WCO Report for Erie County 03/19/2008: Erie area, PA,
WCO Report Posted: March 18, 2008

Anglers Fishing the Shoreline at Trout Run:
With ice formed along the lake shore and the tributary open, it can be difficult to tell where the tributary ends and the lake begins. Fishing in the Trout Run trib (State controlled nursery waters) is prohibited. Generally any running or riffled water holding fish in an upstream pattern can be considered part of the tributary. If in doubt, don/t take the risk as fines for fishing or disturbing State nursery waters can be expensive.

Annual Open House at the Linesville State Fish Hatchery: The annual Linesville State Fish Hatchery open house is scheduled for Saturday, April 5th, from 12:00 noon until 4:00 PM. This annual is event is a must attend event for the angling family, those new to fishing, and anyone infested in an afternoon of fun and education. Some of the events include kids casting; rigging a rod; making your own fish print T-shirts ($3.00); filleting and cooking demonstrations; live reptiles and amphibians; fish spawning; lake habitat models; talk to agency personnel from boating and education, law enforcement, fisheries management, biologists, habitat management, environmental services, many others; and much more. See you there !

Directions to the Linesville State Fish Hatchery Coming from the East From the intersection of I-80 and I-79, go north on I-79 to exit 147-B at Meadville. Take St. Rt. 322/6 west to Conneaut Lake. Take Rt. 6 west to Linesville. In the middle of town, turn left at the traffic light (Hartstown Rd.) and go one mile to the hatchery on the left.

Directions to the Linesville State Fish Hatchery Coming from the West From Ohio, follow St. Rt. 6 to Ohio Rt. 85. This road goes over the causeway of Pymatuning Reservoir and turns into PA Rt. 285 at the state line in the middle of the reservoir. Take St. Rt. 285 to the 2nd flashing light at Hartstown Road. Romar Homes is on the corner at this intersection. Turn left and continue past the spillway (one mile), past the Pa Game Commission's Pymatuning Wildlife Learning Center approximately one mile to the hatchery on the right.

Cabin Fever?, Basic Boating Class, Last Chance to Register for This Class:
Area officers from the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission, will be conducting a safe boating class on Tuesday and Thursday, March 25th and 27th from 6:00 PM to 10:00 PM each evening. The class will be held at the Girard United Methodist Church at 48 Main Street Girard PA 16417 with plenty of room for anyone interested. This comprehensive 8 hour class is designed for the novice boater or boater to be, as well as the experienced boater who would like to refresh his knowledge and is especially recommended for the new boater and their families. The class covers basic boating safety, boating laws and regulations, and equipment. Successful completion of the course qualifies the individual for a Pennsylvania boating education safety certificate (card). There is no charge for the course or materials, although registration is required. This class typically fills up and early sign up is recommended. To register for this class, email DWCO Randy Leighton at rglerie@msn.com with your name, address, phone, age, and number of people you would like to register or you can phone WCO Brook Tolbert at (814) 774-4672
Upon successful completion of the course , the Agency will require a processing fee for your Basic Boating Safety Certificate (card) if desired.

Do You or Your Family Need a Boating Safety Certificate?:
Boating Safety Certificates (Actually a plastic card) are required for anyone operating a personal watercraft (jet ski) and anyone born on or after January 1st 1982 operating a boat powered by motors greater than 25 Horsepower.

Walnut Creek Fishing Hours Change, Effective Immediately:?
From September 2nd until the opening day of trout season in April, all Lake Erie tributary streams are closed to fishing from 10 p.m. until 5 a.m. on the following day except for Walnut Creek, north of the Manchester Bridge
and Elk Creek north of Route 5.
The Important change here is that Walnut Creek specifically and effective immediately, is now closed to fishing south of the Manchester Bridge between the hours of 10 p.m. until 5 a.m. the following day through the opening day
of Trout Season. Anglers should be aware that this now an enforceable regulation

Local Weather:

Wednesday...Rain. Highs in the upper 40s. Temperature falling into the upper 30s in the afternoon. Southwest winds 10 to 15 mph... Becoming north in the afternoon. Chance of rain near 100 percent.

Wednesday Night...Snow or rain showers likely in the evening...then a chance of snow showers after midnight. Snow accumulation around an inch. Colder with lows in the mid 20s. Northwest winds 10 to 20 mph. Chance of precipitation 70 percent.

Thursday...Cloudy with a 40 percent chance of snow showers. Brisk and cooler with highs in the mid 30s. Northwest winds 15 to 25 mph.

Thursday Night...Mostly cloudy. A chance of snow showers in the evening. Lows in the lower 20s. Northwest winds 10 to 20 mph. Chance of snow 40 percent.

Friday...Increasing cloudiness. A chance of snow in the afternoon. Highs in the upper 30s. Chance of snow 30 percent.

Friday Night...Mostly cloudy with a 50 percent chance of snow. Lows in the lower 20s.

Saturday...Mostly cloudy. A chance of snow in the morning. Highs in the upper 30s. Chance of snow 50 percent.

Saturday Night...Partly cloudy. Cold with lows around 20.

Sunday...Partly cloudy. A chance of rain and snow showers in the afternoon. Highs in the mid 30s. Chance of precipitation 30 percent.

Sunday Night...A chance of rain showers in the evening. Mostly cloudy with a chance of snow showers. Lows in the mid 20s. Chance of precipitation 40 percent.