WCO Report for Erie County 10/12/2011: Erie area, PA,
WCO Report Posted: October 12, 2011

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Posted by DWCO Randy Leighton on October 12, 2011 at 21:08:23:

October 12th, 2011

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

Conditions:

A dry spell has left the area tribs very low and very clear in all areas with some areas less than ankle deep. As such there is very little flow making drift fishing difficult. Steelhead angling has been tough, but not impossible. Anglers willing to put in their angling time on second and third shifts are doing reasonably will in the lower stretches of Elk and Walnut Creeks. Those trying their luck during the day are finding the fish to be very uncooperative and easily spooked. These conditions often require inducing strikes by using lightly working the micro jigs or using small spinners or spoons. An occasional "twitch" of the still baits can sometimes be helpful. The crack of dawn this past weekend found anglers doing fairly well along the wall at Walnut Creek and along the lake shore at Trout Run with the action fading with daylight. The most popular baits were small cleos, paste baits, sucker spawn and crystal flies, single eggs, and egg sacks. Lower Elk has fair numbers of fish although conditions are similar, clear and very little flow at this time. Last weeks rains did bring in fish but not in the numbers expected and the few fish that were in the tribs were able to move up and scatter.. This week is calling for colder ambient temperatures along with a fair chance of precipitation. There are still perch and and a few remaining . walleye to be caught when the Lake is calm enough and anglers trolling the shorelines have been bringing in a fair number of steelhead. Current trib conditions are very low and very clear with little to now flow. Lake Erie water temperature is is a relatively warm 65 degrees.

Misguided Hooks: With elbow to elbow fishing conditions, the occasional misguided hook can be fairly common. Removing a hook is not as difficult or as painful as many think if done properly. If the hook has pierced the skin and the point and barb are exposed it is simply a matter of cutting the barbed end and eye off with a pair of nippers or needle nosed pliers and pulling it out. The situation is a little tougher when the barb is buried. The proper way is as follows, assuming that the hook is not in a delicate area such as the ear lobe or near the eyes. Those situations would dictate seeking professional attention:

1) Press firmly on the eye of the hook

2) At the same time use a cloth, string, or some type of wrap that can be wrapped around
the curved portion of the hook

3) While pressing on the eye, pull with one quick motion on the attached cloth. This is
virtually painless (or so I'm told). Irrigate the wound and bandage. Of course this procedure is for small hooks.

Fair Warning: As many of you know by now, the traffic pattern flow at the Walnut Creek Access has changed dramatically and has been in effect for a while. Traffic signs are posted and will be enforced. Traffic is set up to flow in a large clockwise direction for everyone using the area. When entering the Access area at the large stop sign, you can make an immediate right turn after stopping to head directly to the lake shore, the office, or far North Wall or you can go straight and follow the loop If you are exiting the area with Walnut Creek on your passenger side...you are driving the wrong way in a one way area. Posted traffic signs will be enforced. The Access area can get extremely busy this time of year with the overlap of Steelhead, Walleye, and Perch seasons. The new Traffic pattern has worked well for launching boats with less back up and the overall pattern should ease congestion through the season.

Law Enforcement Steelhead crowds at lower Walnut and Elk Creeks have brought litter and fishing violations. Snagging and or using illegal devices to catch fish will carry a zero tolerance policy by officers. Litter violations of any kind will usually carry the stiffest penalties allowed. It is often the case that an angler is ignorant of the laws and the specific regulations to our area. Anglers are encouraged, especially the first timers to our area, to again read their Fishing Summary Booklet carefully or to ask an officer if they are not sure or do not understand the regulations. Relying on another angler to clarify the rules will often get you the wrong answer. Remember that it is illegal to sell, offer to sell, buy, or offer to buy any fish not taken by a commercial fisherman, The sale of any sport angler caught fish carries very stiff penalties.

Support Your Local Sportsmen's Clubs:
The Pennsylvania Steelhead Association will hold its next meeting on Wednesday October 12th at the American Legion on West 12th street (route 5 near the Airport) at 7:00 PM. The public is welcome.


Great Lakes Steelhead Expo: The Great Lakes Steelhead Expo will be taking place on Saturday, November 5th, 2011 at the Rainbow Gardens Convention Center in Erie, Pa. The expo will run from 1:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. This event will be centered on the steelhead fishing experience in the Great Lakes region. Top vendors and companies will be on hand to show the latest and greatest fishing products, guides will speak on their fisheries and there will be local clubs doing fly tying and casting demonstrations. Folks from various fish and wildlife services that represent the Great Lakes region will also be on hand. This is a well sponsored event and should be a wealth of information for the novice and expert alike. For more information please go to Great Lakes Steelhead Expo or call 814-440-4725

Local Weather:

Wednesday Night...Cloudy. Rain likely...mainly in the evening. Lows in the mid 50s. Southeast winds 15 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 70 percent.

Thursday...Mostly cloudy with a 40 percent chance of showers. Highs in the mid 60s. South winds 5 to 10 mph.

Thursday Night...Showers likely. Lows in the mid 50s. Southeast winds 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 70 percent.

Friday...Showers likely. Breezy with highs in the lower 60s. Chance of rain 70 percent.

Friday Night...Showers likely. Breezy with lows in the lower 50s. Chance of rain 70 percent.

Saturday...Showers likely. Windy with highs in the mid 50s. Chance of rain 60 percent.

Saturday Night...Mostly cloudy with a 40 percent chance of showers. Breezy with lows around 50.

Sunday...Mostly cloudy in the morning...then clearing. Highs in the lower 60s.

Sunday Night...Partly cloudy. Lows around 50.

Monday...Partly sunny with a 30 percent chance of showers. Highs in the lower 60s.

Monday Night...Partly cloudy. Lows in the upper 40s.

Tuesday...Partly sunny in the morning...then becoming mostly cloudy. A 30 percent chance of showers. Highs in the lower 60s.





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