WCO Report for Erie and Western Crawford County 10/15/03: Erie area, PA,
WCO Report Posted: October 15, 2003

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Posted by DWCO Randy Leighton on October 15, 2003 at 09:20:20:

WEST ERIE COUNTY / WCO Brook Tolbert, DWCO Randy Leighton

Conditions:
Low and clear conditions have been the story lately, although Tuesday afternoon brought considerable rain. Additional rainfall is expected over the next week or so as well and should launch addition fish into the tribs. Anglers working the Project waters and the Wall at the Walnut Access area have had to work hard with the clear conditions. Fish are being caught at day break and dusk and conditions should be improving. Calm waters on the Lake have brought countless anglers to fish the shore at Trout Run. Anglers were lined up from the Trout Run marina wall east as far as the eye could see this past weekend. Anglers fishing at Trout Run are again reminded that vehicles blocking the road on Rt. 98 (Avonia Road) or parked on the road itself are subject to citation and or being towed.

Tuesday's rainfall should help move additional fish in and increase catch numbers in the upper stretches of the tribs. Additional fish seem to be staging at the tributary mouths as evidenced by the catches of anglers trolling the shore by boat. Current Lake Erie water temperature as of this writing is 60 degrees.

Fish 1, Angler 0 :
Accidentally hooking one's self or a buddy, or even worse a stranger, with a hook can be painful not to mention an embarrassing situation. One angler this past weekend came in to the Walnut Access office asking for ice and a pair of pliers to dislodge a hook caught in his earlobe (yes, he did it himself). The hook had gone in and buried the point. Naturally it was not a barbless hook. With a good sense of humor, he indicated it was the latest style for the well dressed steelhead angler (see picture below) and from what we understood, he wore it proudly for a day or so.

Removing a hook is not as difficult as many think if done properly. If the hook has pierced the skin and the point and barb are exposed it is simply a matter of cutting the barbed end and eye off with a pair of nippers or needle nosed pliers and pulling it out. The situation is a little tougher when the barb is buried. The proper way is as follows, assuming that the hook is not in a delicate area such as the ear lobe or near the eyes. Those situations would dictate seeking professional attention:

1) Press firmly on the eye of the hook

2) At the same time use a cloth, string, or some type of wrap that can be wrapped around
the curved portion of the hook

3) While pressing on the eye, pull with one quick motion on the attached cloth. This is
virtually painless (or so I'm told). Irrigate the wound and bandage. Of course this procedure is for small hooks.

Law enforcement:
The PFBC and the PA. Steelhead Associtaion will be relocating fish from Trout Run to the area near Struechan and I-79 on Elk Creek in Mckean on October 15th.

With the massive crowds at the Walnut Access Area, it is important to remind anglers that although camping is not permitted by regulation, we are somewhat flexible. Motorhomes are considered motor vehicles and may park at the access. Vehicles with trailers will be permitted as long as they remain hooked to the tow vehicle. Jackstands, awnings, slide outs, running generators or anything that prevents the trailer or motorhome from being immediately mobile will not be permitted and are subject to citation. Trailers not hooked to a tow vehicle will be subject to removal from the property.

Elk Creek at the access has also been jammed with anglers. A porta john and additional dumpster are in the works for the ramp area. Many folks are moving upstream along Elk Creek in search of less crowded conditions. Anglers are advised to be aware of posted areas and used designated parking areas whenever possible. Parking on a landowners lawn is a quick ticket to having that section water posted. While were on it, litter and relieving ones self on private property will raise a posted / no trespassing sign quicker than you can say "Fish On". Just don't do it.......

Local Weather:

Wednesday night
Mostly cloudy with a chance of rain showers. Lows 40 to 45. West winds 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 30 percent.
Thursday
Mostly cloudy with a chance of rain showers. Breezy. Highs in the lower 50s. Chance of rain 30 percent.
Thursday night
Mostly cloudy. Lows in the upper 30s.
Friday
Cloudy with a chance of showers. Highs near 50. Chance of rain 40 percent.
Friday night
Cloudy with a chance of rain or snow showers. Lows in the upper 30s. Chance of precipitation 50 percent.
Saturday
Mostly cloudy with a chance of rain showers. Rain possibly mixed with snow in the morning. Highs in the upper 40s.
Sunday
Cloudy. A chance of rain until midnight. Lows in the mid 30s and highs in the upper 40s.
Monday
Cloudy. Lows in the upper 30s and highs in the upper 50s.
Tuesday
Cloudy. A chance of rain during the day. Lows in the lower 40s and highs in the upper 50s.

WESTERN CRAWFORD COUNTY, WCO Joe Russell:

Pymatuning Lake:
The action is still pretty good at the spillway, with Walleye and Crappie being taken in front of the wire. Sonar’s and Jigs seem to be what is producing the most but guys are having luck on worms under bobbers as well. Fish the worm three to four feet down under the bobber for best results.

Conneaut Lake:
Still no action at Conneaut, I haven’t seen or heard from one fishermen that has gone there this last week. I know from years past the white bass should be getting good and schooling up about now but I have yet to see anyone utilizing this resource. The recreational boaters are all but gone now so the fishermen and women have pretty much the run of the place. If you try it and do any good let me know.

Stripers In Pymatuning?
I didn’t think so and neither did the hatchery until Pat Mulholland pulled one out from twenty-mile bridge. While on patrol this last week I stopped to check a couple of fishermen that were done for the day and ran into Pat with a ten-gallon pail. His fish was hanging half out of the bucket because it wouldn’t all fit. I was able to snap a shot and then advised him he should have it measured and weighed at the hatchery the next day. The striper weighed in at nine pounds eight ounces and was twenty-seven inches long. Pat said his back and neck was killing him after the battle the fish put up. He stated “I thought I had on one of those carp until I got it near the surface and it flashed.” He was fishing a worm under a bobber three to four feet down when the fish hit. Before I get swamped with requests for directions twenty-mile bridge is the parking area just south of the spillway (Meyers parking area). You park there and walk the railroad grade south to the trestle that lets water into the Back Bay there. The hatchery confirmed that it was in fact a STRIPER and are puzzled as to how it got there as well.




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