WCO Report for Erie County 04/27/2011: Erie area, PA,
WCO Report Posted: April 26, 2011

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Posted by DWCO Randy Leighton on April 26, 2011 at 22:42:15:

April 27th, 2011

West Erie County, DWCO Randy Leighton, rglerie@msn.com

Conditions:

Near daily precipitation brought the area tribs to high and muddy conditions early this week. With temperatures on the cool side especially at night, we may see a few more fresh steelhead, although as is typical for late April, the season is winding down. Stockies are still scattered throughout the tribs with suckers and smallmouth making there way up stream. Good fishing opportunities abound through out the area especially in and around Presque Isle Bay. Bass fishing has been hot in Marina Bay and the Lagoons area. Rattle traps, spinner baits, and live shiners are all good choices A number of bass have been reported in the in the 3 LB plus range. Northerns have been hitting in the shallows. Pike will attack a variety of baits from live shiners to flashy spinner baits. Often the more flash, the more violent a Pike will strike. Perching fishing has been good off the North Pier as well along the South side of the Bay in deeper areas. . Although limits have not been common, catches have been steady. Live shiners and perch rigs (available at all the local bait shops) will bring them in. Current West County trib conditions as of this writing are good flow and color having come off of some significant rain fall. Current Lake Erie water temperature is 44 degrees

Elk Valley Sportsmen's Annual Club Kids Fishing Derby:
The Elk Valley Sportsmen's Association will be holding its annual fishing derby for kids 12 and under at the Girard Boro Park pond on Saturday, April 30th. Kickoff is at 1:00 PM till 3:00 PM with great prizes and refreshments for the kids. This is a terrific event for the kids (and great entertainment for the parents) and is always well attended. This is a great introduction to fishing for the youngsters. Get there early for that "hot spot". Any child 12 years of age or younger is welcome to join in the fun. Fishing gear and help is available for those kids in need and refreshments for the kids are provided. Club members and PFBC officers are always on hand to help out. Stocked trout for the pond will be provided by 3CU and Billy Hetz. Bait will be provided by the Elk Creek Sports store and prizes will be donated by the Elk Valley Sportsmen's Club. To get the Girard Boro Park turn north on Route 18 in Girard. Turn left on Lake street go several blocks and turn left at the Park Entrance (Lake Street). The pond is at the bottom of the hill. This is one of the most popular area fishing events of the season with plenty of fish to be caught..... don't miss it.

Spring Crappie:
Many types of fishing tend to slow down dramatically in the winter as the fish become more dormant. In the cold water they become lethargic and difficult to catch unless the lure passes right in front of their noses. Crappie on the other hand, are great to fish for year round. They actually like the cooler waters and can be found in the cooler deeper waters in the summer time too. In the spring, during their spawning, like most fish, they move into the warmer shallow waters of Presque Isle Bay and Marina Bay.

Spring time crappie fishing can be spectacular in our area with the hot spot being around Presque Isle, specifically Misery Bay and the shoreline on the North side of the bay west of the Marina Bay channel. Slabs in the pound plus size are not uncommon. Since crappie tend to prefer brush piles and other underwater cover, try to locate any structures. Ask rangers, or park officials, and bait shops where they can be found, or easier yet, just look for the crowds. Misery bay has a good amount of natural and artificial cover. Good fishing can be found by wading the shoreline or by boat.

Rig up an ultralight rod with 2-4 pound test line and a jig or live minnow with a stand-up crappie bobber or in line pencil type float. Noodle rods used for steelhead fishing work great. Fish it with a lot of action to attract crappie in the 5-18 ft. depths. Crappie have delicate mouths that tear easy. When you get a strike, pull back on the rod tip and carefully begin reeling the fish in. Be sure not to let the line go slack or the fish can sometimes back the hook out before you land it. Crappie, like most pan fish will put up a great fight, especially on light tackle. When possible, night time fishing for crappie can prove very successful. These fish are really attracted to a large lamp pointing into the water.

Crappie are mouth watering table fare and can be rivaled only by our famous Lake Erie Perch. Filleted, and pan fried, they are hard to beat.

Suckers
Suckers have invaded the tribs. Although often considered a nuisance fish when steelhead fishing, suckers can be great fun to catch and provide easy action for the impatient young anglers and can put up a nice fight for the veteran angler as well.. Suckers can be caught on just about any tackle. The most effective method is light or ultralight spinning tackle. Four to six pound test monofilament should be used, along with small, sharp hooks. Noodle rods work great for suckers on our tribs. Worms, live aquatic nymphs, maggots and waxworms are the best baits for suckers. Fish directly on the bottom, either with a stationary rig with a sliding sinker, or with a drifting rig that moves along the bottom with the current. In short, you can fish them the same way that you would fish for steelhead or stocked trout. Suckers are also easy to catch on fly tackle and can provide great action. They hammer flies like the Pheasant Tail, Scud Patterns, and the Gold-Ribbed Hare's Ear. Fly-fishing for suckers is great sport. The best flyfishing rig for white sucker fishing is the deadly shot-and-indicator nymphing rig. Set your indicator at the right depth to get your fly right on the bottom, and drift it naturally with the current. The strike of a sucker is very subtle and easily mistaken for a steelhead in the Spring. The indicator will either pause or dip for a fraction of a second before the fish spits out the fly. You must set the hook quickly, but softly, to avoid breaking your tippet. Always have a forceps or needle nosed pliers on hand while sucker fishing, since their rubbery lips are tough and it's hard to get a deeply imbedded hook out without harming the fish.

Local Weather:

Wednesday Night...Occasional showers and thunderstorms. Breezy with lows in the lower 50s. South winds 10 to 15 mph...increasing to 20 to 25 mph with gusts up to 35 mph after midnight. Chance of rain near 100 percent.

Thursday...Showers likely. Very windy and much cooler. Near steady temperature in the mid 50s. Southwest winds 20 to 30 mph with gusts up to 35 mph...diminishing to 20 to 25 mph with gusts up to 35 mph in the afternoon. Chance of rain 70 percent.

Thursday Night...Showers likely. Breezy and cooler with lows in the lower 40s. Southwest winds 15 to 25 mph. Chance of rain 60 percent.

Friday...Mostly cloudy in the morning...then clearing. A 40 percent chance of showers. Highs in the mid 50s.

Friday Night...Partly cloudy. Lows in the lower 40s.

Saturday...Partly cloudy. Not as cool with highs in the mid 60s.

Saturday Night...Mostly cloudy with a chance of showers and thunderstorms. Lows in the upper 40s. Chance of rain 40 percent.

Sunday...Mostly cloudy with a chance of showers and thunderstorms. Highs in the mid 60s. Chance of rain 50 percent.

Sunday Night...Mostly cloudy with a 50 percent chance of showers. Lows in the upper 40s.

Monday...Mostly cloudy with a 40 percent chance of showers. Highs in the mid 50s.

Monday Night...Mostly cloudy with a 30 percent chance of showers. Lows in the mid 40s.

Tuesday...Mostly cloudy. A chance of showers in the morning. Highs in the lower 50s. Chance of rain 30 percent.





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