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WEST ERIE COUNTY, DWCO Randy Leighton / WCO Brook Tolbert Conditions:
Everyone is asking about the steelhead and for now, the few steelhead we are seeing are being brought in from the depths of the second trench in the lake. Anglers have begun to line the wall at Walnut Creek although catches have been few and far between. The area tribs are very low and clear and temperatures have been very warm as of late. A dozen or so anglers were lined up along the shore at Trout Run this past weekend at daybreak with only a few hookups observed. A few steehead are holding along the ledge at the South end of the wall along the channel but no big numbers as of yet. Walleye fishing continues to be fair to good but is starting to slow up a bit. Crawler harnesses in copper, watermelon, chartreuse, and prism purple fished off the dipseys have been the latest craze. Perch fishing hasn't slowed down as evidenced by the overflowing parking lot at Walnut Creek this past holiday weekend. 50 to 65 feet of water north and west of Walnut Creek is still the prime area although they have been schooling in many areas from the Ohio to the New York line. Current Lake Erie water temperature as of this writing is 72 degrees. Current west county tributary conditions as of this writing are very low and clear Walnut Project Holes Scheduled for Dredging:
The Walnut Creek Project Waters have been tentatively scheduled for dredging and cleaning the week of September 12th. This cleaning typically takes several days and will make minimal disruption. Access to the Manchester Hole on Walnut Creek:
The maintenance staff has done a nice job clearing the piece of property purchased by the PFBC on the Northwest corner of the Manchester Hole. This small piece of property provides the only public access to the Manchester Hole from Manchester Road. The Manchester Hole and its banks are privately owned and fishing is permitted by the landowner on the West bank only. Fishing is not permitted on the East bank or on the island that often forms on the North end of the Hole. Walnut Channel Obstruction:
Many boaters have asked about a rock or obstruction in the Walnut Creek Channel. Maintenence crews have "sticked" the channel looking for an obstruction and found nothing. PFBC patrol boats have not noticed anything unusual either. This time of year as the channel begins to fill in, the troughs created when the water is rough can be very shallow allowing props to hit bottom. Watching your depth finder and staying close to the wall as much as possible can help however, boaters need to be aware that channel conditions can change pending wind and waves. Walnut Access Updates:
Portajohns and additional dumpsters have been added to the Walnut Creek Access area in preparation for the crowded steelhead season....use them. Please treat these facilities and the facilities at the Access office as you would your own home. PA Steelhead Association Meeting:
The PA Steelhead Association will have its monthly meeting beginning at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, September 8, 2004 at the Elk Creek Inn. The public is welcome. Waterways Conservation Officer Brook Tolbert will be speaking on tributary accessibility for this year as well as the regulations and issues unique to the Erie fishery. Know the rules, Some of the Special Regulations for the Lake Erie Tribs:
1) Designated as Nursery Waters are Trout Run and it's tributaries. Godfrey Run, Orchard Beach Run and Crooked Creek (where posted). It is unlawful to fish, wade or possess fishing equipment while in or along Lake Erie tributary streams designated as Nursery Waters 2) Archery fishing or spear fishing is prohibited in or along Lake Erie tributary streams. 3) From September 7th until the opening day of trout season in April, all Lake Erie tributary streams are closed to fishing from 10:00 PM until 5:00 AM on the following day except for Walnut Creek and Elk Creek north of Route 5 4) It is unlawful to fish from 10:00 PM until 5:00 AM on the following day within 50 yards of the mouth of both Trout Run and Godfrey Runs while fishing from the Lake Erie shoreline. Like to help? Here is your chance - International Coastal Cleanup - Pennsylvania's Lake Erie:
What is it?
On Saturday, September 18th, 2004 you can have a first hand look at what kind of trash and how much of it is ending up in Lake Erie, Presque Isle Bay and local streams. You also will have a chance to do something about it by joining people from around the world in the 19th annual International Coastal Cleanup (ICC) - the oldest and largest volunteer shoreline cleanup of its kind. In 2003, Pennsylvania's Department of Environmental Protection and Department of Conservation and natural Resources have teamed up with Verizon Telecom Pioneers and local organizations and businesses to clean up Presque Isle State Park, the Lake Erie Shoreline and local streams This is more than a coastline cleanup. Volunteers will be collecting tons of trash, but more importantly, we will record what is found...how many cigarette butts, plastic bottles, shopping bags, aluminum cans, etc. Cleanup partners will use the information to find out what work we need to do together to stop the littering of our shoreline and streams. The garbage collection will take place from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM. How Can I Help?
Cleanup partners have chosen ten locations in and around Erie as coordination sites for garbage and information collections. We need volunteers at all these sites. Call a site coordinator listed below for more information. We also are seeking sponsors to join us in supporting this event. If you or your organization is interested in joining our efforts, please contact one of the site coordinators listed below. If you have any questions about the event, please call Don Benczkowski of DEP's Coastal Zone management Program at (814) 332-6360 or email him at dbenczkows@state.pa.us. If you are interested in learning more about becoming a sponsor, contact Melanie Williams of Waste Management at (814) 824-7826 or email her at mwilliams7@wm.com Cleanup site locations and contacts are as follows: Site 1
Raccoon Creek Access Area
Dave Yanosko
(814) 922-7784 Site 2
Elk Creek Access Area
Tom Fuhrman
(814) 824-2407 Site 3
Walnut Creek/Asbury Woods
Julie Blackman
(814) 835-5356 Site 4
Presque Isle State Park
Anne DeSarro
(814) 833-0351 Site 5
Cascade Creek, Presque Isle Bay, and Garrison Run
Anne Dannelski
(814) 898-6421 Site 6
MillCreek - Mouth
Sarah Galloway
(814) 870-1255
Site 7 Mill Creek Headwaters Park @ Erie County Conservation District
(814) 825-6403 Site 8
McDannel Run, 6 Mile Creek
Pat Lupo
(814) 899-2572 Site 9
North East Marina,Freeport Beach, 20 Mile Community Park
John Hallenburg
(814) 725-8659 Local Weather:
Wednesday night
Rain and a chance of thunderstorms. Lows in the lower 60s. Northeast winds 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 100 percent.
Thursday
Rain and a chance of thunderstorms. Highs in the lower 70s. North winds 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 100 percent.
Thursday night
Mostly cloudy with a 40 percent chance of rain in the evening. Lows in the mid 50s. North winds 10 to 15 mph.
Friday
Partly cloudy. Highs in the lower 70s.
Friday night
Mostly clear. Lows in the mid 50s.
Saturday
Partly cloudy. Highs in the mid 70s.
Saturday night
Partly cloudy with a chance of showers and thunderstorms after midnight. Lows in the mid 50s. Chance of rain 30 percent.
Sunday
Partly cloudy with a chance of showers and thunderstorms. Highs in the mid 70s. Chance of rain 30 percent.
Sunday night
Partly cloudy. Lows in the lower 50s.
Monday
Mostly sunny. Highs in the mid 70s.
Monday night
Mostly clear. Lows in the mid 50s.
Tuesday
Mostly sunny. Highs in the lower 70s.
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