WCO Report Photos for Erie County 10/05/2005: Erie area, PA,
WCO Report Posted: October 04, 2005

Conditions:

Temperatures in the eighties the first part of the week continue to slow down the steelhead season somewhat. There are fish in the tribs and at times sizable pockets up as far as Route 20. The WCAA Project waters are holding fish, but not the numbers that anglers have been accustomed to in the last few years. The Manchester Hole has a good number of fish and has been productive. A slight chance of rain this week will probably do little to improve conditions although we are expecting overnight temperatures in the forties by the weekend. Until the water levels come up and the fish really come in and spread out, angling pressure will be heavy near the tributary mouths on Elk and Walnut.

Good baits in the low clear conditions have been single eggs and egg patterns, earth colored woolly buggers, and the micro jigs tipped with a maggot or waxworm fished under light fluorocarbon line or tippets. Good shoreline baits include little Cleos, egg sacs, single eggs, and the ever popular power baits.

Anglers have had great success trolling along the shoreline with good numbers being brought in. Early morning anglers have been doing very well along the shorelines at Trout and Godfrey runs. Remember that regulations prohibit fishing within 50 yards of the mouth at Trout Run between the hours of 10:00 PM and 5:00 AM. The shoreline at Godfrey Run is walk in only from the top of the hill.

Perch fishing has been very good lately straight out of Walnut and Walleye are still being brought in decent numbers.

Current Lake Erie water temperatures as of this writing are 65 degrees off Toledo, 67 degrees off Cleveland, and 66 degrees off Erie. Current West County trib conditions as of this writing are low and very clear with only a slight chance of precipitation over the next week.

Walnut Creek Dredging Continues:

Considerable build up and a number of large rocks and broken pieces of concrete have hampered dredging efforts at the Walnut Creek Access channel. Work should be completed anytime. Boaters are advised to call the office for up to the minute status at 814-833-2464.

Reminder on Fish Eggs
It is unlawful for a person to sell, offer for sale, purchase or barter any fish parts or fish eggs obtained from fish taken from Lake Erie and its tributaries (or any other Commonwealth waters including boundary waters). This prohibition does not apply to fish parts or fish eggs (1) lawfully taken and sold or offered for sale by holders of a Lake Erie commercial fishing license if the particular species of fish is authorized for taking by commercial licensees, or (2) those obtained from fish taken lawfully from waters outside of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

Anglers should be aware that gutting a fish for the eggs and carelessly discarding the carcass can result in a number of violations including litter and unlawful disposition of the fish. Removing the eggs or skein to use as bait is permitted as long as any remaining entrails are properly bagged and disposed of and the fish is not left behind.

A Few More Regulations Pertinent To The Walnut Creek Access
We so often hear an individual say "I didn't know" or "am I allowed" when it comes to regulations in our area. The following are a few more regulations directly affecting the Walnut Creek Access Area which is controlled by the PFBC. These are areas of concern and regulations that cover many of the typical problems we encounter with the large crowds and congestion in that area. All of these regulations are covered in the Summary booklet.

Boats have the right of way over fishing from boat launch areas or boat docks. It is unlawful for persons fishing from a boat launch area or boat dock to permit their fishing activity to interfere with boat traffic into and out of the boat launch area or boat dock.
Overnight camping, building or maintaining open fires, swimming, and picking, cutting, or digging flowers, plants, shrubs and trees is prohibited. As we have mentioned in previous reports, overnight sleeping in a vehicle falls into this category.

The leaving or disposal of any rubbish on Commission property is prohibited unless placed in containers, if provided for this purpose. Disposal of any refuse accumulated off Commission property is prohibited.

Any personal, organizational or commercial use other than normally intended fishing and boating activities is prohibited, except that the executive director or his designee may issue permits to organizations for the use of Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission properties, when it is determined that such use will not damage Commission property and will not interfere with normal usage by others.

The removal or defacing of any sign, poster or property is prohibited, and it shall be unlawful to damage in any manner any lands or to interfere with any device or structure, or to alter or interfere with the flow of water over or through any structure. Vehicles must be parked in designated areas only. Blocking or obstructing driveways, access roads or launch ramps is prohibited.

No person may construct, place or maintain any structure, fixture or any other tangible property on or in Commission-owned or Commission-controlled property or waters without a permit from the executive director or his designee. Persons are further prohibited from encroaching upon Commission property in any manner incompatible with public use.

A vehicle properly registered and operated in conformance with the Vehicle Code (except all-terrain vehicles) is permitted on Commission-owned or Commission-controlled property on those areas that are open to vehicular traffic such as roadways, driveways, launch ramps and designated parking areas. It is unlawful to operate a vehicle on Commission property on:

(a) roads not open to the public,
(b) in a negligent or reckless manner,
(c) in a manner that obstructs or impedes public access to driveways, access roads and launch ramps,
(d) in a manner not in conformance with the posted traffic control signs or devices,
(e) on forested areas, grasslands, wetlands and lands under cultivation, and
(f) on frozen lakes, ponds, rivers or streams.

The use of off-road motorized vehicles, including trail bikes, Tote Gotes, all-terrain vehicles (ATVs), air-cushioned vehicles, track vehicles, hydrofoils and the like, is prohibited.

Snowmobiles may be used on Commission-owned or Commission-controlled property that has been designated for such use by the executive director and is so posted. The operation of snowmobiles on frozen lakes, ponds and streams is prohibited. Parking areas on Commission-owned or Commission-controlled property shall not be used for general snowmobile operation.

Walnut Creek Access, Channel and Basin- Boats have the right of way over shore fishermen. Fishing from boats is prohibited in channel and basin. Shore fishing is allowed in the basin ONLY at places and times designated.

Trespassing on Fish & Boat Commission property is prohibited where posted.

Local Weather:

Wednesday night. Mostly clear. Lows in the lower 60s. South winds 10 to 15 mph.

Thursday.

Partly cloudy with a chance of showers in the morning. Then mostly cloudy with a chance of showers and thunderstorms in the afternoon. Highs in the upper 70s. South winds 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 40 percent.

Thursday night.

Mostly cloudy with a chance of showers and thunderstorms. Much cooler with lows in the mid 40s. West winds 10 to 20 mph. Becoming north 10 to 15 mph after midnight. Chance of rain 50 percent.

Friday. Mostly cloudy with a 40 percent chance of showers. Highs in the mid 50s.

Friday night. Mostly cloudy with a chance of showers in the evening. Lows in the upper 30s. Chance of rain 30 percent.

Saturday. Partly cloudy. Highs in the lower 50s.

Saturday night. Partly cloudy. Lows in the lower 40s.

Sunday.

Partly cloudy. Highs in the upper 50s.

Sunday night.

Partly cloudy. Lows in the mid 40s.

Columbus day.

Mostly sunny. Highs in the mid 60s.

Monday night.

Mostly clear. Lows in the upper 40s.

Tuesday. Mostly sunny. Highs in the mid 60s.