Fish activity continues to be good with creek levels high. Continued precipitation should keep water levels up. Activity should be exceptional between iceovers with fish all through out the creeks.Fair numbers of Coho along with the steelhead have been caught in the Walnut basin and the Trout Run Marina. Tipped Jigs seem to be the bait of choice. Best depth below bobber noted This past weekend saw a good number of anglers doing well along the shore at Trout Run. Spoons and Rooster tails were working well If creeks are frozen over, breaking up the ice in an attempt to fish can be unsafe and most often does little more than spook the fish. Lake Erie ice & ice on moving water (streams) is usually to be considered unsafe. Creek freeze overs are a good time to lubricate reels, repair damaged rods, retie nets, tie flys, respool, practice some new knots, patch waders, and surf the net for new ideas and tactics. The Internet offers endless information on fishing especially for our local area. Ice tips: Early season ice overs can be dangerous as ambitious anglers attempt venturing out on to thin ice. Ice conditions can change rapidly and all ice should be approached with common sense and caution: 1) Four inches of solid ice should be the minimum thickness for a small group of anglers that keep spread out. An auger should be used to test thickness. 2) "Blue/black ice is more solid than white ice. Clear/transparent ice is the weakest. 3) Shoreline ice is often the weakest area and should be approached with caution. 4) Carry ice grips in case of a fall in. Ice grips can be as simple as 2 short 1" wooden dowels. Hammer a 16 penny nail into one end of each dowel, then grind the head off each nail. A hole drilled in each dowel and a cord too attach the two together and you're all set. 5) Wear a PFD or a Float Coat 6) Try to fish with a buddy 7) Watch for shifting ice and intersecting cracks especially on large expanses of water such as Presque Isle Bay. On Presque Isle Bay, incoming ships can actually shift ice as far as several miles away. 8) When venturing far out, use a small sled to pull your gear and spread out your weight while walking. (Much easier on the back too) 9) Avoid ice that has standing water on it. Randy Leighton Deputy Water Conservation Officer PA. Fish and Boat Commisssion West Erie County Rglerie@aol.com .............................................................................. ........................................... Edinboro Lake - Zebra Mussel Update On November 8 and 9, 2000 DEP conducted a Zebra Mussel study on Edinboro Lake to determine the extent of the population. Approximately forty sample locations were utilized to determine the population at various depths in the lake. The results indicate that the highest concentration of mussels is at the 1'-2' depth. The average density per square meter is 290 mussels. The 0-1' range and the 2'-3' range are have similar densities of 273 and 271.6 respectively. Between 3'-4' the density drops to 174 per square meter, and at 4'-5' the average density is 55 per square meter. Below 5' the population the samples resulted in zero zebra mussels captured. (The study does report that it is recognized that zebra mussels are present at depths of up to 8'+ on selected hard substrates. However, these organisms were not collected during quantitative sampling, and are not included in this estimate. Taking these figures in to account the total lake population is estimated to be greater that 37.3 (37,273,524) million mussels. The US Army Corps of Engineers published a study in July 1992 which concluded that Zebra Mussels can be effectively controlled by winter dewatering and exposure to subfreezing temperatures. The time required for 100 percent mortality ranged from approximately 1/2 hour at 20 degrees F to greater than 48 hours at 32 degrees. Using the population density information from DEP, and information from US Army Corps of Engineers, Edinboro Borough (with assistance from DEP) has requested a Draw Down Permit through the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission. On December 5, 2000 a meeting was held at the Borough Hall to discuss the permit request and logistics of such a draw down. The meeting concluded in agreement to a lake draw down of 5' to 5.5' in depth for no more than three days. Upon final approval signatures of the permit, the draw down will begin immediately. Please listen to local news media for the exact date of the draw down. Please note, that although the Fish and Boat Commission is very concerned about possible long term effects to populations of native aquatic species, it has been determined that no significant impact should be noted. Edinboro Lake has gone through many lake draw downs over the years, and no negative impact has been observed or documented by studies. The Fish and Boat Commission is concerned also for the safety of ice fisherman during this draw down period. It is difficult to determine how the draw down will effect the thin layer of ice that has begun to form. It is therefore recommended that all ice anglers, cross country skiers, and skaters take extra caution during this draw down period. WCO Ann Caretto
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