WCO Report for Erie County 12/10/2008: Erie area, PA,
WCO Report Posted: December 10, 2008

The Walnut Creek Basin has been giving up good numbers of fish for those willing to brave the weather. There was skim ice forming on Presque Isle Bay before the rain and the mild temperatures, something we haven't seen this early in a number of years.

Support Your Local Sportsmen's Clubs: The next Pennsylvania Steelhead Association meeting is tonight, Wednesday December 10th at 7 PM. Meetings are held in the main banquet room on the ground floor the American Legion Post 773 at 4109 West 12th Street, Erie, PA. 16505. This is on the south side of West 12th street (route 5), just east of the Erie Airport. Food and legal beverages are offered at very reasonable prices. The public is welcome.

Walnut Creek Access Office Hours:
The Walnut Creek Access Office will be open December 12th, 13th, 14th and the 19th from 7:00 AM until 5:30 PM. and then will be closed for the winter. Porta Johns and trash containers will remain around the parking lot through out the winter months after the office building closes...Please use them. The office has 2009 licenses available along with many of the PFBC publications.

Another Holiday Shopping Reminder:
With the Holiday shopping season well underway, consider all that the PFBC has to offer to supplement your gift list. Fishing licenses make great gifts for the young angler who has turned 16 as will a lifetime license for the retired angler. The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission also has an extensive list of publications and gift items available at very reasonable prices for purchase on line at our Outdoor Shop

Winter Stream Angling Tip:
All is not lost though with fast flowing high water.....fish can be caught by the skillful angler no matter what the conditions and there is some truth in the statement that 20 percent of the anglers catch 80 percent of the fish. When the creeks are high and fast, running fish tend to move closer to the banks to hold in the slower moving water. While you are standing on the bank casting out as far as you can, the fish are
probably right at your feet.

You Don’t Have to Smoke All of Them:
16 oz. Steelhead cubed and sautéed in olive oil and basil
1/2 cup Chopped onions
1/2 cup Chopped celery
3 to 4 Garlic cloves, minced
3 Tbs. Butter or margarine
1 cup Diced potatoes
1 cup Diced carrots
3 cups Chicken broth
1/2 tsp. Thyme
1/4 tsp. Freshly ground pepper
1 cup Chopped broccoli (fresh if possible, frozen gets a bit soggy)
1 (13 oz.) Can evaporated milk
1 (10 oz.) Package frozen corn kernels or corn taken off of 4 cobs
Minced cilantro

Saute' cubed steelhead in olive oil and basil. Set aside until the end.

Saute' onions, celery and garlic in margarine. Add potatoes, carrots, chicken broth and seasonings. Simmer, covered for 20 minutes or until vegetables are nearly tender.

Add broccoli and cook 5 minutes. Add steelhead, evaporated milk and corn. Heat thoroughly. Sprinkle with minced cilantro to serve.

Serve with good crusty bread for a warm winter treat. As with most soups and stew, this one is even better reheated the next day

Makes 10 servings.

Local Weather:

Wednesday Night...Mostly cloudy. Colder with lows around 20. Northeast winds 10 to 15 mph.

Thursday...Partly sunny. Highs in the lower 30s. North winds 5 to 10 mph.

Thursday Night...Mostly cloudy. Lows around 20. Northwest winds 5 to 10 mph...becoming west 10 to 15 mph after midnight.

Friday...Mostly cloudy with a 40 percent chance of snow showers. Highs in the upper 20s.

Friday Night...Mostly cloudy. Lows in the lower 20s.

Saturday...Partly sunny. Highs in the upper 30s.

Saturday Night...Mostly cloudy. Lows in the upper 20s.

Sunday...Partly sunny. Highs in the mid 40s.

Sunday Night...Mostly cloudy. Lows in the mid 30s.

Monday...Mostly cloudy with a 30 percent chance of rain. Highs in the lower 40s.

Monday Night...Cloudy with a 30 percent chance of rain. Lows in the upper 30s.

Tuesday...Cloudy with a 30 percent chance of rain. Highs in the lower 40s.