited.

Fishing for steelhead at the mouth of Trout Run is very popular in the fall. Fish can be schooling just offshore when the fish have not yet made any significant run up any of the major creeks. If the lake is relatively calm, the steelhead fishing can be very productive. On the other hand, this is no secret, and on a warm, calm day in late September or October, you will likely find anglers lined up shoulder to shoulder at the mouth forming the "chorus line as it is so often called:

Tributary descriptions in part provided by www.FishERIE.com, a www.FishUSA regional site.

An Excellent Easy to Follow Website on Tying the Most Popular Fishing Knots:
Fishing Knots And Knot Tying From Fishing Cairns - Queensland - Australia

Poaching Hotlines:
Pennsylvania does not hold exclusivity on poaching. Here are numbers for most states to report poaching activity:
(local weather follows this list of numbers)
Alabama 1-800-272-4263
Alaska 1-800-478-3377
Arizona 1-800-352-0700
Arkansas 1-800-482-9262
California 1-800-952-5400
Colorado 1-800-332-4155
Connecticut 1-800-842-4357
Delaware 1-800-292-3030
Florida 1-800-342-1676 (NW)
1-800-342-8105 (NE)
1-800-342-9620 (Central)
1-800-432-2046 (Everglades)
Georgia 1-800-241-4113
Hawaii Ask operator for Enterprise 5469
Idaho 1-800-632-5999
Illinois 1-800-252-0163
Indiana 1-800-847-4367
Iowa 1-800-532-2020
Kansas 1-800-228-4263
Kentucky 1-800-252-5378
Louisiana 1-800-442-2511
Maine 1-800-253-7887
Massachusetts 1-800-632-8075
Michigan 1-800-292-7800
Minnesota 1-800-652-9093
Mississippi 1-800-237-6278
Missouri 1-800-392-1111
Montana 1-800-847-6668
Nebraska 1-800-742-7627
Nevada 1-800-992-3030
New Hampshire 1-800-344-4262
New Jersey 1-800-222-0456
New Mexico 1-800-843-4263
New York 1-800-817-7332
North Carolina 1-800-662-7137
North Dakota 1-800-472-2121
Ohio 1-800-762-2437
Oklahoma 1-800-552-8039
Oregon 1-800-452-7888
Pennsylvania 717-787-5743
Rhode Island 1-800-498-1336
South Carolina 1-800-922-5431
South Dakota 1-800-592-5522
Tennessee 1-800-255-8972
Texas 1-800-792-4263
Utah 1-800-662-3337
Vermont 1-800-752-5378
Virginia 1-800-237-5712
Washington 1-800-477-6224
West Virginia 1-800-638-4263
Wisconsin 1-800-847-9367
Wyoming 1-800-442-4331

Local Weather:
Wednesday
Occasional rain. Brisk. Highs in the upper 40s. South winds 15 to 25 mph. Chance of rain 90 percent.
Wednesday night
Rain showers. Lows in the mid 30s. Southwest winds 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 90 percent.
Thursday
Snow showers likely. Breezy. Highs in the upper 30s. West winds 15 to 25 mph. Chance of snow 60 percent.
Thursday night
Snow showers likely. Breezy. Lows in the mid 20s. Chance of snow 60 percent.
Friday
Cloudy with a chance of snow showers. Highs near 30. Chance of snow 50 percent.
Friday night
Cloudy with a chance of snow showers. Lows in the lower 20s. Chance of snow 40 percent.
Saturday
Mostly cloudy. Highs in the lower 30s.
Saturday night
Mostly cloudy. Lows in the lower 20s.
Sunday
Mostly cloudy. Highs in the mid 30s.
Sunday night
Mostly cloudy. Lows near 30.
Monday
Mostly cloudy with a chance of snow. Highs in the upper 30s. Chance of snow 30 percent.




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