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Erie County WCO Fishing Report / March 2001
Upcoming Outdoor Event Dates…
March 2, 3, & 4 … Erie Outdoor Show at Family First Park, I-90 @ Exit 6
(Rt.19)
March 19 … Public Comment Meeting / possible Walleye Regulation changes (Erie
City Council Building)
March 31 … Gravel Pit & Lake Pleasant close to fishing at midnight
April 1 … Linesville Hatchery Open House / Demonstrations on spawning fish,
cooking, filleting, etc…
Why Erie is the place to be in March…
While inland Approved Trout Waters are closed throughout the Commonwealth,
Erie tributaries offer Steelhead Trout angling up until 32 hours prior to the
Opening Day of Trout Season as well as 2 winter stocked Brown Trout lakes
open until April 1st before it also closes to until the opener. This closure
permits officers with their loyal helpers to stock even more trout for April
14th 8AM festivities. Add to this the opportunities for jumbo Yellow Perch
nearshore & in Presque Isle Bay up to 16" in length, slab Crappies &
Bluegills, trophy bass, and my personal favorite Burbot … and you have a
paradise. Try it once and you too will be a regular here. Conditions
It does not appear that we are going to have another major freeze that would
seriously affect the tribs the rest of the season, however this "is" Erie, PA
and the lake has some open water that could trigger some "Lake Effect" snows.
Loose Pack Ice comes & goes along the lake shoreline dependant on the wind
direction. Large numbers of fish are holding at the mouth of Trout and
Godfrey Runs and anglers are having a high rate of success in those areas
with skein. Crappie fishing should pick up at Misery Bay as well as the
Fingers at Edinboro Lake. Steelhead are spread through out all the tribs
now. Smolts have been planted at the lower ends of Crooked and Raccoon
Creeks. Try upper Elk Creek from Folly's end to the Mckean Hole just
upstream of I-79. The Rt. 5 & Railroad tubes on Walnut and Elk are good spots
to get out of the wind. Manchester Hole and the Walnut Creek Project Waters
continues to hold large numbers of steelhead. Recent Stockings…
Anglers can try their luck at the Fairview Gravel Pit or Lake Pleasant for
trout. Recent stocking of these waters will provide great opportunity until
they close at the end of March. They will then open again on April 14th at
8:00 am. What to use
Try minnows, single eggs and grubs for trout at the Gravel Pit or Lake
Pleasant. Minnows and micro tube jigs are the ticket for crappie. Steelhead
will begin to look for the popular springtime baits. Try fresh skein, single
eggs when water is clear, marabou jigs.. especially in white, chartreuse,
brown and black, or live minnows. Boaters
March usually has a number of individuals trying there luck from small boats
and canoes. The importance of wearing a PFD (not just having it on board)
can not be overstated this time of year. Anglers will most often be boating
with heavy clothing and boots. Water temperatures are bone chilling hovering
just above the freezing mark. . Hypothermia is as much a risk as drowning if
one falls overboard or tips a small canoe this time of year. Outdoor show
The Erie Outdoor show will be this weekend at the Family First Sports Park,
8155 Oliver Road (Peach Street Exit # 6 off I-90) Hours are Friday Noon - 9
PM, Sat. 9 AM to 9 PM, Sun. 10 AM to 6 PM. The show is a welcomed break to
the winter cabin fever with some great presentations, all the latest in
hunting & fishing gear, tips from the "local guys" and some great bargains as
well. The PA Fish and Boat Commission will be well represented throughout
the weekend. Officers will be available for questions with our highlight
being presentations of the "Snakes of PA. West County Officers will be at
the show on Saturday and East County officers will be there on Sunday while
Central Erie officers will be there all 3 days. Be sure to congratulate WCO
Mark Kerr (Eastern Erie County) on the birth of his new son last week. We
all look forward to seeing our old friends that have hibernated over the
winter and meeting new ones. Hope to see you there. John Bowser, Water Conservation Officer
Randy Leighton, Deputy Water Conservation Officer,
PA. Fish and Boat Commission
West Erie County
jwb014@aol.com, rglerie@aol.com
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