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WEST ERIE COUNTY, DWCO Randy Leighton, WCO Brook Tolbert Conditions:
This past weekend sunny skies and mild temperatures made the final weekend of 2003 an unseasonably beautiful time to be out on the tribs. Many anglers were observed with limits along the Project waters at Walnut Creek and along the upper stretches of Elk Creek near Whitmans Bridge and the Legion Park areas. Calm conditions on Lake Erie had the "chorus line" dancing with delight at Trout Run with a number of full stringers observed on Sunday. Anglers were having the best success with live shiners and egg sacs. Mother Nature quickly turned with sharp drop in temperature and significant rain early in the week turning all the tribs into raging torrents. Gale force winds and waves kicked up severely and by Tuesday afternoon the waves on Lake Erie had reach the 10 foot mark. Early forecasts are suggesting a break in the precipitation which should allow the tribs to drop to fishable levels in a few days. Current Lake Erie Water temperature as of this writing is 39 degrees. Don't Forget:
2004 Fishing licenses are to be displayed on an outer garment when fishing effective January 1st, 2004 Law Enforcement:
Local anglers are to be commended for their cooperative efforts in assisting local officers on several recent cases. An anonymous call recently led to the apprehension of four over the limit cases on the East side of Erie with 25 fish being seized.
A phone tip from the West side resulted in the apprehension of a snagging case and several Nursery Water violations. At no time did these helpful individuals attempt to intervene on their own. Instead a quiet phone call to area officers was all it took to catch these violations demonstrating that you can make a difference and most important without putting yourself or others around you in jeopardy. Problems remain with a few anglers insisting on fishing in posted areas. Specifically, the area near the swinging bridge along Sterrittania Road on Elk Creek. Continued disrespect of the land owners rights in this area could result in posting access from the new sewage treatment plant to the Struechen Flats. Also, as most of you are aware, the area on 20 mile creek from Route 5 upstream to the old bridge abutment has been posted. This was simply a result of an angler(s) abusing that landowners private property. Anglers still attempting to fish this area are advised that this is private property. Any possibility of this area being opened back up to anglers is being seriously jeopardized by those careless individuals attempted to trespass in this area. A lack of respect and ignorance of currently posted properties will do little more than result in more posted access. PFBC to be Represented at January's, PA. Steelhead Association Meeting:
Important issues affecting all anglers will be presented by the PFBC at the January 14th meeting of the PA Steelhead Assocation . WCO Brook Tolbert will be discussing the issues regarding funding needs and presenting issues regarding the proposed merger as well as the agency's positions on the merger. This should be a good meat and potatoes meeting and an opportunity to show your support for the PFBC as well as voice your concerns and comments. The meeting will be held at the Elk Creek Inn on Sterritania Road at 7:30 PM. Another Year Comes to a Close (Sorry couldn't come up with a recipe for steelhead and sauerkraut):
As we wind down another year, we would again like to thank all of you for helping to make our weekly reports such a success, for your kind comments, and for your support. When retired WCO John Bowser started these reports a number of years ago, he often told me that a little information can go a long way on the Internet and that anglers like to be informed. I wasn't sure in the beginning that Anglers and the Internet would mix. It was my assumption that anglers were too busy fishing to bother with computers. In fact it almost seemed like an oxymoron. Nothing could have been further from the truth. The PFBC website receives countless hits each month and we have been informed by Harrisburg that our reports are one of the top hits on the site. Have a safe, prosperous, and productive New Year on behalf of all the officers along Pennsylvania's North Coast. Local Weather:
Wednesday night
Mostly clear and breezy. Lows in the upper 20s. West winds 15 to 25 mph decreasing toward daybreak to 5 to 10 mph.
New Years Day
Mostly sunny. Highs near 40. West winds 5 to 10 mph becoming south early in the afternoon.
Thursday night
Mostly cloudy with a chance of showers. Lows in the upper 30s. South winds 5 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 50 percent.
Friday
Cloudy. Highs 45 to 50.
Friday night
Cloudy with a chance of showers. Lows in the lower 40s. Chance of rain 50 percent.
Saturday Cloudy with a chance of showers. Highs in the mid 40s. Chance of rain 50 percent.
Saturday night
Cloudy with a chance of snow showers. Breezy. Lows in the lower 30s. Chance of snow 40 percent.
Sunday
Cloudy with a chance of snow showers. Highs in the mid 30s. Chance of snow 40 percent.
Sunday night
Cloudy with a chance of snow showers. Lows in the lower 30s. Chance of snow 40 percent.
Monday
Mostly cloudy with a chance of snow showers. Highs in the mid 30s. Chance of snow 40 percent.
Monday night
Becoming mostly clear. Lows in the upper teens.
Tuesday
Partly cloudy. Highs in the lower 30s
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