Erie WCO Report - WCO John Bowser & DWCO Randy Leighton Conditions With the recent heavy rains and predicted precipitation over the next week, the tribs are high, muddy and flowing rapidly. Such conditions dictate extreme caution and most often fishing should be confined to the banks. Hip waders can fill if an angler slips and drowning is a possibility. Catching fish in these conditions can be a challenge but not impossible. Fish will seek the slower moving water along the shoreline or slow moving pools. While anglers are often casting to the center of the tribs, the fish are probably in front of them near the shore. Larger bright colored jigs and egg patterns along with the Powerbaits and colored egg sacs can be successful in these conditions. Darker colored baits seem to do better in muddy water. With water clarity not an issue, line strength can be bumped to 6 or even 8 LB test and increase the chances of landing the larger fish. Typically, the East side tribes will clear earlier than the West side and the upstream stretches are a bit less murky. The Trout Run Marina and the Walnut Creek Access Marina are often quite fishable in these conditions. Presque Isle Bay also provides a large amount of opportunity for a variety of species. Law enforcement Weekends are still drawing the crowds and these will continue until freeze over (if it ever occurs). Officers and volunteer Deputies continue to find violations. A recent regulation change addresses poaching. The fine for fishing with an illegal device or method has been doubled from $50.00 to $100.00 plus costs. Illegal devices would include, but not be limited to nets, spears, hands, pitchforks, clubs, feet, rocks, etc... It's often amazing what tactics a poacher will use to catch fish. A past change had provided for an increase in the snagging penalty and this change will address the disparity by bringing the other illegal methods into an identical fine. Anglers should also be advised that not using public facilities to relieve one's self can be interpreted as littering and could be considered a violation. Use of portable facilities when available and discretion in the remote areas is encouraged. Nothing will get stream access posted faster than a landowner seeing an angler taking care of business in their backyard. World Class So often we have said that our area fishery is World Class, and with the sheer numbers of anglers we see, this statement speaks for itself. Officers have noted license plates from Ontario, Florida, California, Louisiana, Virginia, New Jersey, and many other states in our parking areas. Walnut Creek Office personnel field calls from all over the eastern United States asking about license fees, conditions, and fishing and boating regulations. The Internet has provided a new medium to gain information on the opportunities Pennsylvania has to offer. Thank you... Officer Bowser and I, along all the PFBC officers along Pennsylvania's North Coast would like to wish everyone a safe and joyous Holiday Season. Your support, communication, and assistance have been a huge part of our success this year and we thank you. In the coming year, we welcome your comments on our reports (pro or con) and will entertain any subjects, questions, or issues that our readers would like to see addressed. 2002 Late Winter Trout Stockings While just a small part of the Commission's overall stocking efforts, the late Winter Trout Stocking Program is a useful management tool, allowing trout fishing to be extended throughout the year. Fall, winter and late winter programs augment the traditional spring stockings and provide additional opportunities for the state's anglers. Extended Trout Season rules are in effect, permitting anglers to keep up to three trout of seven inches or greater daily. Stocking schedules are subject to change without notice! Waters included in the program are also open for an additional month of trout fishing. Trout angling is permitted in March on these waters while most other trout-stocked waters close to fishing at the end of February in preparation for the traditional Opening Day of the season. County Water Area "Week of" Stocking Erie Lake Pleasant February 18 Erie Upper Gravel Pit February 18 Mercer Shenango River February 11 Warren Chapman Lake January 14 Butler Glade Run Lake December 31 Butler Harbor Acres Lake December 31 Crawford County Report - WCO Joe Russell
Pymatuning Lake- the lake levels are close to being what they should be for This time of year with all the recent rain. As of this afternoon (Tuesday) It was a foot below normal summer pool, which is about what they try to maintain. Boating has been real active with most people launching out of the Jamestown/Turnersville launch and heading south to the dam area where the Fish are being caught. Fishermen are doing real well out of boats in the 10-15 foot range catching walleye by jigging chartreuse sonar's. If you are stuck on shore because your boat is winterized or you do not have a boat, Don't despair the perch have been biting for shore fishermen off of the dam using jigs towards evening. The perch are supposed to be good size to in the 10-12 inch range, and quite a few are being caught. Walleye are also still being caught in the north end of the lake by wading right at sunset and using lures the best spot seems to be in the Red Cross area (Phelps road on the park map) The recent warm weather we have been having has allowed the contractor for the Jamestown marina project to be ahead of schedule, because he hasn't had to deal with the ice and snow (as of Saturday the lake temp was 45 degrees). Hopefully the project will be done by the new year, but it is already taking shape and looks really nice. Be sure to stop in to the Park office and tell them what a good job they are doing if you are in the area fishing. Conneaut Lake- Continues to be under fished and I am having a hard time finding people to check to find out exactly how they are doing. Boating traffic continues to be almost nonexistent, if anyone would like to E-mail me with how they did I would be glad to share that with everyone else. Shenango River Headwaters- not much activity hear this week because the water has been really muddy and high due to all the recent rains. I did check several fishermen this week here after several hours of fishing and they had no bites at all. I would like to take a minute to extend a very merry and joyous holiday season and happy New Year to all the sportsmen and wonderful people that made my first year in this district such a success. I look forward to serving the fishing and boating public in the future years to come. Please be safe over the holidays and I hope to see you on the water. - JOE
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