WCO John W. Bowser & DWCO Randy Leighton …Western Erie County
Jwb014@aol.com & Rglerie@aol.com Conditions
Steelhead activity has begun to slow on the tribs even though there are still
fair numbers. With cool nighttime temperatures, steelhead may stick around
another week or two. Trout have been biting well at the Fairview Gravel Pit
with small shiners being the preferred bait. Launch ramps are in at the
Walnut Access; however, caution should be used at the channel entrance.
"Hugging" the East Wall should keep you in 3 feet of water at the present
time. Perch activity has been good through out the Presque Isle Bay. Hot
spots include the Lagoons area and the North Pier. Nice perch catches are
being made on the pier at daybreak and between 4:00 PM and 8:00 PM in the
evening. For the Kids:
The annual Northwest Sportsmen Kid's Derby is May 28th at 1:00 PM at their
clubhouse pond located on Rt. 6N approximately one mile south of I-90, Exit
1.
The annual Kids Fishing Derby sponsored by the Elk Valley Sportsman's club is
scheduled for Noon, May 5th. at the Girard Boro Park. This is a great event
for the family and is always a popular event. This is kid's fishing at its
best and a great way to introduce the youngsters to a lifetime of fun.
Both of these events are sponsored & paid for by these groups. If you are a
parent that has a child participating in these events, show your support by
getting a membership or making a donation to help them continue in their
efforts for toady's youth.
Erosion problems…
The freshly stocked steelhead smolts are currently in the Erie tribs being
"imprinted". Many construction / developments earthmoving jobs are also
getting their start and being exposed to the Spring Rains. While some
siltation occurs naturally and is handled quite well by the young fish, heavy
runoff can take its toll. Earthmoving jobs are required to have Erosion &
Sedimentation Plan (E&S Plan) implemented to minimize siltation into the
waterways. Recent calls from concerned anglers have prevented any serious
damage from occurring by alerting officers to the potential harm and allowing
preventative measures to be taken. If you observe any sites that you feel
may not be in compliance and wish to report it… you may contact WCO Bowser by
phone at 774-0928 or the above posted email address. Boating Safety Class…
West County Deputies are currently setting up a PFBC Basic Boating Course in
a West County location for the latter part of May. As soon as time & location
are determined we will be posting it on all of the Internet sites that you
find this report as well as through other media outlets. Pre season boat and trailer checks:
If you trailer your boat a "test run" and flush in the driveway can save
embarrassment on your first launch of the season.
To flush the engine you will need a set of "rabbit ears" (two flexible rubber
seals connected with a metal clamp). Simply slip this apparatus onto the
lower unit where the water is picked up and attach a garden hose. Start up
the engine and let the water pump do the rest. (Be sure to stay clear of the
prop and make sure no one tries to shift into gear. (Better yet, to be safe,
remove the prop.) While the motor is being flushed, check the water pump to make sure you have
good water flow. Carefully put your finger through the stream of water. It
may be warm, but it shouldn't be hot. If the output is not strong, you may
have some debris stuck in the outflow tube. You should immediately shut down
the engine to prevent overheating and damage. A small piece of wire or
similar object can be inserted up into the flow tube and worked back and
forth. Start the engine again and check the output. If that doesn't solve the
problem you may need a new water pump. Water pump impellers are often made
of a hard rubber compound and can dry out and become brittle. After flushing the engine you should disconnect the fuel line and allow the
engine to burn all the fuel in the carburetor. By the way, make sure you
always use fresh fuel. You should not use fuel that has been sitting around
for over 60 days. That means that at the end of your season you must take the
fuel in your tanks to the proper recycling authority. Other fuel-related items you should check are: 1. Check the fuel line for cracks and worn spots 2. Make sure the fuel primer bulb is pliable & not cracked 3. Make sure the fuel line fittings seat properly and don't leak 4. Check the clamps on the fuel line for rust or corrosion 5. Check the fuel tanks for damage or corrosion 6. Check the tank vent to make sure it aspirates properly (many a mechanic
has handed a boater a bill for services after he simply opened the tank vent). 7. Check for water in the fuel 8. Look over the engine for any fresh leaks, especially on the lower unit or
outdrive and have them repaired before first launch. 9. Check your trailer for correct pressure. Replace tires that have cracked
severely. Look at the inside wheel seals for grease leakage and replace the
seals if necessary. If you can move the wheel and the lug nuts are tight, the
wheel bearings are in need of replacement. Safety chains and hitch lock
should be in good serviceable condition. Have a friend assist you in
checking all lights. Checking for loose or corroded wires early in the season
can save trouble down the road. 9. Critters often like making there winter homes in a covered boat. Check
bilge areas, vents on boats with built in tanks, air cleaner areas, and
electrical areas for nests that can cause blockage. 10. Steering and throttle cables should be checked for excessive play and
repaired as necessary. 11. Take a good walk around the hull and transom areas and look for any
serious stress cracks. Anything suspicious should be addressed before launch. 12. A "mushy" floor in a fiberglass boat can be an indication of rotting
wood below deck...a project best left to the pros. 13. Make sure blower and trim motors or tabs are working properly. 14. Bilge area should be clean and free of debris and pump operation should
be checked 15. Batteries should be fully charged and terminals should be covered or
sealed. Check all required safety equipment: 1. Make sure all PFDs are in good serviceable condition. They should not
compress easily and when squeezed, should not emit any air sound. Be sure
buckles and straps are in good condition. If they are in the packages they
came in, remove the packaging and place them in an accessible area on your
boat. 2. Check all lights if your boat requires them. Check horn operation and
keep spare bulbs and fuses on board 3. Check your fire extinguisher, if you require one, to see that it is fully
charged and that it the appropriate type for your boat. 4. If you are boating on Lake Erie and are over 16 feet, you are required
to have day/night visual distress signals. These are most often a package of
3 and are hand launched. Check the expiration dates on the package. If you
need to replace them, be sure to check the expiration date on the new package. 5. Check dock and anchor lines and replace any that have begun to rot 6. Suggested additional safety items to keep on board would be a bailing
device, anchor and line, first aid kit, compass, extra PFDs, flashlight and a
small tool kit. On Lake Erie, Electronic navigational aids such as a GPS
unit or Lorance and a marine radio can save your life. If boating Lake Erie
don't rely solely on a cell phone for emergency communication. Most 911
calls from the lake end up to a confused Canadian Phone Operator 8. Be sure that your boat and trailer registration are current and on board. 9. If you are a novice boater, taking a boating course from the PFBC, the
Coast Guard Auxiliary, or the US Power Squadron is an excellent way to get
your feet wet. WCO Joe Russell … Western Crawford County · 2 bass tournaments and a Walleye tournament this past weekend had most of
the boats limited out. Many of the fish caught were really nice size. A 4 LB
1 oz largemouth was weighed in at Snodgrass.
· In the last couple of days officers have seen 33 and 34-inch musky caught
from shore using minnows … the larger the better.
· Fish are turning on at the lower end of the lake now and that is where the
shore fishing has picked up. One angler caught 7 smallmouths that were all of
legal size in less that an hour in the backwater by the Century Club ( just
south of 41 bay). · Anglers need to realize that the best fishing does not occur until ˝ hour
prior to sunset. Figure on starting around 6 - 6:30 PM for the best fishing
success. It is a shame when officers come across disgusted anglers that have
been out all day and gotten skunked only to be coming off of the water just
as the fish start to hit.
· Conneaut Creek has plenty of elbowroom and receives an in-season stocking
the week of April 23rd. Trout fishing south of the Erie / Crawford line
should be great the weekend of April 28th & 29th.
· Hot spots on Pymatuming now would be the south end near the dam, the
spillway, and the rock wall near the PGC visitor center.
· For bass, crappies and perch on Pymatuming would be just about any bay or
backwater, as they seem to be hitting everywhere.
· Boating … Many violations have been detected of boats which failed to have
a required fire extinguisher. In the past week there have been 3 boat
accidents (2 capsized and 1 that involved cutting the end of their finger off
with the fly wheel.). Boaters underestimate the size of waves that this lake
can produce and are tending to overload or not pay attention
WCO Mark Kerr …. Eastern Erie County
· Steelhead are still present in nice numbers in 12, 16, and 20-Mile Creeks.
Added bonuses of stocked trout are present from Route 20 to the Mouth in
20-Mile Creek.
· Crappie and Bluegill catches are taking place in moderate numbers from
Eaton Reservoir.
· Lake Pleasant continues to provide great trout fishing.
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