Conditions:
Water levels are down and the tribs have been relatively clear. Snow for
this week should keep levels good and clarity just right and the forecasted
warm up for the weekend should make it great. Flow helps get that "perfect
drift". Fresh fish continue to come in with good numbers of silver "jacks"
scattered through out the tribs. The banks and shallow stream edges can be
icy and caution should be used. Felt bottom waders can be helpful with these
conditions.Where to go:
Crowds have been relatively low during the week with more pressure on the
weekends.
· Good catches have been observed in the Project Waters & on the West Wall at
the access.
· Excellent fishing continues at the mouths of Trout & Godfrey when the
loose pack ice clears enough to drop a line.
· Lower Elk Creek near the access area has been productive without crowds.
Due to the lack of winter road maintenance on the West Side, better access
can be gained from the PFBC Parking Lot on the East Side. (It can be accessed
from the road that runs behind Elk Creek Sports Store)
· Both holes at the Legion Park in Girard are holding good numbers of fresh
fish as well as the upstream holes about ½ mile upstream from the parking lot
by the picnic pavilion (this area was recently featured on ESPN2in a "World
Class Fishing" series).
· The Fairview Gravel Pit & Lake Pleasant are loaded with trout and are open
throughout the month of March.
· Perch and crappie have been hitting off the North Pier and should be
hitting well in Presque Isle Bay as soon as the loose ice clears out.
· Crappie & Panfish should turn on at the Stateline Ponds with a warmer
weather trend if you want to lose the crowds. Bait
Small presentations and light line will continue to be the ticket with low
clear water. Fish will be easily spooked and not as aggressive in the colder
temperatures. "Working" micro jigs can be productive this time of year.
Nymphs, sucker spawn and egg patterns can be productive for the fly anglers.
Natural baits should be kept small and allowed to drift naturally with the
current. A single waxworm, single cured eggs, or one or two grubs on a 16 to
18 egg hook may be all that's necessary to produce a strike. Success has been
noted at Trout & Godfrey shorelines with skein Noteworthy Statistics:
The following are the PFBC stocking allocations of Steelhead and Coho Salmon
Smolts to Lake Erie Tributary waters for 2001:
Coho Salmon:
Godfrey Run............................25,000
Trout Run................................52,000
Elk Creek.................................5,000
Walnut Creek...........................5,000
20 Mile Creek...........................5,000
Total Coho............................92,000 Steelhead:
Elk Creek..............................275,000
Four Mile Creek.......................15,000
Godfrey Run............................70,000
Presque Isle............................28,825
Orchard Beach........................24,000
Peck Run.................................5,000
Seven Mile Creek....................23,433
Trout Run..............................170,000
Twelve Mile Creek....................35,000
Twenty Mile Creek...................35,000
Walnut Creek........................275,000
Crooked Creek........................47,500
Raccoon Creek.......................47,500
Total Steelhead............... 1,051,258 WCO John W. Bowser
Pa. Fish & Boat Commission
Jwb014@aol.com
814-774-0928
&
Randy Leighton
Deputy Water Conservation Officer,
PA. Fish and Boat Commission
Western Erie County
RGLerie@aol.com
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