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February 2nd, 2011 West Erie County, DWCO Randy Leighton, rglerie@msn.com Conditions: Ice fishing is in full swing along Pennsylvania's north coast. Single digit temperatures and bone chilling wind chill factors have done little to deter the eager hard water crowd. This past weekend, ice huts dotted Presque Isle Bay as far as the eye could see. Anglers were doing fair to good depending on their location, with good catches of sizable blue gills and a few crappie. Perch catches were not quite as good and seemed somewhat on the small side depending on who you spoke to. A few pike and steelhead have been caught as well. The best fishing on the Bay has been just off the second and third parking lots on Presque Isle or the "stink hole" area as it is called, and off of the Chestnut Street launch along the Bayfront highway in 20-25 feet of water. The largest concentration of huts has been due North of the Bayfront Convention Center. Live bait (shiners) have been working the best, however don’t be afraid to change off to the small jigging baits and grubs. The most successful anglers reported not spending too much time in one spot and trying a variety of small jigs and baits to trigger action. Ice thickness on Presque Isle Bay is reported at 7 to 8 inches in most areas as of this writing. Presque Isle Bay is now covered in deep snow that can make ice conditions deceiving...use caution. There is considerable snow around the area and as always, anglers should check Interstate driving conditions before a long trip to our area. A number steelhead are being pulled through the ice at the Walnut Creek basin and in the channel with very little angling pressure at times. Shoreline ice along Lake Erie still consists mostly of broken drift ice and is not suitable or safe for ice fishing. Erie Outdoor Sport and Travel Expo: Annual Sons Ice Fishing Clinic: Pennsylvania Steelhead Association Meeting: The Pennsylvania Steelhead Association will hold its regular monthly meeting on Wednesday February 9th, at the American Legion on West 12th street (route 5 just east of the Tom Ridge Field) at 7:00 PM. The public is invited 2010 Boating Accident Analysis from Ryan C. Walt, Boating and Watercraft Safey Manager: The 2010 Boating Accident Safety Analysis is available for your consideration. Many of these accidents involved individuals that had never taken a Boater's Safety course. Many Boating Safety Courses are available through the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission during the off season. Local Weather: Wednesday Night...Snow showers likely...mainly in the evening. Additional snow accumulation around an inch. Brisk and colder with lows around 12. Northwest winds 15 to 25 mph. Chance of snow 70 percent. Thursday...Mostly cloudy with a chance of snow showers in the morning...then partly sunny in the afternoon. Colder with highs around 19. Southwest winds 10 to 15 mph. Chance of snow 40 percent. Thursday Night...Partly cloudy. Cold with lows around 7 above. Southwest winds 10 to 15 mph. Wind chill values as low as 9 below. Friday...Partly cloudy. Highs in the lower 20s. Friday Night...Partly cloudy in the evening...then mostly cloudy with a chance of snow after midnight. Lows around 15. Chance of snow 30 percent. Saturday...Cloudy with a 50 percent chance of snow. Highs in the lower 30s. Saturday Night...Cloudy with a 50 percent chance of snow showers. Lows in the lower 20s. Sunday...Cloudy with a 40 percent chance of snow showers. Highs around 30. Sunday Night...Mostly cloudy. Lows in the lower 20s. Monday...Mostly cloudy. Highs in the lower 30s. Monday Night...Cloudy with a 50 percent chance of snow showers. Lows in the lower 20s. Tuesday...Cloudy with a 50 percent chance of snow showers. Highs in the mid 20s.
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