September 23rd, 2009 West Erie County, DWCO Randy Leighton, WCO Brook Tolbert Conditions: Minor rainfall earlier this week did little to improve trib conditions. Other than near the mouths, the tribs remain low and clear with little flow. A few fish have made it past the Manchester bridge on Walnut, but very few. Anglers have had some success at the Lakeshore at Trout Run at daybreak but even this has been limited. Construction in that area has temporarily cut down on parking. Temperatures have been mild and rain is a must for any movement. Walleye and Perch continue to be caught in good numbers with a number of Walleye anglers picking up the occasional steelhead being reeled in...a good sign. Current Lake Erie water temperature is 68 degrees. Current West County trib conditions are very low and clear with little flow. PFBC Plans Brown Trout Stocking in Erie: Meadville, PA - The PFBC will be stocking brown trout into the tributaries of Lake Erie beginning as soon as Sept. 29, 2009. These 7-inch long trout will be fin clipped for identification purposes before being stocked the next day. Planned stocking locations are Trout Run, Presque Isle Bay, Crooked Creek, Godfrey Run and Orchard Beach Creek. All tributary stockings will be done as close to the mouths of each stream as possible as long as there is adequate water flow. If stream flow is low, the fish will be stocked directly into the lake near the stream mouth. "The goal of this program is to emulate the brown trout program on Lake Ontario, but on a smaller scale," said Lake Erie Fisheries Biologist Chuck Murray. "The intention of this effort is to add some diversity to the tributary fishery, create a near shore springtime fishery and enhance the offshore summer boat fishery. These brown trout stockings will supplant the surplus steelhead stocked since the elimination of the Coho program in 2003. The program was started through the gracious donation of 100,000 certified disease free eggs provided by the New York Department of Environmental Conservation. As the program evolves, the PFBC will develop self sustaining Lake Erie brown trout brood program at their hatcheries." Murray also added that "this will be a cooperative venture between the PFBC and local cooperative sportsman's nurseries. In addition to the thousands of brown trout to be stocked by the PFBC, approximately 35,000 additional brown trout were already stocked earlier this year by 3-CU and the Wesleyville Conservation Club with the assistance of the PFBC Cooperative Nursery Unit. The success of the program will be monitored through creel surveys and existing assessment programs over the next several years. Brown trout stocking will be about 50,000-100,000 annually, representing about 5-10% of the steelhead stocking levels." The mission of the Fish and Boat Commission is to protect, conserve, and enhance the Commonwealth's aquatic resources and provide fishing and boating opportunities. For more information about fishing and boating in Pennsylvania, please visit our website at www.fishandboat.com. Thursday...Partly cloudy. Highs in the lower 70s. North winds 5 to 10 mph. Thursday Night...Mostly clear. Lows in the mid 50s. Northeast winds 5 to 10 mph. Friday...Mostly sunny. Highs in the lower 70s. Friday Night...Increasing clouds. Lows in the mid 50s. Saturday...Mostly cloudy with a 50 percent chance of showers. Highs around 70. Saturday Night...Mostly cloudy with a 50 percent chance of showers. Lows in the upper 50s. Sunday...Cloudy with a 40 percent chance of showers. Highs in the upper 60s. Sunday Night...Cloudy with a 40 percent chance of showers. Lows in the mid 50s. Monday...Cloudy with a 50 percent chance of showers. Breezy with highs in the upper 60s. Monday Night...Cloudy with scattered showers. Lows in the lower 50s. Chance of rain 50 percent. Tuesday...Cloudy and cool with scattered showers. Highs in the lower 60s. Chance of rain 40 percent. |
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