FISH-FOR-FREE DAYS
June 2 and September 22, 2001
Mark these dates on your calendar...Saturday, June 2 and Saturday,
September 22, 2001, and plan to take a friend fishing. These are free
fishing days in Pennsylvania; no fishing license is needed to fish on either
of these two days. It's a great way to introduce a friend or relative to the
lifelong sport of fishing. It's a good time - and a fun way - to spend a day
with the entire family. Remember that all other regulations apply, but no
fishing license is needed. Take advantage of this opportunity. You'll be
glad you did! Western Crawford County … WCO Joe Russell
The walleye run in Pymatuming Lake has started to slow down this last week,
probably because of all the great weather we have been having. No real rain
to speak of in over a week. All the walleye caught seem to be from
boats drifting suspended worms. The number of short fish cases has
drastically increased also; it seems that if guys aren't catching big fish
they keep the small ones. Personally, a 14 1/2-inch fish isn't worth $81.50.
Bass, crappies and perch seem to be still doing well though and are being
caught in the shallower warmer water. An often overlooked fish that is a lot
of fun to catch and has been biting well this last week is the carp. The new
handicap accessible fishing pier at the Linesville marina seems to be doing
really well for catfish at night fishing the bottom. Yesterday a boat was
checked that had limited out on nice big walleye, but they had fished all day
in the rain. Hopefully, the rain they predicted for the rest of the week will
help the fishing again. Conneaut Lake has started to pick up with 16- to 19-inch bass being caught
around docks and structures using spinner baits and rubber worms. Crappie,
bluegill and perch are also being caught, however, they are nothing like the
size they are getting in Pymatuming. Another fish that seems to be getting
caught on a regular basis is the bowfin. What the public needs to remember is
that these fish are not monsters or aggressive to the point of "chasing me
down the dock," as I was told by a fisherman this week. They are not eating
all the other fish in the lake and they are on the candidate species list for
threatened and endangered species because of there so few numbers. If you
happen to catch one, it needs to be immediately returned to the water
unharmed. The recent musky tournament held this last Saturday yielded only
two fish for all the contestants, so there are definitely more out there to
catch.
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