January 30th, 2008 West Erie County, DWCO Randy Leighton, WCO Brook Tolbert Conditions: This past weekend Presque Isle Bay could have been assigned a new zip code with hundreds of anglers taking to the ice. Reports were mixed with most anglers filling their buckets with blue gills and sunfish with a few perch and an occasional steelhead. Ice conditions were soft a varied from three to five inches. By Tuesday afternoon, the freeze left as fast as it came. Temperatures in the mid to high forties soften the ice on Presque Isle Bay and left unsafe conditions with considerable slush and standing water. Area tribs were opened up in many areas with the mild temperatures sending loose ice down stream and adding further blockage to the mouths of Elk and Walnut Creeks. As of Tuesday afternoon there were many fishable areas along Elk and Walnut Creeks with the water very high and moving although still somewhat on the clear side. Lake Erie is nearly all open with some drifting ice. The forecast is calling for temperatures back in the twenties perhaps bring a quick return to the hard water season. Ice Warnings: As ice builds along the lake shore, so does the formation of "ice dunes". These beautiful formations occur as the waves pound the shoreline pushing drifting ice into large mounds along the Erie lake shore. As spectacular as they are to view, they are equally dangerous to walk on. Many of these dunes are hollow inside with open water underneath. A fall through a dune can leave an individual trapped with little chance of escape. Walking on these formations can be risky. Erie Outdoor Sport and Travel Expo: The 24th annual Erie Outdoor Sport and Travel Expo will be held February 29th through March 2nd at the new Erie Bayfront Convention Center along the Erie bay front just west of Dobbins landing. Hours are Noon to 9:00 PM on Friday, 10:00 AM to 8:00 PM on Saturday and 10:00 PM to 5:00 PM on Sunday. With 23 years under its belt, this expo has developed into the definitive cabin fever event for area hunters and anglers. The expo is a fabulous mix of the latest in hunting and fishing information and gear blended with exhibits by local clubs, bait shops and sport and travel stores and outfitters from around the globe. Great buys, informative demonstrations, and noted guest speaker clinics round out the expo. Area PFBC officers and representatives from the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission as always, will be on hand through out the weekend to answer questions and listen to your comments. See you there..... For more information go to Erie Outdoor Sport and Travel Expo Support Your Local Sportsmen's Clubs: The SONS of Lake Erie will have their regular monthly meeting on Monday, January 28th, 2008 at 7:30 p.m. at the Moniuszko Club, 1209 Reed Street, Erie, PA. The public is welcome to attend. Local Weather: Wednesday Night...Mostly cloudy and blustery. Cold with lows around 9 above. Southwest winds 15 to 25 mph with gusts up to 50 mph... Decreasing to 10 to 15 mph with gusts up to 30 mph after midnight. Wind chill values as low as 6 below in the evening. Thursday...Mostly cloudy. Not as cold with highs in the upper 20s. Southwest winds 5 to 10 mph...becoming east in the afternoon. Thursday Night...Mostly cloudy. A chance of sleet...freezing rain... And snow in the evening...then freezing rain...sleet and snow likely after midnight. Little or no snow accumulation. Not as cold with lows in the mid 20s. Temperature rising into the lower 30s after midnight. East winds 10 to 20 mph. Gusts up to 35 mph after midnight. Chance of precipitation 70 percent. Friday...Freezing rain...snow and sleet likely in the morning... Then snow showers in the afternoon. Not as cool with highs in the upper 30s. Chance of precipitation 80 percent. Friday Night...Cloudy. Snow showers likely in the evening...then a chance of snow showers after midnight. Lows in the mid 20s. Chance of snow 60 percent. Saturday...Mostly cloudy. Highs in the upper 30s. Saturday Night...Mostly cloudy with a 30 percent chance of snow showers. Lows in the lower 20s. Sunday...Partly sunny with a chance of flurries. Highs in the mid 30s. Sunday Night...Mostly cloudy. Lows in the lower 20s. Monday...Partly sunny. Highs in the upper 30s. Monday Night...Mostly cloudy with a chance of freezing rain...snow and rain. Lows in the lower 30s. Temperature rising into the mid 30s after midnight. Chance of precipitation 30 percent. Tuesday...Mostly cloudy. A chance of rain and snow in the morning... Then a chance of snow showers in the afternoon. Highs in the lower 40s. Chance of precipitation 40 percent
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