WCO Report for Erie County 01/04/2006: Erie area, PA,
WCO Report Posted: January 04, 206

Conditions: Above average temperatures for the season have finally melted off most all remaining snow. Light rain over the past week has kept the tribs at high, but very fishable levels with good color and flow. There has been plenty of elbow room in most areas. Many anglers are indicating that the catch rates seem down, but so are the number of anglers. Fish are widely spread and holding in most of the popular areas. The nursery waters at Trout Run are loaded with fish, and a good number of them fresh. This is often somewhat of an indicator as to the movement in the adjacent tributaries. The Manchester Hole has not had any significant angling pressure and is still holding many large fish. Anglers have been having fair success off the Wall at Walnut Creek with a number of fresh fish caught. Bottom line is there are good numbers of fish to be caught, maybe not the numbers that have been seen in past years, but plenty none the less. Current Trib conditions as of Tuesday afternoon were high and flowing with some stain. The Walnut Basin is ice free for now and Presque Isle Bay is a mix of soft ice and slush and standing water and should be generally be considered unsafe.

Burbot:
Savvy anglers are beginning to target Burbot along the North and South Piers between Presque Isle Bay and Lake Erie.Pier. Most Burbot are accidentally hooked by unsuspecting Perch anglers using minnows and perch rigs, however, smart anglers know that they can be targeted and that Burbot make mouth watering tablefare. . Anglers specifically targeting Burbot will typically use the largest shiners they can get, often using two on one hook and fish them on the bottom. Perch rigs can be used with large or doubled up shiners. Burbot are a fresh water cod that enjoy the coldest depths of Great Lakes. As water temperatures drop, Burbot will move into shallower water and can often be caught from the North and South piers. Burbot can be cleaned similar to cat fish, have a mild taste and can be enjoyed fried, baked, or broiled.

Support Your Local Sportsmen's Clubs: The next Pennsylvania Steelhead Association meeting is Wednesday January 11th, at 7 PM. Meetings are held in the main banquet room on the ground floor the American Legion Post 773 at 4109 West 12th Street, Erie, PA. 16505. This is on the south side of West 12th street (route 5), just east of the Erie Airport. Food and legal beverages are offered at reasonable prices. The public is welcome.

Winter Baits:
Small presentations and light line will remain a key to good catch rates in the clear to lightly stained water we have had. Fish will be easily spooked and not as aggressive in the colder temperatures. "Working" micro jigs can be very productive this time of year. They can be effective alone or with a tipped grub or maggot. Nymphs, sucker spawn and egg patterns in pink and white can be productive for the fly anglers. Natural baits should be kept small and allowed to drift naturally with the current. A single waxworm, single cured eggs, or one or two grubs on a 16 to 18 egg hook can work well. Shiners both live and salted can be killer baits during the winter months. Terminal tackle and floats should be well balance for the spin anglers to see the often subtle strikes that the average angler misses. These subtle winter strikes are often over looked and simply may be the difference between the the angler "that is hammering them" and the rest of the crowd that hasn't had a hook up. It is so often said that 10 percent of the anglers catch 90 percent of the fish. Very often a change of presentation or drift may be all that's necessary to produce a strike.

Local Weather: Wednesday Night Cloudy. A chance of rain in the evening...Then a chance of rain and snow after midnight. Lows in the mid 30s. Southwest winds 15 to 20 mph. Chance of precipitation 50 percent.

Thursday Cloudy with a 50 percent chance of snow showers. Breezy with highs in the upper 30s. West winds 15 to 25 mph.

Thursday Night Snow showers likely. Lows in the mid 20s. Northwest winds 10 to 20 mph. Chance of snow 60 percent.

Friday Snow showers likely. Highs in the upper 20s. Chance of snow 60 percent.

Friday Night Snow showers likely. Lows around 20. Chance of snow 60 percent.

Saturday Cloudy with a 40 percent chance of snow showers. Highs in the lower 30s.

Saturday Night Mostly cloudy with a 30 percent chance of snow showers. Lows in the mid 20s.

Sunday Partly cloudy in the morning...Then becoming mostly cloudy. A 30 percent chance of snow showers. Highs in the lower 30s.
Sunday Night Mostly cloudy with a 30 percent chance of snow showers. Lows in the mid 20s.

Monday Mostly cloudy with a chance of rain or snow showers. Highs in the mid 30s. Chance of precipitation 50 percent.

Monday Night Mostly cloudy with a 40 percent chance of snow showers. Lows in the upper 20s.

Tuesday Mostly cloudy. A chance of snow. Highs in the mid 30s. Chance of snow 40 percent.