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WESTERN CRAWFORD / WCO JOE RUSSELL Pymatuning Lake- Walleye are still being caught by the few die hard fishermen that have braved the elements and gone out in a boat in pursuit of them. The South end of the lake along the western side in fairly deep water still seems to be the area that everyone is targeting. Jigging and minis are still the primary producers with chartreuse sonar's being the top lure preferred. Most of the rest of the activity is starting to slow down though, as I have not seen any other fish species taken this last week. Conneaut Lake- I have heard (unofficially) that a state record white bass was taken this last weekend from here. I have not been able to confirm this as of yet but I do know the white bass fishing here has been really good lately. Hopefully the person that caught it was tipped off from last weeks report and we helped them out a little. Last chance to send me your E-mails before the big public meeting for the proposed horsepower increase on Pymatuning Lake. I have gotten quite a few so far and public opinion for the ones I have received seems to be running in favor of going to 25 horsepower by about four to one or five to one. Very few have said they want no increase at all and only one or two have said they only want eighteen. The meeting should be interesting and I hope to see a packed house with anglers. A copy of the public notice is posted below with directions to the meeting. PENNSYLVANIA, OHIO HOLDING JOINT PUBLIC MEETING ON PROPOSED PYMATUNING HORSEPOWER LIMIT CHANGE JAMESTOWN, Crawford County (Oct. 28, 2002) -- A joint public meeting to address a proposed change in the outboard motor horsepower limit on Pymatuning Lake has been planned by Pennsylvania and Ohio conservation agencies, the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) announced today. The meeting will be held from 7 to 9 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 21, at Pymatuning Valley Primary School, 191 West Main Street (Route 6), in Andover, Ohio. Residents of both states are invited to attend and comment on proposed horsepower limits changes on Pymatuning Lake. The lake is located in both Ashtabula County, Ohio, and Crawford County, Pa. Presently, an agreement between the two states prohibits use of boat motors larger than 10 horsepower. Pennsylvania this past spring embarked on a pilot program that increased horsepower limits from 10 to 18 at six state parks. They are: Lake Marburg, Codorus State Park, York County; Lake Wilhelm, Maurice K. Goddard State Park, Mercer County; Lake Arthur, Moraine State Park, Butler County; Lake Nockamixon, Nockamixon State Park, Bucks County; Glendale Lake, Prince Gallitzin State Park, Cambria County; and Yellow Creek Lake, Yellow Creek State Park, Indiana County. With the exception of Yellow Creek, all lakes involved in Pennsylvania’s pilot program are larger than 1,000 acres. At Pymatuning Lake, officials from both states now are considering an increase in horsepower limits above 10 horsepower. The purpose of any increase in horsepower would be to improve safety for boaters traveling the lake during stormy weather or windy conditions. There is no interest in changing the character of the recreational experience at Pymatuning by allowing high horsepower boats. Boaters are reminded that should horsepower changes be recommended and approved by both states, the effective date would not occur prior to joint action by both Ohio and Pennsylvania legislators. In the meantime, the 10 horsepower maximum limit would remain in effect. Both Ohio and Pennsylvania are requesting public comment on the proposed horsepower increase. Persons wishing to express views in favor or against any change are invited attend the meeting, or submit written comments, no later than Nov. 29, to: Pymatuning State Park, Attn: Horsepower Limits, 2660 Williamsfield Road, Jamestown, PA 16134. For more information on boating and other features at Pennsylvania's State parks, call 1-888-PA-PARKS; or visit DCNR's web site through the PA PowerPort at www.state.pa.us, PA Keyword: “state parks.” For details on boating regulations, safety classes, public access areas and registering watercraft, visit the Fish and Boat Commission's web site at www.fish.state.pa.us. Now is the time to start looking for boaters safety classes for the 2003 boating season. A new bill, Senate bill 463, has been approved making it mandatory for the safe boating class to be taken before you can operate a boat on Commonwealth waters, if you were born after January 1, 1982. Don't wait till spring to find a class this is something that you can take care of over the winter months. A copy of the entire press release is listed below. On November 12, the Senate Game and Fisheries Committee approved legislation establishing a new mandatory boater education program for the Commonwealth. Senate Bill 463 was sponsored by Senator Richard A. Kasunic with strong bipartisan co-sponsorship. The bill will, if enacted, require operators of most motorboats born after January 1, 1982, to complete a boating safety course and have a boating safety certificate before running their boats on Pennsylvania waters. The new requirement would take effect on January 1, 2003. Operators of unpowered boats and boats powered by motors less than 25 horsepower would not be required to get certificates. Senate Bill 463 provides for a $10 fee for issuance of a boating safety certificate, good for a lifetime, and a $5 certificate replacement fee. "The Fish and Boat Commission knows that boater safety education works, and Senate Bill 463 is an important step forward," said Fish and Boat Commission Executive Director Peter A. Colangelo. "I want to thank Senator Kasunic, Chairman Ed Helfrick and the members of the Senate Game and Fisheries Committee for their persistence and foresight in pursuing this legislation," Colangelo added. Nearly 200,000 Pennsylvanians already possess boating safety education certificates. Since 1999, when the Fish and Boat Commission required operators of personal watercraft to obtain certificates, about 115,000 certificates have been issued. "Many boaters have taken safety courses and obtained certificates in an effort to become better informed and safer boaters," noted John Simmons, Director of the Bureau of Boating and Education. "In fact, many of those taking courses were not doing so to meet requirements to operate personal watercraft such as jet skis, but in response to a sincere desire to become better boaters," Simmons added. "The Fish and Boat Commission is confident that, if Senate Bill 463 becomes law, boaters who need to take courses and earn certificates will be able to do so before the 2003 boating season," Colangelo stated. "It's easier than ever to find and take a boating safety course. We offer distance learning and home study alternatives through the Internet and video courses, and many classroom boating courses are offered during the winter months," Colangelo concluded. In order to become law, Senate Bill 463 will need to pass the State Senate and State House during the remaining days of the fall 2002 legislative session. |
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