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WCO FISHING REPORT / JULY 4th 2001 Western Erie County … WCO John W. Bowser & DWCO Randy Leighton Yellow Perch continue to be the big story with Jumbos in the 15" range with
10"+ girths. Still located in the 40' to 45' depth off of Trout Run. Walleye are beginning to show up in small numbers by trolling with worm
harnesses, anywhere from 45' to 70'n of water. Many anglers have been having
luck in shallower water 42' - 46' off of Godfrey Run and west to the Ohio
line. In the shallower water flatline trolling can work well and the use of
down riggers and dipseys is not always necessary. Geneva, Ohio reports have
had boats with 6 walleye after a whole day of fishing. It will still be a
couple weeks before the Western Walleye arrive in great numbers. Hot
temperatures will speed the migration to the trenches while cooler ones will
delay it. Small mouth fishing is still great along the lake and bay shore in 25' to
40'. Anglers have had good luck with smallies on the North and South Piers
with live crayfish as the hot bait. Brown Trout... Remember that last year on July 4th that the State Record
Brown Trout was caught in Walnut Creek just upstream from the boat basin ...
it will be interesting to see if there is a repeat performance this year. For a change of pace, try targeting Carp in the channel at Walnut and at Elk
Creek near the mouth. These monsters can put up a heck of a fight. Carp
will eat almost anything.... Crawfish, hot dogs, worms, corn, maggots, Spam,
breakfast food, dog food, as well many of the commercially prepared catfish
baits. Carp are generally bottom feeders so keep your bait weighted down. Officers have already encountered a number of BUI (Boating Under the
Influence) situations this season and shall continue to step up patrols to
target this activity. With the boating season heading for its peak on Lake
Erie and Presque Isle Bay, a moment to read the following may save your
life....or the lives of your passengers. Alcohol and Boating FAQs (a reprint from the PFBC website) May I drink in my boat? This answer depends on several variables including where you boat, how much
you drink and other laws that pertain to alcohol. Alcohol is prohibited on
land and water at all Pennsylvania State Parks, US Army Corps of Engineers
property and on many other waterways in the Commonwealth. Check with the
local authorities before bringing alcohol into an area. In some places it is
legal to drink on a boat. However, laws such as public drunkenness,
disorderly conduct and underage drinking apply both to the operator and the
passengers.
It is illegal to operate a watercraft on all the waters of the Commonwealth
while under the influence of alcohol or a controlled substance.
How is my judgment affected? Alcohol reduces the brain's ability to integrate information from the five
senses. Alcohol slows the messages to and from the brain. After a drink or
two, you may think you are a better boater, but you may fail to detect
hazards and maintenance problems. Your response time to these problems is
also slowed. Alcohol increases risk-taking and causes daredevil behavior in
some people. It leads us to believe that we can do things beyond our
capability. This behavior is common among alcohol users, and when it occurs
on the waterways, the consequences are often fatal.
Is my balance affected? According to laboratory studies, balance is one of the first things impaired
by alcohol consumption. Even a small amount of alcohol causes a lack of
stability. You may not notice a decrease in your balancing ability, but your
inner ear and body do. Most boating fatalities in Pennsylvania are caused by
capsized boats and falls overboard. An intoxicated person in dark, murky
water might swim downward, unable to find the surface. Even the strongest
swimmer impaired by alcohol might be unable to react properly when pitched
unexpectedly into the water.
What is meant by "under the influence"? If chemical testing shows that the amount of alcohol by weight in the blood
of a person is 0.10 percent or more, the person is under the influence as
defined by law. However, if the amount of alcohol by weight in the blood is
in excess of 0.05 percent but less than 0.10 percent, that fact may be
considered with other competent evidence in determining whether the person
was or was not under the influence of alcohol. How many drinks will make me feel intoxicated? You may be surprised how few drinks it takes to weaken your boat operating
ability and judgment. Alcohol has varying visible effects on people. Some
will slur words and stagger. Others may exhibit no signs. However, both
people may be intoxicated and their abilities may be impaired. Alcohol
effects vary with each individual according to food consumption, body weight,
chemical makeup, personal drinking history and how fast a person consumes
alcohol. These effects are intensified by additional stressors on the water,
which include sun glare, boat vibrations, wind, waves, current and noise
levels.
Is beer less intoxicating than whiskey? A bottle of beer or a glass of wine has about the same amount of ethyl
alcohol as one ounce of gin, scotch or whiskey. The amount of alcohol a
person drinks, not the kind of beverage, determines how intoxicated that
person is.
Does alcohol cause tunnel vision? Although alcohol doesn't directly affect the eyes and vision, the ability to
perceive what is seen may become distorted because alcohol slows the messages
to and from the brain. Concentration is also decreased, which causes many
people to focus only on what's directly in front of them.
Does alcohol warm a cold person? No. The body cools faster when alcohol is introduced into the system. Alcohol
dilates the blood vessels, increasing heat loss. A few drinks can shorten
survival time if a boater is unexpectedly immersed in cold water.
What is a quick way to sober up? There is no quick way. A cup of hot coffee or a cold shower will only make a
drunk wet and wide awake. It takes approximately one hour for a drink (12
ounces of beer, 5 ounces of wine or one ounce of hard liquor) to leave the
body of an average-sized person. A person could remain intoxicated for hours
or even the next day after drinking.
How will the law enforcement officer test me to determine if I am under the
influence? A Waterways Conservation Officer, having reasonable suspicion to believe a
person is operating or in actual physical control of the movement of a
watercraft while under the influence of alcohol, may request that person to
submit to a preliminary breath test. This test may be administered before
arrest. Other field sobriety tests have been developed and are approved for
this purpose.
Does the law enforcement officer require my permission to test my blood
alcohol content? Any person who operates or is in actual physical control of the movement of
the watercraft, upon, in or through the waters of the Commonwealth shall be
determined to have given consent to one or more chemical tests of breath,
blood or urine for the purpose of determining the alcohol content of blood or
the presence of a controlled substance. The Waterways Conservation Officer
must have reasonable grounds to believe that the person has been operating or
has been in actual physical control of the movement of the watercraft. If any
person placed under arrest for operating a watercraft under the influence of
alcohol or controlled substance is requested to submit to chemical testing
and refuses, the test shall not be conducted. But the Commission shall
suspend the boating privileges of the person for a period of 12 months. In
addition to suspending boating privileges for one year, the fact that the
defendant refused to submit to chemical testing may be introduced in evidence
along with the other testimony concerning the circumstances of the refusal.
What happens if I am caught? The penalties for operation of a watercraft while under the influence of
alcohol or a controlled substance could lead to a fine of not less than $500
nor more than $7,500, or imprisonment not exceeding two years, or both, plus
the loss of boating privileges for a period of 12 months. Homicide by
watercraft while under the influence carries a fine of not less than $2,500
nor exceeding $15,000, or imprisonment of no less than three and no more than
seven years, or both. In addition to the offenses described above, operating
a watercraft under the influence may also violate other laws. These may
include prohibitions against reckless or negligent operation of boats, public
drunkenness, disorderly conduct and underage drinking.
Why not boat safely? Safe boating operation requires a clear head, steady hand and observant eye.
Alcohol diminishes these necessary ingredients for a safe and pleasurable day
on the water. If you think enough of friends and loved ones' lives to stop
them from driving a car after having too much to drink, why not do the same
when you're on the water? Impaired skippers not only endanger their lives and
their passengers' lives, but they can also ruin the lives of other boaters.
Randy Leighton
Deputy Water Conservation Officer
Eastern Erie County… WCO Mark Kerr
Eaton Reservoir has shown some hot Smallmouth Bass action with most averaging
about 14" Walleye & Yellow Perch are being taken in Lake Erie in 40' to 80' of water
between 16 Mile & 8 Mile Creeks. Perch have been running 12"+ The HOTTEST spot for Walleye has been due north out of North East Marina in
105' of water
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