WCO Report for Erie County 04/27/2005: Erie area, PA,
WCO Report Posted: April 26, 2005

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Posted by DWCO Randy Leighton on April 26, 2005 at 20:45:51:

WEST ERIE COUNTY DWCO Randy Leighton, WCO Brook Tolbert

Conditions:
Considerable precipitation brought the area tribs to high and muddy conditions early this week. With temperatures on the cool side especially at night, we may see a few more fresh steelhead although as is typical for late April, the season is winding down. Good fishing opportunities abound through out the area especially in and around Presque Isle Bay. Bass fishing has been hot in Marina Bay and the Lagoons area. Rattle traps and spinner baits have been landing them, many in the 3 LB plus range. Northerns have been hitting well in the shallows. Pike will attack a variety of baits from live shiners to flashy spinner baits. Often the more flash, the more violent a Pike will strike. Perching fishing has been good off the North Pier as well as in Marina Bay. Although limits have not been common, catches have been steady. Live shiners and perch rigs (available at all the local bait shops) will bring them in.

Presque Isle Bay temperatures are in the low 50s with the Lake at 44 degrees as of this writing.

A Successful Clean Up, Thank you:
We had approximately 15 members from the Pa Steelhead Association and Gem City Fly Tiers come out and donate their time to help keep Erie County Streams Clean despite the miserable weather.

They covered mostly private property open to public fishing on Lake Erie tributaries to show their appreciation to land owners. Tributaries cleaned up were 20 Mile, 7 Mile, Walnut Creek, Trout Run, Elk Creek, Crooked Creek, and Raccoon Creek.

Approximately 50 bags of trash and several pieces of metal were picked up from stream banks, roadways, angler parking lots, and adjacent wooded lots. The PA Fish & Boat Commission is very grateful for all volunteers who assisted in the clean up and they are to be commended for their commitment to keeping our area clean.

Catching Spring Crappie:
Many types of fishing tend to slow down dramatically in the winter as the fish become more dormant. In the cold water they become lethargic and difficult to catch unless the lure passes right in front of their noses. Crappie on the other hand, are great to fish for year round. They actually like the cooler waters and can be found in the cooler deeper waters in the summer time too. In the spring, during their spawning, like most fish, they move into the warmer shallow waters of Presque Isle Bay and Marina Bay.

Spring time crappie fishing can be spectacular in our area with the hot spot being Presque Isle, specifically Misery Bay and the shoreline on the North side of the bay west of the Marina Bay channel. Slabs in the pound plus size are not uncommon. Since crappie tend to prefer brush piles and other underwater cover, try to locate any structures. Ask rangers, or park officials, and bait shops where they can be found, or easier yet, just look for the crowds. Misery bay has a good amount of natural and artificial cover.

Rig up an ultralight rod with 2-4 pound test line and a jig or live minnow with a stand-up crappie bobber or in line pencil type float. Noodle rods used for steelhead fishing work great. Fish it with a lot of action to attract crappie in the 5-18 ft. depths. Crappie have delicate mouths that tear easy. When you get a strike, pull back on the rod tip and carefully begin reeling the fish in. Be sure not to let the line go slack or the fish can sometimes back the hook out before you land it. Crappie, like most panfish will put up a great fight, especially on light tackle. When possible, night time fishing for crappie can prove very successful. These fish are really attracted to a large lamp pointing into the water.

Crappie are mouth watering table fare and can be rivaled only by our mouthwatering perch. Filleted, and pan fried, they are hard to beat.

UPDATE, April 2005 from Christi Ferrier, Walnut Creek Sunset Garden Memorial/Recognition Wall:
It's Spring again and while the garden is still asleep, we have been receiving requests for more wall pavers to be engraved! Most of you who regularly log on to this web site know about the garden and the wall. For those of you who are new, the purpose of this community garden is beautification and education for the visitors to the Marina. The wall is a means to preserve memories and recognize important persons or events in the lives of people who use this beautiful Marina to fish, boat, walk their dogs, watch the sunsets, or just take walks
The sale of the pavers brings in the money needed to maintain the garden and the wall, and when it reaches $10,000 (we are at $8,000), it will be put into the Erie Community Foundation so that the garden and wall will be maintained into perpetuity.

The wall is now structurally finished, the large cap stones are in place and several have already been engraved. There are still 6 sides of these stones available, one of which can be yours to engrave as you wish. These are very special and would make wonderfully meaningful memories for your family or business. Think how exciting it would be for your grandchildren and great grandchildren to see their family name on this wall in 50 to 100 years from now!

I now have about 6 new orders for pavers, and they will be processed when the weather becomes warm and dry. So, if you are interested, either contact me at the address below or see the ladies in the Administration Bldg.

Christie Ferrier - 814-4742577---cbfbeach@aol.com

Local Weather:
Wednesday night
Mostly cloudy with a 40 percent chance of showers. Lows around 40. West winds 10 to 15 mph.
Thursday
Mostly cloudy with a 40 percent chance of showers. Highs in the lower 50s.
Thursday night
Partly cloudy in the evening, then becoming mostly cloudy. Lows around 40.
Friday
Mostly cloudy in the morning, then becoming partly cloudy. Highs around 60.
Friday night
Partly cloudy in the evening, then becoming mostly cloudy. A 30 percent chance of showers. Lows around 40.
Saturday and Saturday night
Mostly cloudy with a 40 percent chance of showers. Highs around 60. Lows around 40.
Sunday
Mostly cloudy with a 50 percent chance of showers. Highs around 60.
Sunday night
Mostly cloudy. A chance of showers in the evening. Lows around 40. Chance of rain 30 percent.
Monday
Mostly cloudy. Highs in the mid 50s.




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