WCO Report for Erie County 02/21/04: Erie area, PA,
WCO Report Posted: January 20, 2004

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Posted by DWCO Randy Leighton on January 20, 2004 at 20:07:25:

West Erie County, DWCO Randy Leighton

The Erie area has certainly been a part of the winter deepfreeze with most all of the area tribs frozen over. Only a few areas of fast moving water remain open with little to no open water available to area anglers. Hardwater fishing however, has moved into full swing. The Walnut channel and the Walnut Creek Marina basin have yielded a fair number of steelhead for those patient enough to endure the winter blast. Live shiners have been taking them. The lake shore at Trout Run has a build up of packed chunk ice that can be very unstable. A few anglers have been fishing the lake shore ice close to shore (with some success). Any ice along the lake shore should be considered unstable and approached with extreme caution.

The heaviest ice fishing activity has been on Misery Bay off of Presque Isle State Park. A small city of ice shanties dotted the area this past weekend. Catches were sporadic. Bluegills, and other sunfish have been easily caught although nothing of any size was observed. Anglers in search of perch on Presque Isle Bay have been coming up short. Hopefully it will just be a matter of time before the perch start schooling under the ice. Ice thickness reports have been varied, although actual measurements in a number of spots varied anywhere from 4 to 7 inches. Continued cold weather predictions should help the freeze along. Lake Erie water temperature as of this writing is 34 degrees with ice building from the shoreline up to several miles North.

Ice Dunes, Don't go there:
The Lake Erie shoreline can be an artistic sight in the winter as the ice forms. Wind and waves pounding the shore build a mountainous range of ice dunes as pretty as any Arctic picture. They are however, as dangerous as they are beautiful and local media warnings and signs at Presque Isle State Park do well to keep area residents informed to the risk of walking on these formations. Ice dunes are very unstable ice and often hollow. A fall through an ice dune can leave the victim trapped with little or no way out.

Pennsylvania Steelhead Association Meeting Merger Presentation Postponed:
A nasty winter white out storm cut attendance at January's meeting to only a few individuals. Area WCO's were in attendance to present issues and answer questions regarding the proposed merger and discuss immediate and long term funding needs. With the unexpected low turnout, it was decided to postpone the presentation to February's meeting. That meeting will be February 11th at 7:00 PM at the Elk Creek Inn on Sterrettania Road.

BUI Arrests for 2003
Boating under the influence arrests for the 2003 boating season totaled 81 across the state. This was a 16% increase over the number of arrests for the 2002 season. Organized details, advanced training and committment by WCO's across the state are but a few of the reasons for the increased numbers.

The Big Show:
The annual Erie Outdoor Sport and Travel Expo will be held March 5th through the 7th at the Family First Sports Park, 8155 Oliver Road in Erie (I-90 at Peach Street, Exit 24)
With 21 years under its belt, this expo has developed into the difintative cabin fever event for area hunters and anglers. The expo is a great mix of the latest in hunting and fishing information and gear blended with exhibits by local clubs, bait shops and sport and travel stores. Great buys and informative demonstration clinics round out the expo. Area officers and representatives from the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission as always will be on hand through out the weekend to answer questions and listen to your comments. For more information see http://www.eriepromoandexpo.com/2004sportshow/erie.html

Local Weather:
Wednesday night
Snow showers likely. Accumulation 1 to 2 inches. Lows in the mid teens. South winds 15 to 25 mph becoming west toward daybreak. Chance of snow 60 percent.
Thursday
Snow showers likely. Highs in the upper teens. West winds 15 to 25 mph. Chance of snow 60 percent.
Thursday night
Snow showers likely. Lows near 7. West winds 15 to 25 mph. Chance of snow 60 percent.
Friday
Cloudy with a chance of snow showers. Highs in the mid teens. Chance of snow 50 percent.
Friday night
Cloudy with a chance of snow showers. Lows near 10 above. Chance of snow 40 percent.
Saturday
Cloudy with a chance of snow. Highs in the lower 20s. Chance of snow 30 percent.
Saturday night
Cloudy with a chance of snow. Lows in the mid teens. Chance of snow 30 percent.
Sunday
Mostly cloudy with a chance of snow. Highs in the mid 20s. Chance of snow 30 percent.
Sunday night
Cloudy with a chance of snow. Lows in the upper teens. Chance of snow 30 percent.
Monday
Mostly cloudy with a chance of snow. Highs in the upper 20s. Chance of snow 30 percent.
Monday night
Mostly cloudy. A chance of snow late. Lows near 20. Chance of snow 30 percent.
Tuesday
Mostly cloudy. Highs in the mid 20s




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