WCO Report for Erie County 08/22/2007: Erie area, PA,
WCO Report Posted: August 21, 2007

Conditions:
Much needed rain has hit the area over the last few days raising the trib levels and slowing the Lake activity a bit. Perch are still hitting strong north and slightly west of Walnut Creek. Anglers are finding the large clusters or packs of boats are not always the best place to limit out. All those boats and anchor lines can't help but spook the fish. Try moving away from the packs of boats if you are not having success. Limits of perch are common now with the best times being right after sunrise and right before sunset. Shiners are still in good supply at local bait shops. Walleye are still being brought in good numbers with many limits being reported. All this and Steelhead season is just around the corner. Current Lake Erie water temperature as of this writing was 76 degrees.

Steelhead?:
Steelhead are being picked up off shore and evidence of "staging" is apparent in 40 to 50 feet of water. There have been a few unconfirmed reports of steelhead being caught off the wall at Walnut Creek at night. Air and water temperatures are a too warm at this time so support any real activity. How ever, with a few cool nights and a little more rain, it won't be long. Current Lake Erie water temperature off the Port of Erie is 76 degrees. Current tributary conditions are high and muddy due to several days of steady rain fall.

Fire Extinguisher Review: Law enforcement in the Erie area has an evidence area full of confiscated fire extinguishers that have been collected over the summer during routine safety checks. These extinguishers range from fully discharged, to broken handles and gages, to non USCG approved for marine use most of which would be of little to no use in an emergency. The following is requirements and recommendations are from the USCG are mirrored by the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission. If you are required to have an extinguisher on board and do not have one...get one. If you have one, check to assure it is the correct type and is in serviceable condition.

Coast Guard Approved fire extinguishers are required on boats where a fire hazard could be expected from the motors or the fuel system. Extinguishers are classified by a letter and number symbol. The letter indicates the type fire the unit is designed to extinguish (Type B for example are designed to extinguish flammable liquids such as gasoline, oil and grease fires). The number indicates the relative size of the extinguisher. The higher the number, the larger the extinguisher.

Coast Guard approved extinguishers required for boats are hand portable, either B-I or B-II classification and have a specific marine type mounting bracket. It is recommended the extinguishers be mounted in a readily accessible position, away from the areas where a fire could likely start such as the galley or the engine compartment.

Extinguisher markings can be confusing because extinguishers can be approved for several different types of hazards. For instance, an extinguisher marked "Type A, Size II, Type B:C, Size I" is a B-I extinguisher.

Look for the part of the label that says "Marine Type USCG"

Make sure Type B is indicated
Portable extinguishers will be either size I or II. Size III and larger are too big for use on most recreational boats.
Fire Extinguishers are required on boats when any of the following conditions exist:

Inboard engines are installed (This of course includes personal watercraft)
There are closed compartments and compartments under seats where portable fuel tanks may be stored.
There are double bottoms not sealed to the hull or which are not completely filled with flotation materials.
There are closed living spaces.
There are closed stowage compartments in which combustible or flammable materials are stored.
There are permanently installed fuel tanks. (Fuel tanks secured so they cannot be moved in case of fire or other emergency are considered permanently installed. There are no gallon capacity limits to determine if a fuel tank is portable. If the weight of a fuel tank is such that persons on board cannot move it, the Coast Guard considers it permanently installed.)
Fire Extinguisher Maintenance: Inspect extinguishers monthly to make sure that:

Seals and tamper indicators are not broken or missing.
Pressure gauges or indicators read in the operable range. (Note: CO2 extinguishers do not have gauges.)
There is no obvious physical damage, rust, corrosion, leakage or clogged nozzles.
Weigh extinguishers annually to assure that the minimum weight is as stated on the extinguisher label.
Fire extinguishers that do not satisfy the above requirements or that have been partially emptied must be replaced or taken to a qualified fire extinguisher servicing company for recharge.

Required Number of Fire Extinguishers The number of fire extinguishers required on a recreational boat are based on the overall length of the boat. Check your boaters safety handbook for specific requirements for your boat. The pressure gauge alone is not an accurate indicator that Halon extinguishers are full. The weight of the units should be checked regularly. It is recommended that portable extinguishers be mounted in a readily accessible position.

Local Weather: Wednesday Night...Mostly cloudy with a chance of showers and thunderstorms. Lows around 70. South winds 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 30 percent.

Thursday...Mostly cloudy with a chance of showers and thunderstorms. Highs in the upper 80s. South winds 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 40 percent.

Thursday Night...Mostly cloudy with a chance of showers and thunderstorms. Lows in the upper 60s. South winds 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 40 percent.

Friday...Mostly cloudy with a chance of showers and thunderstorms. Highs in the mid 80s. Chance of rain 40 percent.

Friday Night...Mostly cloudy with a chance of showers and thunderstorms. Lows in the upper 60s. Chance of rain 40 percent.

Saturday...Mostly cloudy with a chance of showers and thunderstorms. Highs in the lower 80s. Chance of rain 40 percent.

Saturday Night...Mostly cloudy with a chance of showers and thunderstorms. Lows in the mid 60s. Chance of rain 30 percent.

Sunday...Partly sunny. Highs in the upper 70s.

Sunday Night...Partly cloudy. Lows around 60.

Monday...Partly cloudy. Highs in the mid 70s.

Monday Night...Partly cloudy. Lows in the lower 60s.

Tuesday...Partly cloudy. Highs in the upper 70s.