WCO Report for Erie County 08/12/2009: Erie area, PA,
WCO Report Posted: August 11, 2009

Perch fish continues to thrive in 50 to 62' of water north and west of Walnut Creek with no end in sight.

There has been a lot of speculation as to when the first steelhead will be hitting the tribs. With the cool summer, excessive precipitation, and good water levels it's a good bet that the exploratory fall runs may be early this year. Night fishing along the North end of the Walnut creek channel may be worth a try over the next few weeks or so if the night time temperatures remain cool. Early runs often mean big Browns as well. There have been a few unconfirmed reports of steelhead surfacing near shore in the evening hours and at daybreak. Lake Erie water temperature off Erie is 74 degrees. The Lake temperature off Erie at the same time last year was 73 degrees.

*Fish and Boat Commission Schedules Land Owner Meeting in Erie*:
Property owners along Walnut Creek, Elk Creek, Twenty Mile Creek, and Crooked Creek are invited to attend an informational meeting about the Commission's Public Fishing Access easement Program on August 27, 2009. This meeting will begin at 7:00 pm in Room 112 at the Tom Ridge Center located at 301 Peninsula Drive in Erie.
Participants will have the opportunity to learn about how public fishing access easements can benefit landowners and improve the watershed at the same time.

Landowners may be paid for granting a public fishing access easement through this Program. Information will be shared about how this program has been operating successfully in the Erie watershed for the past three years. Ample time will be available for questions. Representatives from the Lake Erie Region Conservancy will also be present to report on their efforts to improve fishing access and preserve open space in Erie County and to answer questions about future conservation easements.

If you plan to attend, please RSVP by August 21st to Jackie Kramer jakramer@state.pa.us or call 717-705-7845. If you are unable to attend, you can request a brochure from the PFBC that includes an introduction to public fishing access easements.

Support Your Local Sportsmen's Clubs:
The Pennsylvania Steelhead Association will hold its first meeting of the season (a sure sign that Fall is just around the corner) on Wednesday August 12th at the American Legion on West 12th street (route 5 near the Airport) at 7:00 PM. The public is welcome.

Celebrate Erie, August 14th -16th:
Celebrate Erie (formally, We Love Erie Days) takes place August 14th -16th. This is the largest summer event in the city and combines the Arts, Music, great food, and a wealth of Downtown events and activities. This year the event will take over State street from 4th street to 12th street. The gala fireworks display over Presque Isle Bay takes place Sunday Night at 9:30 PM. The view of hundreds of boats dotting the Bay combined with the largest fireworks display in the area is breath taking. A marked safety perimeter around Dobbins Landing will be maintained by area law enforcement during the fireworks display. Boater cooperation will be appreciated. For more information on this great weekend and for a weekend schedule go to Celebrate Erie 2009

The Marine Radio Revisited:
With the unpredictable conditions that Lake Erie can produce this time of year, a marine radio can be a live saver. Although not a required piece of equipment, a marine radio is highly recommended on Lake Erie and will be your best shore or boat to boat connection in an emergency. The USCG constantly monitors channel 16 24/7 for boats in distress or in need of assistance. The radio is also useful in requesting non distress towing help, fishing information, navigational information, and can even be used to call ship to shore. A cell phone can be useful, but on Lake Erie tower signals can be weak. Cell phones on Lake Erie will often pick up Canadian towers as well making the calls expensive, and virtually useless when attempting a 911 call. Consider and use the following guidelines for Marine radio use:

Channel 16 - DISTRESS SAFETY AND CALLING - To get the attention of another station (calling) or in emergencies (distress and safety).

Channel 6 - INTERSHIP SAFETY - For ship-to-ship safety messages and for search and rescue messages and ships and aircraft of the Coast Guard.

Channels 96, 68, 69, 71, 72, 78, 794, 804, 677 - NONCOMMERCIAL - Messages must be about the needs of the ship. Usually, messages concern fishing reports, rendezvous information, and repair and berthing information. (Use Channels 67 and 72 only for ship-to-ship messages.)

Channels 13 and 67 - NAVIGATIONAL - (Also known as the bridge-to-bridge channel.) Messages must be about navigation with other ships. Messages must be short. Power output must not be more than 1 watt. This is also the main working channel at most locks and drawbridges.

Local Weather:

Wednesday Night...Clear. Lows in the lower 60s. Northeast winds around 5 mph.

Thursday...Mostly sunny. Highs in the lower 80s. Northeast winds 5 to 10 mph.

Thursday Night...Mostly clear. Lows in the lower 60s. East winds 5 to 10 mph...becoming southeast after midnight.

Friday...Mostly sunny. Highs in the lower 80s.

Friday Night...Mostly clear. Lows in the mid 60s.

Saturday...Mostly sunny. Highs in the mid 80s.

Saturday Night...Partly cloudy. Lows in the mid 60s.

Sunday...Partly cloudy. Highs in the mid 80s.

Sunday Night...Mostly cloudy. Lows in the upper 60s.

Monday...Partly sunny. Highs in the mid 80s.

Monday Night...Partly cloudy. Lows in the upper 60s.

Tuesday...Partly sunny. Highs in the mid 80s.