WCO Report for Erie County 4/26/2006: Erie area, PA,
WCO Report Posted: April 25, 206

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Posted by DWCO Randy Leighton on April 25, 206 at 20:09:44:

West Erie County, DWCO Randy Leighton, WCO Brook Tolbert

Conditions:?

Bass boats have increased in number on Presque Isle Bay with fair to good small mouth fishing reported. A few boaters have taken to the lake targeting steelhead and lake trout. A few steelhead are still being pulled from Presque Isle Bay. Pan fishing is good at the west end of Presque Isle Bay and the shallow waters near shore. Anglers were doing fair catching small steelhead at the Elk Creek Access area this past weekend as well as off the "Wall" at Walnut Creek. The Lake Erie water temperature off Toledo is 56 degrees, off Cleveland, 45 degrees and off Erie, 45 degrees.


Two Great Fishing Events for the Kids This Weekend, Take Them Fishing!

Northwestern Sportsmens Club Kids Derby:

The Northwestern Sportsmens Club will hold it’s annual Art Siders Memorial Fishing Derby on April 29, 2006 starting at 1:00PM at the pond on the grounds of the Northwestern Sportsmens Club Grounds. To get there, follow Route 6N just South of I-90 off Exit 3. The derby this year is in honor of deceased member Charles “Chuck” Kennedy who passed away this year. The derby is open to youth age 15 and under (no license required for 15 and under) with designated age groups and categories for fishing. There will be concessions available and the event is free and open to the public. So gather those kids, your poles and come out for a day of fishing. Bait will be

provided. For more information contact Dr. Paul A. Bensur Jr., PresidentNorthwestern Sportsmens Club, 814-397-0345

Elk Valley Sportsmens Club Kids Fishing Derby:
The Elk Valley Sportsmen's Association will be holding its annual fishing derby for kids 12 and under at the Girard Boro Park pond on Saturday, April 29th. Kickoff is at 1:00 PM till 3:00 PM with great prizes and refreshments for the kids. This is a terrific event for the kids (and great entertainment for the parents) and is alwayswell attended. This is a great introduction to fishing for the youngsters. Get there early for that "hot spot". Any child 12 years of age or younger is welcome to join in the fun. Fishing gear and help is available for those kids in need. Club members and PFBC officers are always on hand to help out. To get the Girard Boro Park turn north on Route 18 in Girard. Turn left on Lake street go several blocks and turn left at the Park Entrance (Lake Street). The pond is at the bottom of the hill.

Bridge Temporarily Out at Presque Isle:

The old steel bridge by Perry's Monument , or "singing bridge" as it is often called is being replaced with construction currently underway. The project is expected to take most of the summer season. Visitors to Presque Isle State Park will be detoured to avoid this area and for this season, will be unable to drive the complete loop around the park.

Walnut Creek Access Update:

The launch ramps are in at Walnut Creek with a reminder to boaters to stay exit the channel to the east and avoid the west side of the channel entrance due to shallow conditions.

The Marina office is open now on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays from 7:00 AM till 5:30 PM. Full time regular hours will resume on May 6th.

A Few Tips To Save Fuel This Boating Season:

No need to dwell on the cost of fuel but with a little extra care and maintenance on your boat and trailer you can go a long way to maximize your fuel economy. Consider the following fuel saving tips:

Be sure your engine is in proper tune and inspect the prop for any bends or signs of damage. A bent propeller, even only a few degrees, can significantly affect the performance and fuel mileage of your boat.

A clean hull with a few good coats of wax will have dramatically less resistance when moving through the water equating to additional fuel savings. Keeping the hull clean throughout the boating season when possible can maintain this savings.

Your engine and boat operate most efficiently when at an idle or when up on plane. Bring your boat up on plane quickly rather than "plowing" along slowly can save fuel.

A small trolling motor can often run all day on a few gallons of fuel and is far more fuel efficient than lugging a large engine. Trolling plates on a large outboard or I/O engine may work well but counteract fuel efficiency by intentionally creating drag in the water. Having the extra little engine on Lake Erie can be a lifesaver as well.

Use only the manufacturers recommended octane level for your boat engine as well as your vehicle. Octane levels higher than the manufacturer's recommendation do little to improve fuel mileage.

Keep a gage in your glove box and check tire pressure on your vehicle and trailer often. Low tire pressure can cause unnecessary drag on both the vehicle and trailer reducing fuel mileage. Low tire pressure can also lead to premature tire wear and possibly failure due to overheating

Never exceed the manufacturers tongue weight for your hitch. Proper tongue weight should be between 5 to 7 percent of the total tow package, which will include the weight of the boat, all loaded gear and the trailer weight. This helps the trailer package the follow the vehicle efficiently by reducing sway and bob and maintaining balance between the vehicle and the trailer.

Make sure the boat is level on the trailer and the trailer is level when hooked to the vehicle. In adjusting the boat on the trailer, V-frame trailers allow for the lowest adjustment of the boat to the trailer and at the same time enable easy loading and unloading of the boat without any damage to the trailer or boat. Proper boat and trailer height and assuring that the boat is centered on the trailer also reduces wind resistance and maintains safety.

Match the vehicle's recommended tow rating to trailer weight. When towing, make sure the tow vehicle is capable of towing the boat and trailer package by checking the vehicle's tow rating in the owner's manual. The weight of the boat should include all gear and fuel.
Using a 2,000-lb. vehicle tow package to pull a 3,000-lb. boat and trailer package will reduce fuel mileage. Worse yet, it can overheat your vehicles cooling system and engine and is unsafe. (Be sure that safety chains are connecting in an X- pattern as required by law in Pennsylvania and that the hitch diameter matches the trailer socket exactly).

Investing in a good quality boat cover and cross bows to take up cover slack if necessary can help reduce wind resistence. This will reduce the wind drag when towing down the highway. A cover also protects the boat from the elements. It is imperative that the cover fit properly and be tightly and completely secured to avoid excess stress on the cover tie downs and snaps. This is best achieved with a custom fit cover for your boat rather than and "off the shelf" cover.

Double check bearing protectors or "bearing buddies. Most trailers come with bearing protectors to keep the hubs properly lubed. These need to be checked regularly to make sure they are full of grease. Most bearing protectors can be tested by simply pressing the spring-loaded piston. If the hub has adequate grease, it will rock back and forth slightly, but it will not fully compress. Do not over fill "bearing buddies" as the grease will break through the seal on the inside of the wheel and may cause damage. Refer to the trailer owner's manual for specific instructions.

When towing, accelerate slowly and steadily from complete stops. Jack Rabbit starts waste fuel. Maintain consistent speeds when possible, especially with interstate driving (your vehicle's cruise control will help).

Local Weather:
Wednesday Nigh

Partly cloudy with a 30 percent chance of showers. Lows in the upper 30s. West winds 10 to 20 mph.

Thursday

Partly cloudy. Highs in the mid 50s. Northwest winds 5 to 10 mph.

Thursday Night

Mostly clear. Lows in the lower 30s. North winds 5 to 10 mph.

Friday

Mostly sunny. Highs in the mid 50s.

Friday Night

Mostly clear. Lows in the mid 30s.

Saturday

Mostly sunny. Highs in the mid 50s.

Saturday Night

Partly cloudy. Lows in the lower 40s.

Sunday

Partly cloudy with a chance of thunderstorms. Highs in the upper 50s. Chance of rain 30 percent.

Sunday Night

Partly cloudy with a chance of showers. Lows in the lower 40s. Chance of rain 30 percent.

Monday

Partly cloudy. Highs in the lower 60s.

Monday Night

Partly cloudy. Lows in the mid 40s.

Tuesday

Partly cloudy. Highs in the mid 60s.




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