Conditions:
As of this writing we have had significant rainfall and warmer temperatures melting all remaining snow and putting the tribs at extremely high and muddy conditions. Caution is advised to those anglers attempting to fish these conditions as changing bottom conditions and fast moving water can be a dangerous combination. Any fishing in these conditions is best done from shore. This heavy precipititation will help the low clear conditions that we have had over the last few weeks. As levels fall, the access areas at Walnut and Elk will be worth a try with the possibility of fresh fish. Fishing has been excellent at lower Elk just south of the boat launch with blood dots, sucker spawn and most egg patterns nailing them. Fish have been scattered in the upper stretches of the tribs but fishing still remains good. Crooked creek has been producing and should remain so as current water levels subside.

Burbot
Anglers are beginning to target Burbot along the North Pier. Most Burbot are accidentally hooked by unsuspecting Perch anglers using minnows and perch rigs. Anglers specifically targeting Burbot will typically use the largest shiners they can get, often using two on one hook and fish them on the bottom. Burbot are a fresh water cod that enjoy the coldest depths of Great Lakes. As water temperatures drop, Burbot will move into shallower water and can often be caught from the North and South piers. Burbot has a mild taste and can be enjoyed fried, baked, broiled or as Officer Bowser prefers, fixed as a "mock lobster" and served up with drawn butter.

CENTRAL ERIE COUNTY / WCO TOM EDWARDS

Erie Forecast:
Wednesday: Cloudy skies with wintry precipitation likely during the afternoon. High around 35F. Winds ENE at 15 to 25 mph. Chance of precip 50%.
Wednesday night: Snow, sleet or freezing rain in the evening turning to all snow late. Low near 25F. Winds NE at 15 to 25 mph. Chance of precip 60%. Snowfall around one inch.
Thursday: Some snow flurries in the morning may become a bit heavier during the afternoon. Temperatures steady in the upper 20s. Winds ENE at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of snow 30%.
Thursday (24 hours): Snow showers at times. Highs in the upper 20s and lows in the mid 20s.
Friday (24 hours): Occasional light snow. Highs in the low 30s and lows in the low 20s.
Saturday (24 hours): A few snow showers. Highs in the upper 20s and lows in the low30s

EASTERN ERIE COUNTY, WARREN COUNTY / WCO Mark Kerr

Cliff Notes:

If you're just biding your time, the lengthy version can be read in its entirety below. However, if you want the quick and dirty ... here it is:

Increased temperatures + Heavy snow melt X +/- 48 hours of rain = BAD FISHING!

East County Tributaries:

Yeah right, not with Mother Nature being up to her old tricks again. The only thing that appears to be consistent about the weather is that it has not been consistent … and that’s all I’ve got to say about that!

Seems we had two or three good days (Friday through Sunday); then, all went downhill. Patrols today showed moderate to exceptionally high conditions with, still, increasing water levels, due to the, almost, continual rain we have been receiving since Sunday evening. Heavy concentrations of fog were present from I-90 northward. Weather forecasters are calling for a drop in temperatures starting this afternoon (12-31-02), with a continued chance of snow/flurries through Friday. Hopefully, the colder weather will slow up some of the run-off entering the streams, bringing them down to a more agreeable level in the days to come. However, looking at the "silver lining", the increased water levels may, perhaps, entice higher numbers of steelhead into the tributaries, during this next week.

Ice Conditions:
Not today, folks. Some of the local impoundments contained +/- 2" of the stuff, through this last weekend; however, since Sunday night that has been steadily decreasing. Most are now top covered by a couple inches of water, with exceptionally poor levels of ‘ice’ (more like ‘slush’) underneath.

WESTERN CRAWFORD COUNTY / WCO Joe Russell

Pymatuning Lake and Conneaut Lake- I have not been in the district for the last week and a half to know what is biting right now, however driving back here tonight (12/31/2002) I drove through about 2 hours of rain and there is 4 to 6 inches of rain in my front ditch so I can’t imagine the ice is any good at this time. It is also very warm, probably mid 40’s. I will have more on fishing conditions next week I promise.

Fresh run male from the Project Waters

Lots of room on the North Jetty

Best of Holidays ... Western Erie County PFBC Officers wish all of you a great holiday season.

CENTRAL ERIE / WCO TOM EDWARDS & DWCO BRYAN BRENDLEY
Presque Isle State Park:
The waters are somewhat open in the marina and there have been some perch taken from the docks. Not a lot of action seen on the Bayfront.

Edinboro Lake:
The lake is now back up to normal pool level and is ready for the freeze.

Nothing much to report for the past week I've just been enjoying some leave around the holidays.

Best holiday wishes to all from the BLE officers in Central Erie!

EASTERN ERIE / WCO MARK KERR
Erie Forecast:
Wednesday: Snow likely. Temperatures steady in the upper 20s. ENE winds shifting to NW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of snow 80%. Snow may accumulate 2 to 4 inches.
Wednesday night: Cloudy with snow. Low around 25F. Winds WNW at 15 to 25 mph. Chance of snow 70%. 1 to 3 inches of snow expected.
Thursday: Flurries and some snow showers diminishing late in the day. Temperatures steady in the upper 20s. Winds W at 15 to 25 mph. Chance of snow 30%.
Thursday (24 hours): Snow showers at times. Highs in the low 30s and lows in the low 20s.
Friday (24 hours): A few snow showers. Highs in the upper 20s and lows in the low 20s.
Saturday (24 hours): Cloudy. Highs in the low 30s and lows in the mid 20s.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

WESTERN CRAWFORD COUNTY / WCO JOE RUSSELL

WHOPPER WHITE BASS IS NEW STATE RECORD When Robert Hornstrom of Meadville headed out to nearby Conneaut Lake on November 8, he had high hopes for a good day of fishing. Considering that he came home with the new state record white bass, one could say: “mission accomplished.” Hornstrom was jigging with a quarter-ounce spoon when the fish struck. Once in hand, the fish measured just over 19 inches with a 15 ½-inch girth. A trip to the meat department of a local grocery store to have the bass weighed on a certified scale revealed that not only was the fish big, it was actually the biggest on record for its species in Pennsylvania. The new record, 3 lbs, 15.7 oz, surpasses the previous white bass benchmark by a little more than an ounce and a half. David F. Hornstein, also of Meadville, caught that 3 lb, 14 oz fish - at Conneaut Lake. The state record white bass prior to Hornstein’s 1996 catch also came from Conneaut Lake. Pennsylvania certifies state records based on total body weight. Potential record fish must exceed the established mark by at least one ounce, as weighed on a certified scale. To be considered for state record certification, a fish must be caught using legal means, in season, from Pennsylvania waters open to the public without charge or fee. Fish taken from farm ponds, fee-fishing lakes, ponds or streams or in waters restricted to use by club members or their guests do not qualify. A biologist or Waterways Conservation Officer from the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission (PFBC) must examine the fish. The PFBC is the only entity that can certify an official state record fish in the Commonwealth.

Conditions:
The tribs have begun to drop some after a heavy run off and we seem to have settle in to slushy mornings and nice conditions during the day. Much of the recent ice has melted and many areas are open as of this writing. Local reports have indicated a good number of fresh fish in many of the lower stretches of Elk and Walnut Creeks. The high water and the seasonal swings in temperatures seem to have stirred up some movement. Minnows and eggs have been popular with the bait crowd. The crowds have continued to thin with plenty of elbow room in most areas especially on weekdays. Fish are being caught although the numbers of fish in the tribs has thinned out some. Good fishing bets this time of year are typically the areas of the tribs south of route 20. With the high water levels we are experiencing fish will be coming in from the lake randomly and targeting the Walnut and Elk Creek Access areas may yield fresh fish for the smoker.

Walnut Creek Access Office:
Friday, December 20th will be the last day the WCAA office and restroom facilities will be open for the season. (Portable facilities will remain throughout the winter) The office has all of the popular PFBC publications, books and posters as well as 2003 licenses, all of which make great last minute stocking stuffers. Sherri, Beverly, & Marilyn (the office staff at Walnut) give their best wishes for a great holiday and thank everyone for a wonderful season.

EASTERN ERIE COUNTY / WCO MARK KERR

As of yesterday (12-16-02), the majority of the tributaries had dropped a
little but were still running a bit high. Color has turned 'greenish', but
I have not noticed any large runs of fresh fish entering the streams.

CENTRAL ERIE COUNTY / WCO TOM EDWARDS

ERIE FORECAST:
Wednesday: Mostly cloudy with drizzle developing in the afternoon. High 44F. Winds SE at 15 to 25 mph. Chance of precip 30%.
Wednesday night: Cloudy during the evening. A few showers developing late. Low 39F. Winds SSE at 15 to 25 mph. Chance of rain 30%.
Thursday: Rain showers, with increasing winds in the afternoon. High 51F. Winds S at 20 to 30 mph. Chance of rain 50%.
Thursday (24 hours): Windy with showers at times. Highs in the low 50s and lows in the low 40s.
Friday (24 hours): Showers possible. Highs in the low 40s and lows in the upper 20s.
Saturday (24 hours): Chance of a few snow showers. Highs in the low 30s and lows in the mid 20s.

Legion Park area of Elk Creek

State Line Pond getting a covering of ice

Conditions:
Gradual snow melt off and daytime temperatures approaching the forties have kept the tribs high and nicely colored. This is the time of year that the tribs get that beautiful deep green color that seems to be so desirable (Between ice overs of course). Cold temperatures at night will yield ice and slush at day break but the late mornings and afternoons have produced great conditions in most areas. Upper stream areas are where to look for fish. Follies End, Streuchen, The Girard and Legion Park on Elk should all be opening up from the recent ice. Fish are up on Walnut on near the Millcreek Mall and some catches have been made at the McKean hole. High water levels should bring additional late staging fish into the tribs making lower Walnut and Elk worth a try. Crooked Creek has good flow and color with fish scattered throughout.

CENTRAL ERIE / WCO TOM EDWARDS & DWCO BRYAN BRENDLEY

A recent patrol around Presque Isle State Park showed ice all along the park side of the bay. Duck hunters were breaking ice to set out decoys. With a Warming trend this week it may be fishable in the upcoming days but that is up to mother nature.I spoke recently with a boro employee in Edinboro and they informed me that the repairs on the spillway were complete and that normal dam level will be regained once again pending mother nature and runoff. Since these repairs are complete Edinboro will be ready for ice fishing once the ice is favorable.

EASTERN ERIE/ WCO MARK KERR

Wednesday: Cloudy with a mixture of light rain and snow developing in the afternoon. High 38F. Winds light and variable. Chance of precip 30%.
Wednesday night: Cloudy with rain and snow showers in the evening. Remaining cloudy late. Low 31F. Winds S at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precip 30%.
Thursday: Partly cloudy skies. High 43F. Winds SW at 5 to 10 mph.
Thursday (24 hours): Partly cloudy. Highs in the low 40s and lows in the low 30s.
Friday (24 hours): Mostly cloudy. Highs in the low 40s and lows in the mid 30s.
Saturday (24 hours): Mix of rain and snow showers. Highs in the upper 30s and lows in the low 30s.

WESTERN CRAWFORD COUNTY / WCO JOE RUSSELL

Pymatuning Lake- Ice season has started here at the lake with a few fishermen venturing out on the ice already. Several guys were spotted by the outboard motor club fishing just out from shore however I have to warn you that the ice is still not safe in several areas and with the snow covering the ice you wont know it is a bad area until you go through. They are predicting warmer weather with possible rain for the next couple of days so that will not help either. If you are going bring a buddy or let someone know where you will be in case you have problems. Another real good idea is a staff or walking stick, you can turn it sideways if you start going threw and prevent yourself from going all the way in. Ice hand augers are another life saver should you go threw to help you drag yourself out.
Conneaut Lake- The main body of the lake is still open water with only the back bays and most of the edges being iced in. This does limit being able to put a boat on though because you can't get to the open water right now.
2003 Fishing Licenses are on sale now and what a great Christmas gift they would make for your loved one. They are an entire year of fun at a very inexpensive price so buy them now before the beginning of the year rush.

The steelhead runs had a slow start on many of the southern shore Lake Erie tributary streams this fall due to a lack of precipitation. The exception was the Cattaraugus River in New York, which had excellent runs of fall chromers in late September and October due to its large watershed, and spring feed sources. Run-off conditions improved tremendously during November and many of the Pennsylvania tributaries like Elk, Walnut and 20 Mile Creeks got large runs of steelies and enough water to move them quite a distance upstream. The Ohio tributaries have had moderate runs of steelhead so far, primarily because of the Little Manistee strain steelhead implanted in those tributaries. This steelhead is primarily a late winter, early spring run fish, but some will begin their upstream migration as early as January. Ohio still gets a small number of stray steelies from Pennsylvania, New York and Michigan waters. Cold and snowy weather conditions have put the brakes on steelhead fishing right now on many of the tributaries. But this early freeze should be temporary, with a thaw expected soon. The freeze/thaw cycle is a normal occurrence on the tributaries during the winter months. The steelheader should watch the weather and stream conditions and plan his trips around open water conditions. During ice-over conditions there can still be a few open areas. Look for faster runs and pocket water in the bottom third of the tributaries near the lake. If worse comes to worse, steelheaders have been known to break surface ice in their favorite pool or run and come back later. Surprisingly, winter steelies settle down pretty quickly after this commotion and can become cooperative fly takers. Be careful though, broken ankles and sprained wrists are not worth the effort, especially in really thick ice conditions. When there are open water opportunities in the winter, the bulk of the steelhead will be wintering over in pool eddies and tail-outs, slower runs that have good depth, along shale ledges and in shale streambed troughs. These are prime areas for the steelheader to look for winter steelhead because they provide the slow current flows that lethargic winter steelies are seeking prior to their spawning in late winter. Classic winter steelhead water temperatures are considered at 38 degrees F or below.

____________________________________________________

... Stop Sign Hole in the Project Water Section

... Manchester Hole on Walnut

... Mouth of Trout Run

Ice Caution:
Anglers intent on breaking up ice, especially in the larger pools such as Manchester, can be putting themselves in danger and most often end up doing little more then spooking the fish they are after. If you must break up an icy pool, do so from the edge and work in small sections to avoid large ice flows. A good rule of thumb is that it takes a good solid 3 inches of ice to safely support one person. Anglers wading in ice water are urged to use felt bottom waders for good traction in ice and snow. Open top rubber chest waders can be a hazard this time of year as they will fill quickly with ice water upon falling. With harsh fishing conditions that winter brings it is a good idea to fish with a buddy or at least carry a cell phone, especially when fishing the more remote areas.
CENTRAL ERIE COUNTY / DWCO BRYAN BRENDLEY
Erie Forecast 12/4/02:
Wednesday: Cloudy. High 28F. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph.
Wednesday night: Cloudy. Low 23F. Winds SE at 5 to 10 mph.
Thursday: Cloudy. Temperatures steady in the upper 20s. Winds WNW at 10 to 15 mph.
Thursday (24 hours): Overcast. Highs in the upper 20s and lows in the low 20s.
Friday (24 hours): Snow showers. Highs in the upper 20s and lows in the low 20s.
Saturday (24 hours): Overcast. Highs in the upper 30s and lows in the upper 20s.

EASTERN ERIE COUNTY / WCO MARK KERR
(reprinted from the PFBC Website)
A Safety Checklist for Ice Anglers

See complete WCO report

WESTERN CRAWFORD COUNTY / WCO JOE RUSSELL
Pymatuning Lake- Unfortunately I have not been around for the last week to see if anyone has been catching fish.

Conneaut Lake-
I have not had any reports forwarded to me this week from here and as I said I was gone for the week so nothing to report from here.

WCO Tom Edwards / Central Erie County
Wednesday: Scattered flurries and snow showers. Temperatures steady in the low 30s. Winds NNW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of snow 30%.
Wednesday night: Mostly cloudy. Some flurries or snow showers are possible. Low 21F. Winds WNW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of snow 30%.
Thursday: Off and on snow flurries are possible along with variably cloudy skies. High 32F. Winds WSW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of snow 20%.
Thursday (24 hours): Cloudy with flurries. Highs in the low 30s and lows in the upper 20s.
Friday (24 hours): Mostly cloudy with snow showers. Highs in the upper 30s and lows in the low 30s.
Saturday (24 hours): Snow showers. Highs in the upper 30s and lows in the low 30s.

EASTERN-ERIE/WESTERN-WARREN COUNTIES / WCO Mark Kerr...
UPPER 20-MILE ACCESS QUESTIONS:
Since last week's report regarding anglers' fishing the 'Snakehole'
area of Twentymile, I have received some questions on access... Hopefully,
this will answer the majority of those queries posed.
That area immediately to the south of the SR 20 railroad tracks is
still posted against trespass/fishing. However, this stretch of water
extends for only a short distance upstream of the 'tubes'. Anglers can
still access the 20-mile gorge by parking along the west berm immediately
after the second set of tracks on Gulf Road (please DON'T park in the
vineyard!). These tracks are approximately 1/4 mile south of the first
set, which are immediately south of SR 20. Trespass is forbidden over the
railroad trestle in this area; however, there is a path which extends south
along the west rim of the gorge. This path allows the 'careful' angler to
gain foot traffic access to the upper reaches of Twentymile, extending well
into the State of New York. It's a long way to the bottom of the gorge, so
watch your step!! Fishing pressure is generally light in this area, as the
walk to the bottom (or, more importantly, the walk back to the top!!) is
not for everybody. By this time of year, steelhead have, through the
convenience of several significant precipitation's, generally been able to
conquer the 'falls' under SR 20 and have moved well into New York.
Concentrations of steelhead will not be as numerous as those witnessed
between the lakeshore and the 'iron bridge' south of SR 5, but they are
there; and, more importantly, these fish haven't received quite the
'intense' angling pressure as their counterparts to the north. If you have
a New York fishing license take it with you, as some of the best holes for
steelhead activity, at this time of year, are more than a mile into our
neighboring state. Good luck and good fishin'!!

EAST COUNTY TRIBUTARY UPDATES:
Welcomed precipitation, taking the form of 'white-out' conditions, on
11-22-02 have substantially increased the volume occurring within the Erie
tribs. As of Sunday morning (11-24-02), most east county tributaries were
running high, swift and just a touch off-color. However, these streams
historically drop back to 'enjoyable' fishing conditions in relatively
short order. If we don't receive any more heavy precipitation, these
streams will be at 'peak' conditions by no later than the first of the
week. Additionally, this newest round of precipitation should increase the
level of steelhead activity within the east county tributaries.
Areas of steelhead concentrations:
20-mile-- Fish are scattered throughout the stream. Most
anglers concentrate on the stretch from the mouth through just south of SR 5; however, don't overlook the lesser hit sections at Hirtzel's, I-90, Gulf
Road and just over into New York State.
16-mile-- Heaviest concentrations occur from the mouth through the intersection of SR 5 & SR 89.
12-mile-- Historically, the falls immediately south of SR 5 keep all angling pressure confined from this area north to the lake shore.
8-mile-- Only ever see one, two or three anglers playing on this stream and 99.9% are within 50 yards +/- of the mouth.
7-mile-- Access is by 'walk-in-only', by parking on SR 5
and 'hoofing' it through the Glinodo Center property. Fall steelhead fishing activity is present; however, it appears that the best runs come in the Spring.
4-mile-- Biggest concentrations are present from the
footbridge at the Lawrence Park Golf Course through the mouth, with the best opportunity occurring at the large pool just south of the lake shore. DON'T scale the fence of the Lawrence Park Hunting/Fishing Club property. Access to the east side of the mouth hole can be attained by simply walking immediately to the south of the fence and following the east bank.

WESTERN CRAWFORD / WCO JOE RUSSELL

Pymatuning Lake- Walleye and perch are still being caught from boats on the South end by jigging sonar's. The numbers are not all that great but the sizes have been averaging 16" to 20". Chanteuse seems to be the color of choice and late afternoon to early evening seems to be the best time frame. Lake levels are still extremely low so if you are boating be extra careful and take a little extra time to get there safe.Conneaut Lake- a fisherman E-mailed me this week to let me know he caught a 44" Muskie while trolling out here this week. I have reports that white bass are still doing well also. This is the time of year to fish this lake because you will probably have the entire lake to yourself.
Public Meeting - A public meeting on the possible increase of horsepower on Pymatuning Lake was held on 11/21/2002 with 145 people in attendance. People were given 2 to 3 minutes to stand up and give their opinion on the proposed increase. Open for discussion was the possibility of 25 horsepower, 18 horsepower, or leaving it as it was. The people that stood up and commented numbered 46 with 33 being against any increase at all and 13 for an increase to 25 horsepower. Several individuals represented large groups. West Bay boat sales, Navigation Company boat sales, Keystone Bass Buddies Circuit (600 members), all spoke in favor of the increase. Opposed to the increase were groups such as Muskies Inc. Cleveland chapter (1500 members), Pymatuning Yacht club, Pymatuning Lake association, Shenango boat club, Pymatuning Outboard Motor club, and Century boat club. Several issues were cited for reasons why opinions were formed, people opposed to the increase were worried about increased accidents on the lake, another increase if this one is to go threw, increased erosion, increased noise, and deterioration of the general aesthetics of the lake. People for the increase cited increased safety to get off the lake in a storm, increased revenue to the lake from a wider user group, increased economy in sales, changes in the dynamics of the lake from fishing boats to pontoon boats. Issues raised during the meeting were an inability to contact a ranger (or officer) if a violation is occurring, a need for increased boater safety and education classes, a need for more officers and patrols, and not enforcing current laws by checking for violations of the 10 horsepower limit that currently exist by pulling peoples motors and seeing who has changed their stickers. A question was raised as to how many deaths and accidents had occurred on the lake last year and I reported that there were no deaths and 12 accidents or swampings most of which occurred due to improper loading or overloading. Written comments are being taken up to 11/29/2002 and then all the material will be compiled along with the written transcript from this meeting and that in turn will be presented to the legislators if they are going forward with an increase. If you want to comment you can send me your message and I will print them and take them to the park. My E-mail is fishcop@alltel.net

CENTRAL ERIE / WCO TOM EDWARDS & DWCO BRYAN BRENDLEY
Perch: Still spotty on the Bayfront at the public dock and S. Pier have patience and determination.

Crappie: Finally saw some crappie caught at the Viking/Landsdowne area.

Steelhead: Nice run in 4-mile behind the Lawrence Park Fishing Club.

EASTERN ERIE / WCO MARK KERR
EAST COUNTY TRIBUTARIES:
Due to this past weekend's rain and snow, both Sixteen & Twentymile
Creek(s) are running a bit high, however color hasn't been too awful bad.
Twentymile has begun to receive more Steelhead, after their almost
'magical' disappearance act of the last week or so. Good concentrations of
fish were present this weekend near the mouth and, given the attention that
anglers have been paying to its southern reaches (I-90 through
'Snakehole'), it would appear as if these little critters are finally
making a concerted move towards the New York State Line. We observed no
less than 12 anglers playing last weekend through this southern stretch;
only one fish was seen on a stringer, but the folks sure seemed to be
having fun. Two of the majority choices of this week seem to be live
minnows and egg sacs. Throughout today, 11-19-02, we received light to
moderate ... well, let's say 'drizzle'. If things calm down over the next
day or so, conditions should be quite pleasant by this next weekend.

FRENCH CREEK WALLEYE:
Glad to be off that heavy subject above. Guess what?... Seems the're
starting to catch Walleye again along many reaches of French Creek. As
usual, the hotter spots seem to be at the mouth(s) of Woodcock and the
Conneauttee (Crawford County); and, in addition, north and adjacent along
SR 19 from the Crawford Line through the junction with LeBoeuf Creek. Also
you may want to try just south of the bridge on Himrod Road; seems there's
a 'monster' of sorts lurking thereabouts. I've had numerous reports of
many lines being taken clean through. No sightings yet, but we'll keep you
posted.

Forecast:
Wednesday: Cloudy. High near 50F. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph.
Wednesday night: Cloudy skies. Low 42F. Winds S at 5 to 10 mph.
Thursday: Considerable cloudiness. Occasional rain showers developing later in the day. High 49F. Winds S at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 40%.
Thursday (24 hours): Showers developing by evening. Highs in the upper 40s and lows in the low 30s.
Friday (24 hours): Rain and snow showers. Highs in the mid 30s and lows in the low 30s.
Saturday (24 hours): Overcast. Highs in the upper 30s and lows in the mid 30s.

Anglers enjoyed tons of hookups and harvested many Angler Award Steelhead

Trophy Steelhead

A gun carried by a juvenile weekend suspect caused some tense moments along the stream. It was discovered in a pat-down after the four suspects denied having any weapons on them. Prior surveillance caused officers to suspect the presence of a weapon which luckily turned out to be a CO2 Beebee gun.

The Steelhead fishery is in full swing now. Fresh fish came in with the Sunday rains. Officers have been busy round the clock with several over-limit & netting violations as well as the usual landowner requests, snagging, littering, and parking violations. Even though it has been rather hectic and patience sometimes runs a bit thin, I would like to take this opportunity to thank the many anglers that have voiced words of appreciation for our efforts either in person or via email. I guess it would be best compared to getting in that good nap in the middle of the day that erases the tiredness and allows you to continue your efforts refreshed. Thanks from all the Erie officers.

Central Erie County / WCO Tom Edwards & DWCO Bryan Brendley
Perch: A recent walk of the S. Pier checking perch anglers showed very poor catches. No person was even close to a limit and all were under 5 in the creel. Public dock was showing small catches also but the perch were definitely larger in size. If you want to catch perch and you have a boat head down towards the East side of the Erie Yacht Club for good results.

Bass: The bay is wide open for those willing to put the boat in. Recent weather has given us a couple of decent days with calm conditions and the catches seem to be pretty fair.

Crappie: I keep hearing rumors but nothing certain, people were observed fishing across from Cascade condos but they had just started when I had gotten there. If you have any good crappie spots and you don't mind sharing give me an email.

Steelhead: Cascade still shows no activity but that may have changed with the recent rains. 4-mile has good fish behind the Lawrence Park Fish Club and the pressure is fairly light.

Edinboro Lake: Still in the draw down mode for dam repairs.

Western Erie County / WCO Joe Russell
Pymatuning Lake- Walleye are being caught with regularity now on the south end of the lake especially around the handicap point where we placed all the gravel beds this year. Almost all the activity has been limited to the south west side of the lake but fishermen tell me they are catching fish just about every time they go out. Jigs and minis are still the bait of choice and some sonar's are being productive as well. I have also checked fishermen at the spillway who informed me that they have been having limited success at the wall just outside the spillway using jigs. Perch are also being caught here and closer to the wire using jigs as well. Most of the activity here is taking place at night. Tipping your jig with a mini also seems to be a favorite trick of the trade for these guys who are having luck.
Conneaut Lake- White bass are hitting well now and they are running in fairly big schools. Luck for the sea gulls to flock to a certain area and start diving on the baitfish and that is were you want to be. The bait fish will be jumping out of the water as the white bass are under them looking for a meal. Cast into them with a shiny silver spoon or silver lure that represents a fish and you should have pretty good luck. You will need a boat though as they seem to migrate throughout the lake.

Conditions:
Very low and clear water conditions on all the tribs have provided a real challenge to area anglers. Many areas along the West side tribs are only knee deep with some sections only ankle deep. Fish are holding in the pools along Walnut, the Manchester Hole and up to the bridge on Millfair road. Fish are scattered throughout Elk Creek up to the Legion Hole in Girard and small numbers can be found up to Folly's End. Water levels are low enough to allow casting from shore in most areas to avoid spooking fish. 4 lb., and as light as 2 lb. line along with hooks no larger than the 14 to 18 range are all but a necessity to land fish. Anglers were having good success on lower Elk Creek on Saturday with shiners and single eggs. The Walnut Creek Access basin is very low but has been producing some great fish for the patient anglers with success coming in time blocks. The basin opening has thinned the upstream crowds considerably leaving nice elbow room. We have had a number of calm lake days, allowing anglers good fishing opportunities along the lakeshore at Trout and Godfrey runs.

Eastern Erie County / WCO Mark Kerr

Wednesday: Rain showers in the morning becoming more intermittent in the afternoon. Temperatures steady in the mid 40s. Winds WNW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 60%.
Wednesday night: Cloudy with a few showers. Low 36F. Winds W at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 30%.
Thursday: Showers during the morning, followed by partly cloudy skies in the afternoon. High 43F. Winds WNW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 30%.
Thursday (24 hours): A few morning showers. Highs in the low 40s and lows in the upper 30s.
Friday (24 hours): Cloudy. Highs in the low 50s and lows in the upper 30s.
Saturday (24 hours): Cloudy. Highs in the mid 50s and lows in the mid 40s.

Central Erie County / WCO Tom Edwards_& DWCO Bryan W. Brendley

Perch: Moderate catches taken from Public Dock on the Bayfront. N. Pier on Presque Isle State Park and Waterworks on the Park.
Crappie: Catches being reported from Marina Lake on Presque Isle State Park.
Steelhead: Nothing to report in Cascade walked it down to the Bay and not a single fish was seen.

4 - Mile has decent numbers behind the LP Fish Club.

Edinboro Lake has been drawndown apx 6 feet, haven't seen anyone attempt to fish.

Western Crawford County / Joe Russell

All east county tributaries are now showing signs of Steelhead presence. Best color of choice this week has been white, regardless of what you choose to use; followed by anything in black. Egg sacs, single eggs, wooly-buggers & fly sucker spawn have been producing well; additionally, good results have been obtained by using 4-6# test, with small hooks and a flouro-carbon leader.

SIXTEENMILE FISH KILL REPORTED:
Reports have been received regarding numerous dead Steelhead on Sixteenmile Creek. Although the causes of this kill are, at present, unknown, investigations are underway in attempts to determine its origins. More information is to follow as it is received.

CENTRAL ERIE COUNTY / WCO TOM EDWARDS & DWCO BRYAN BRENDLEY
Perch: Lights catches being taken from the N. Pier on minnows and some small ones at waterworks. Bay should be heating up good for perch in the next few weeks.
Crappie: Some catches being taken at the marina on Presque Isle State Park. If you have the time check the lagoons, but be advised I don't have anything solid to report from that area.
Steelhead: Being taken from the N. pier and East and West pier in Presque Isle State Park. Still good number of fish up 4-mile behind the Lawrence Park Fish Club. Respect the clubs property by cleaning up your litter and others. A special thanx to Bill Blackman for providing the, "crappie" info.

WESTERN ERIE COUNTY / WCO JOHN BOWSER

***Walnut Creek Boat Basin Opens for fishing this Thursday***
October 31 @ 4:00 PM

Erie Forecast:
Wednesday: Cloudy with a few showers. Temperatures steady in the low 40s. Winds ENE at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 30%.
Wednesday night: Showers in the evening, then cloudy overnight. Low 36F. Winds NNE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 30%.
Thursday: Mostly cloudy with a mixture of light rain and snow developing in the afternoon. High around 45F. Winds W at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precip 30%.
Thursday (24 hours): Late day rain and snow showers. Highs in the mid 40s and lows in the upper 30s.
Friday (24 hours): Snow showers. Highs in the low 40s and lows in the upper 30s.
Saturday (24 hours): Mostly cloudy and windy with snow showers. Highs in the upper 30s and lows in the low 30s.

WESTERN CRAWFORD COUNTY / WCO JOE RUSSELL

Pymatuning Lake- With the onset of cold weather this week and snow today the Walleye fishing has started to pick up again. Several boaters could be seen fishing the south end down by the dam and they are reportedly having luck. Bait of choice seems to be minnies drifting but I have also heard good results are being had using sonar's and hot-n-tots. Average sizes seem to be between 16" and 20". Don't expect the number of fish that you would get in the spring time but the fish are still there to be had if you can spend the time and go after them.
Conneaut Lake- Not much activity to be seen here this week as a matter of fact in a weeks time I have only seen one boat out there fishing, and I didn't get a chance to find out if they were doing any good. Definitely a good time to come try this lake now that the recreational boating is pretty much over for the year. If you do any good let me know so I can include you in future reports.

The cooler water of Lake Erie has made for some fantastic steelhead fishing near shore the end of October.

Friday the 25th was, as another boat put it "PHENOMENAL". The frosty morning began off Trout Run with each pass yielding two to three fish. We were 5 for 5 before we lost one. Red was hot and these tackle-busting steelies were hitting hard and dancing on the water.

Many places were good from Trout to Walnut. The day ended 20+ for 35+ Shore anglers were also having a super day.

Saturday morning light rain and north west rollers started another great day. Action started slower but finished as Friday began. The silver bullets fought hard and continued to dance on the waters.

Friday was all steelies but Saturday some Coho made the cooler.

Another day of 20+ for 35+ makes for another fantastic day.

Lure colors Saturday were green, red and black.

Each passing cold front just makes the fishing better.

It's a shame the docks will be removed in a few days!!!!

Catching the fish by boat is super in it self enjoying the free space to fight your tackle-busting steelie.
Limit catches are very common.

CENTRAL ERIE COUNTY / WCO TOM EDWARDS & DWCO BRYAN BRENDLEY
Presque Isle Bay:
Perch action is starting to pick up in the bay, these past few days have shown good catches coming from the East and West Pier in the park. Also off of the N. Pier they are starting to pick up a few Steelhead.

4 Mile Creek through 8 Mile:
4 Mile has fish up to the falls and 6 has a good number of fish 7 and 8 don't bother with. Rains should have helped with the extreme Eastern tribs.

Edinboro Lake:
Bass still producing at a decent catch rate and if you can get on the perch you should do fair.

EASTERN ERIE COUNTY / WCO MARK KERR
Erie Forecast"
Wednesday: Partly cloudy skies. High 48F. Winds NNE at 5 to 10 mph.
Wednesday night: Partly cloudy skies. Low 33F. Winds NE at 5 to 10 mph.
Thursday: A mix of clouds and sun in the morning followed by cloudy skies during the afternoon. High 47F. Winds E at 5 to 10 mph.
Thursday (24 hours): More clouds than sun. Highs in the upper 40s and lows in the low 40s.
Friday (24 hours): Showers possible. Highs in the mid 50s and lows in the low 40s.
Saturday (24 hours): Few showers. Highs in the mid 50s and lows in the low 40s.

WESTERN CRAWFORD COUNTY / WCO JOE RUSSELL
Pymatuning Lake:
The walleye fishing is starting to pick up again with the water cooling off. The last measurement taken I believe it was at 59 degrees. Sonar's are supposedly what is working best right now in the deeper water and sizes have ranged from 17" to 23." The fall run is usually a lot less active than the spring run but after such a long stretch with no activity anything seems good right now. Water levels are still extremely low so boaters should beware of where they are boating to avoid hidden obstacles.

Conneaut Lake:
has been slow so far this week with very little or no activity to speak of so not much to report from there.

Conditions:
The tribs remain very low and very clear with the lack of rainfall. Forecasts over the next week are indicating several days of rain which should help. In the mean time, the best fishing remains close to the mouths mainly north of route 5. The Walnut Project holes are full of fish and anglers are doing well off the wall. White Maribou jigs twitched while floated under a bobber has been the hottest fish catching method. Elk Creek north of the access area to the mouth has been very productive with decent water levels. The lake shore at Trout and Godfrey runs is producing fish when the lake is calm. A few Steelhead are being caught in Presque Isle Bay..probably by accident this early in the season. The Bay is a great place to target Steelhead in the winter months, both by boat and on the ice. The Legion Park and the areas by the water treatment plant on Elk creek in Girard are holding some fish, but water levels are very low.

EASTERN ERIE COUNTY / WCO MARK KERR

As East County tributaries go, TWENTYMILE Creek is the primary producer. All tributaries are quite low and clear; and, just as the remainder of the county goes, rain would certainly be a blessing.
Crocodiles and Cleo's are still the best producers, with Power Bait and egg sacs following close behind. With calmer lake conditions, stream mouths' are producing the most catches. TWENTYMILE has fish dispersed from the mouth to approximately I-90; however, they are widely scattered.

EAST COUNTY LAKE UPDATE:
Perch are still being taken, during calm days, on the New York/PA Line in approximately 62 feet of water.

EATON RESERVOIR:
Walleye are occasionally being taken along the North shore, in the cove area about midpoint of the reservoir.

FRENCH CREEK:
With cooler temperatures arriving, French Creek is starting to produce more walleye catches. That area from French Creek's junction with the South Branch south through the Crawford County Line would be one section worth checking out.

CENTRAL ERIE COUNTY / DWCO Bryan W. Brendley

Forecast:
Wednesday: Periods of rain. Temperatures steady in the low 50s. Winds N at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 80%. Rainfall near a half an inch.
Wednesday night: Cloudy with a few showers. Low 41F. Winds NW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 30%.
Thursday: Cloudy with a few showers. High near 50F. Winds W at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 30%.
Thursday (24 hours): Occasional showers. Highs in the low 50s and lows in the upper 30s.
Friday (24 hours): Mix of rain and snow. Highs in the upper 30s with temperatures nearly steady overnight.
Saturday (24 hours): Partial sunshine. Highs in the low 50s and lows in the mid 40s.

WESTERN CRAWFORD COUNTY / WCO JOE RUSSELL

Pymatuning Lake-The Lake is still 2 feet low at this time do to lack of any sizable rain and quite a few of the boats moored around the edge of the lake are sitting high and dry on land. Duck hunting pressure after the first day has been really light with only the occasional hunter launching a boat and taking to the islands to test their luck. Remember if you are hunting on the lake all safety equipment has to be present and you have to be on the on the proper side of the lake for where your license is for. Unlike fishing where you are allowed to use a Pa. license to fish from an island, while hunting you have to have the correct state license. Fishing pressure has been extremely light on the lake this week possibly do to all the wind and cold fronts that have come through. The spillway seems to be picking up though with fishermen but I haven't been able to check any fish there yet.

Conneaut Lake- I received an E-mail from Roy this week who told me he thoroughly enjoyed fishing at Conneaut Lake and it was an interesting lake he wanted to find out more about, he also stated he got into some Bluegills around 35' and saw some Crappies taken by other fishermen. This is definitely the time of year to start hitting this lake, do to the decrease in boat traffic. Let me know how you do and I will mention you in future reports.

Steelhead are plentiful throughout the area although bigger runs and more fish are expected with additional rainfall. Overnight temperatures in the 40's and reasonable water levels, considering the lack of precipitation, have sparked additional incoming fish. The Project Waters at Walnut Creek have been producing lunker fish with 8 LB to 12 LB being common. Anglers are finding that light line and small hooks are a necessity to landing fish with any consistency. Steelhead are up as far as Route 20 on Walnut Creek and at least as far as the Legion Park Hole on Elk Creek. Lake shore anglers continue to have great success at Trout and Godfrey Runs. The Trout Run Marina is now holding a fair number of fish for anglers looking for shelter from the wind and waves.

Perch fishing should continue to be good weather and waves permitting off of Walnut Creek and the Peninsula Lighthouse.

Central Erie County / WCO Tom Edwards & DWCO Bryan Brendley

Perch: Still productive when the wind and wave action is cooperative. Try all the usual hot spots.

Bass: I checked some fishermen on the Bayfront and they said that everyone can fish the Steelhead because the bass are biting and they like the room.

Steelhead: Eastside tribs are running low and clear. Four Mile has some fish behind the LP Fish Club but not in the numbers that I had originally expected since the last rain. Six and Eight Mile are low and clear also with very few fish in Six and none in Eight.

A reminder to all Steelhead anglers, foul hooking fish and placing them on a stringer is an illegal act which will result in a fine if observed. Giving fish to fellow anglers counts against both anglers creels.

Rain is forecast in the upcoming seven day forecast. Hopefully this will bring up the East side tribs to a level which will sustain a decent run. Good luck.

Western Crawford County / WCO Joe Russell
Pymatuning Lake- With the opening of duck season on Saturday we saw an increase in small boat traffic. I wound up patrolling with a game officer using a small boat and checking the islands up north and I am very happy to report that out of the 20 or so boats that were checked only 2 minor violations were noted, it would appear that the message is getting out about the required safety equipment needed to boat on Commonwealth waters. Thank you all this makes our job much easier. Fishing activity has started to pick up and the water is cooling off, last night we had frost warnings so the fall run for walleyes though not as active as the spring run should be starting any day now. This is definitely the season for short notice on storms though so please keep your eyes to the sky and watch for them, also bring extra clothes and dress in layers to guard against HYPOTHERMIA. Wool works the best and even when wet it will still retain your body heat. I was also asked this week who monitors the marine radio for Pymatuning Lake and my answer is no one. If you have a problem the best bet is a cell phone and 911. Next month there will be a public meeting on the horsepower increase in Pymatuning held somewhere in this area, I will put the date, time, and place in future reports when I get them. This is your opportunity to voice your concerns or opinions over this issue and will be attended by myself, my boss, Ohio division of Watercraft, Ohio Parks and Pa. Parks management. No one has set anything in stone or made up their minds yet so I would strongly urge you to be there if you have an opinion on the matter because once it is changed it will be to late to do anything about it.
Conneaut Lake- Northerns continue to hit just about anything that is thrown in the water and are really being active around the weed beds in the back bays and on the North end. Bluegills are still being caught with regularity as well as crappies in the 10 to 12 inch range. Fish either the weed beds or around structure for best results and try tipping your jigs with a piece of live bait, worm, maggot, or anything that they can taste or smell seems to increase your chances

Eastern Erie County / WCO Mark Kerr

Sunday most were Male Coho.

The group caught the limit before 11:00 as the wind switched from the south to the northeast. These tackle-busting steelies were full of energy this day. Breaking lines, ripping the hooks off the lures and jumping for freedom was all part of it this day. Many doubles were battled but never more than one made the net each time.

The group had an excellent catch to loss rate this Sunday (11 for 16). Catching their limit was easy before lunch on red and black lures. The limit was just too heavy for all to be held in the picture. Fished the usually 5 to 10 feet depth.

The stream are low, water clear, lots of fish and a good many being caught.

Mouth of Trout Run was crowed Sunday with lots of fish caught from shore. An angler fishing out of a tube caught many fish.

Action on Sunday the 29th of September was fantastic. The nine fish pictured were only a small amount of the many hooked. The steelies are full of fight, reels sing and the fish jump in search of freedom trying to spit the hook.

Black and red shallow running lures do the trick trolled in front of the many streams. Walnut Creek and Trout Run have been the recent hot spots. Fished 5 to 10 feet depth all day.

The Steelhead runs continue with fresh rainfall urging them farther upstream. Elk has fish present at Legion Park while Walnut has them at least to Rt. 20. East side streams have little angling pressure and smaller amount of fish. Forecasted rains this week should make for a prime weekend.

Yellow Perch catches continue off of the point and northeast of Walnut. Best catches for all species are taking place in the mornings as a rule.

Central Erie County / WCO Tom Edwards
Forecast:
Wednesday: Scattered showers in the morning, then variable clouds during the afternoon with scattered thunderstorms. High 78F. Winds SW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 30%.
Wednesday night: Partly cloudy with scattered thunderstorms. Low 63F. Winds WSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 40%.
Thursday: Variable clouds with a chance of thunderstorms, especially in the morning. High around 70F. Winds NNE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 40%.
Thursday (24 hours): A few thunderstorms possible. Highs in the low 70s and lows in the low 60s.
Friday (24 hours): Showers possible. Highs in the upper 70s and lows in the low 60s.
Saturday (24 hours): Few showers. Highs in the upper 60s and lows in the low 50s.

Eastern Erie & Western Warren Counties / WCO Mark Kerr
STEELHEAD:
East county waters are beginning to show signs of increased Steelhead presence; however, water conditions continue at levels that are both low and clear. Twelvemile has minimal numbers present around the mouth, Sixteenmile is absent of activity & Twentymile has moderate numbers in that area from the lakeshore south through the iron bridge upstream of State Route 5. Reports indicate that your best opportunity for catches arise from fishing into the lake at the stream mouths’ and using spoons; best color combinations are blue/silver, green/silver and fluorescent orange/silver. Highest activity, at this time, is early morning as well as in the evening just before dusk.

Additional catches have been made using ‘power bait’ and egg sacs are occasionally producing results. One report indicates that a gentleman landed a Steelhead weighing in at 13# +/— while using ‘power bait’; additionally, that same report stated that a pink salmon, weighing 4 lb. 4 oz., was landed on Twentymile—this just misses that state record.

EAST COUNTY LAKE UPDATE:
Walleye, Perch, Steelhead & Lake Trout are still being taken in East County waters. Earlier in the week, charters reported catches on the South side of the mountain while trolling with spoons. Perch are still present in the Freeport area, taken at a depth of 49’ through 55’ of water.

Western Crawford County / WCO Joe Russell

Pymatuning Lake- The good news is the water is starting to cool off, the bad news is it still isn't cool enough for the fish to be biting really well yet. There was some electrofishing done by DEP over the last several days up around the stumps on the North end and some fantastic warm water species were taken including Bass and Crappie. The word they gave me is the only place they were able to find fish was right on the structure and after several days of shocking no Walleye were taken. Best guess is that most of the Walleye are in deeper water, primarily on the South end or in the channel off of Manning were it is cooler. I haven't been able to speak to anyone this week who has any luck here from a boat or land but I don't think it will be long if the cooler nights continue. The lake level remains at approximately 2 feet below normal pool despite the little rain we received at the end of last week.

Conneaut Lake- Northerns continue to plague fishermen here hitting just about anything that moves according to one fisherman I talked to today. Although most of them were sublegal some were in the keeper range however they were just fishing for fun. Panfish continue to do very well here as well with fishermen limiting out in about an hour on average. Check the weed beds and back bays for these guys if you are looking for a lot of action. Bass are also biting well this week primarily on the weed beds but along any structure as well.

Best fishing in the tribs west of Erie was by fisherman wading offshore by Trout Run.

Fly Fishing for Fall Steelhead in the Lake Erie
Tributary Streams

By John Nagy

As the water temperatures drop to 68 degrees F along the southern shoreline of Lake Erie and the days become shorter (in mid to late September), mint-silver steelhead begin congregating along the Erie tributary mouths. This initial steelhead movement is the beginning of a spawning run which closely mimics the migratory behavior of steelhead in the Pacific Northwest (the original range of Lake Erie steelhead).
When cool fall rains create silty run-off (that dumps into a relatively warm Lake Erie) it triggers a steelhead movement up the tributaries in the fall and the opportunity for the fly fisherman to catch one freshwaters most elusive and magnificent game fish.
Since most of the southern shore Lake Erie tributaries are normally low and clear, it is critical that they get run-off (from either rain or snow-melt) to both facilitate movement of migratory steelhead upstream and create more fishable water for the fly fisherman.
In recent years, consistent, early fall rains have been more a rarity than the norm on the Ohio, Pennsylvania and New York tributary streams. This has limited steelhead movements upstream in the tributaries with most action in the lower large, deep pools (and along the lakeshore). The exception has been the Cattaraugus River in New York which fish’s exceptionally well in the fall. This is due to a good water flow a result of a power plant dam release and substantial spring sources in a huge watershed that encompasses 436 sq. miles.
When heavy fall rains due occur, Pennsylvania tributaries like Elk, Walnut, Crooked, 20 mile, 16 mile and 12 mile Creeks are the place to be for great action for fresh run fall “chromers”. After peak run-off from rainfall or snowmelt these tributaries can quickly clear to fishable levels in a day or two depending on the tributary.
The Ohio steelhead tributaries of the Rocky River, Chagrin River, Grand River and Conneaut Creek can provide good action also in the fall, but are primarily a winter and spring run steelhead fishery (although they get there share of fall running Pennsylvania steelhead). This is due to the late running Little Manistee strain steelhead that is almost exclusively stocked in these waters by the Ohio Division of Wildlife (a small number of London strain rainbows are stocked also by the ODW).
During the fall, Lake Erie tributary streams are relatively warm (in the 45 degrees F plus range) making the steelhead very active and aggressive. They enter the tributaries looking for holding water prior to their spawning. In warm water run-off flows this means the heads of pools, pocket water, fast runs and chutes as well as the lower ends of pool tail-outs where the current flow picks up speed.
Steelhead will use these locations until the water drops below 40 to 45 degrees F (late October to early November) which forces them to seek slower current areas. Many steelhead at this time lose their bright coloration’s and begin to darken up which is a sure sign that they are maturing sexually and getting close to spawning.
Fly fisherman will find that a more dynamic approach in his presentation (as opposed to just strictly dead-drifting flies) can result in a surprising number of hook-ups in the fall. Stripping and jerking wooly buggers and streamers (on the drift and retrieve) through pools and runs can result in some incredibly hard-hitting strikes at this time.
Aggressive fall steelhead will actively move out of holding locations to chase and strike these flies with seeming abandon. These fish not only strike flies hard, but also fight hard; with drag screaming runs and cartwheel jumps not out of the norm.
A traditional downstream fly swinging technique (with either a sink tip or floating line) also works well at this time of year. This method is effective at covering large amounts of water such as the long, wide pools and runs of the Cattaraugus River in New York and the Grand River in Ohio. Popular swinging flies include wooly buggers, streamers and traditional wet flies and spey fly patterns.
As water flows cool down in late October to early November steelhead become more lethargic and less able to hold in strong currents. They seek slower current areas at this time and also seem to key in on drag-free presentations such as achieved with floating indicators and long leaders or strictly bottom-bouncing without a float. Effective dead-drift flies include egg patterns such as sucker spawns, glow balls, scrambled eggs and blood dots as well as bead-head nymphs such as princes, pheasant tails, lightning bugs and copper johns.
Fly equipment for the steelheading fly fisherman includes both traditional fly rods (stiffer, shorter blanks) for stripping and swinging flies and long, soft action fly rods. The latter fly rods allow for maximum line and leader control and mending when dead-drifting flies as well as big fish playing ability when using light tippets.
Fly reel selection includes finding a reel that has both a light-end setting with multiple fine adjustments and slow initial start-up inertia. Both these features help to protect light tippets from the surges and runs of fall steelhead. Large arbor fly reels are ideal for quick line pick-up (which comes in handy when a “hot” fall steelhead decides to come straight toward you after being hooked!)
______________________________________________________

Steelhead:
The tribs have dropped to very low clear conditions with long range weather forecasts predicting cooler temps for the end of the month. Fish will be moving mostly at night with the best chances for success at dawn or dusk. Fish are scattered throughout the Walnut Project waters and the Manchester Hole as well as lower Elk Creek although the biggest runs are still yet to come. The Lakeshore at Trout and Godfrey Runs are producing fish at night and at dawn. Low clear water and very line shy fish will dictate the lightest of presentations. Fly anglers should do well with fluorocarbon tippets. Conventional anglers will do best reducing line strength to 4 lb. and even 2 lb. fluorocarbon line at times. Very light floats and small baits such as sucker spawn flies and single eggs may be the ticket. Anglers are reminded again that fishing from the East bank of the Manchester Hole is not permitted nor is fishing the West side of Walnut Creek from the end of the wall North to the mouth.

Walnut Creek Boating:
Boaters have had success trolling and casting just off the mouths of Walnut Creek and Trout Run. Boaters are again reminded to "hug the wall" due to shallow gravel bars near the basin exit. Boaters do have the right of way over wall fishermen but very few are sounding their horns to alert anglers to retrieve lines. This jetty is the favorite of elderly & handicapped anglers and some cooperation on both sides will assure everyone has an enjoyable experience.

Trout Run Marina:
The Trout Run (Avonia) Marina will be open for business as usual on Thursday, September 26th. This is a great place to introduce youngsters to Steelhead fishing and is very convenient for the handicapped and elderly. Fishing the Marina (for a small fee) can provide sanctuary from rough wind and wave conditions. Food and hot beverages can be purchased at the Marina as well.

Perch:
Anglers are still slamming perch in big numbers weather permitting off of Walnut Creek and the Presque Isle light house in 50' to 55' of water. Perch fishing was good into November last year and this year appears that conditions will be as good.

CENTRAL ERIE COUNTY / WCO TOM EDWARDS
Perch: Still good in all of the hotspots, get in on the action before the weather gets too bad.

Bass: Picking up in the bay, fish early.

Catfish: Still good in the early evening at the S. Pier.

Steelhead: Cascade has nothing to report. four-mile has some fish up behind the Lawrence Park Fish Club but no great numbers yet, check it out after another blast of rain. 8-mile unknown.

Edinboro: Recent reports are that the crappie are hitting fair on minnows but you have to find them, Perch are being caught but head for Lake Erie if possible. Bass anglers stated that they were having good results.

SEPTEMBER 28 DESIGNATED AS FISH FOR FREE DAY

WESTERN CRAWFORD COUNTY/ WCO JOE RUSSELL
Pymatuning Lake- The lake is still low right, 2 Feet below normal pool, now do to lack of any rain and water temps remain high but some walleye are still being caught on the southern end by fishermen late at night, fishing from shore. Rappallas and lures that imitate minnows seem to be working the best. Bluegill and Crappie are still being caught along the edges and if you can find any structure to fish around. Live bait and small jigs are the hot ticket for these guys.
Conneaut Lake- A bass tournament was held here this last weekend by western Penn bassmasters and I was lucky enough to get there right at weigh in to get a chance to talk to some of the anglers from the competition. The big winner was Keith Kristoff with an impressive lbs. 7 oz. lunker that measured 21 inches. He said the secret to his success was in fishing the weed beds using lures that you could work the top 1 foot of water. His impressive fish was caught on a pumpkin seed rubber worm, but all the anglers were telling me worms and lizards on top was the way to go. They also mentioned that a "BOAT LOAD" of pike were caught during the day and they couldn't keep the pike off the lines. Some of the pike were legal but most were sublegal but that just means there will be plenty for next year. The water temp on Saturday was 71 degrees and the 18 fishermen that registered for this tournament told me they had a great day after the bad weather in the morning cleared out. Bluegills are also being caught in droves right now with fishermen telling me that they are catching there fifty in an hour just by fishing the weed beds. Small jigs and live bait are what they are hitting on here as well.

Thank you, I would appreciate this information

WALNUT CREEK ACCESS RULES & NEWS...

The recent high water has deposited debris at the exit from the boat basin and the end of the East Jetty near the creek mouth. Boaters should trim up the outdrives as much as possible and exercise caution exiting straight out into the lake.

Steelheadpalooza:
The 5" plus of rain this past weekend swelled the tribs enough to get the Steelhead season off to a great start. A good numbers of fish are in the Manchester hole and up to Rt. 5. Fish are also scattered throughout out the Project waters and throughout the channel. Fish are also up to at least the bend by the Access area at Elk Creek. The Walnut Access Area was jammed on Tuesday of this week with anglers weighing in a fair number of fish. Fish are also being caught at mouth of Elk Creek in the "Mudhole" area as well as along the Lake Shore at Trout and Godfrey Runs. All the local news stations were on hand through out the day on Tuesday to capture the fishing frenzy. Additional rain and cooler temperatures will be necessary to keep the fish in the tribs but for now they are here and the fun has started. With the tribs being heavily stained by the recent rain, anglers have been successful with the powerbaits and micro jigs. The tribs should be pretty clear by the weekend based on the long term weather forecast

Perch continue with record catches. Boaters hitting the school due North of Walnut had 3 anglers limiting out in 90 minutes.

CENTRAL ERIE COUNTY / WCO Tom Edwards
Weather Forecast:
Sep 18 Mostly Cloudy 82°/66° 10 %
Sep 19 Partly Cloudy 81°/66° 20 %
Sep 20 Scattered T-Storms 79°/58° 40 %
Sep 21 Mostly Sunny 77°/60° 10 %
Sep 22 Partly Cloudy 75°/57° 30 %
Sep 23 Mostly Cloudy 74°/58° 20 %
Sep 24 Mostly Cloudy 75°/56° 10 %

EASTERN-ERIE/WESTERN-WARREN / WCO Mark Kerr

TWENTYMILE STEELHEAD:
As of Saturday, 09-14-02, Steelhead, as well as a few anglers, were present at the mouth of Twentymile Creek. The rains we received on Sunday the 15th should certainly boost not only the activity but their numbers as well.

EAST ERIE LAKE UPDATE:
Perch—McCord’s Point through the W’s in 53’ of water

Walleye—Due north of North East Marina in 85’ through 105’ of water

Smallmouth Bass—Along the entire eastern lakeshore in 25’ through 40’ of water

WESTERN CRAWFORD COUNTY / WCO Joe Russell
Pymatuning lake-The water is about 3 feet below normal pool right now so it is making for difficult boating if you don't know where you are going. The good news is I have seen Walleye being caught after dark down off the dam from shore fishermen on rappallas. The key seems to be to wait till after dark when the water starts cooling down. Water temps are still up there during the day right now but hopefully that will change when we start getting colder nights. Jamestown/Turnersville boat access is open once again and what a great job they did. The dock is much nicer and easier to get in and out of your boat and they now have more ramp, I believe three wide. Stop in and let the park know what you think they appreciate good news once and a while.

Conneaut Lake-The white bass are feeding in schools and guys are having really good luck targeting them. I heard from one fisherman this week that if you watch the gulls and see were they are diving for the bait fish that is where you want to be. Just cast under them with something shiny that resembles a minnow and you will have luck. Perch, Crappie and Bluegills are also going crazy right now with several of the fishermen that I checked over the weekend telling me they could only stay out for about an hour before they limited out.