|
May 7th, 2008 West Erie County, DWCO Randy Leighton, WCO Brook Tolbert Conditions:
Spring conditions and little precipitation have left the West County tribs low and clear making the few remaining steelhead very finicky and requiring a very light presentations. A few scattered steelhead remain at the Manchester Hole and lower Elk for those die hards. Temperatures in the 60's and 70's will be bringing the Spring steelhead season to a close shortly. There are plenty of stocked trout to be had on Elk and Crooked Creeks and a good number of people are still pulling them out of the upper Gravel Pit Pond and the McKean hole off of I-79. Bass have been plentiful in Elk Creek, in Presque Isle Bay and along the Lake shore in 25 to 30' of water. The opening season crowds have thinned out at the Gravel Pit pond in Fairview making it an ideal spot for the young anglers to test their skills. Current Lake Erie Water temperature off Toledo is 56 degrees, off Cleveland, 50 degrees and off the Port of Erie, 50 degrees. Free Fishing Days Coming Up:
May 24th and June 1st are designated as free fishing days by the PFBC. Licenses are not required to fish on these days although all fishing regulations do apply. This is a terrific opportunity to try the sport or to introduce someone to angling. For those new to fishing there are many great spots to start out in our area. Try the far end of Presque Isle near the Perry monument or the Waterworks Ponds on the North side of the Peninsula. Edinboro Lake, The Gravel Pit Pond in Fairview, and Lake Pleasant are all good learning spots as well. All the local bait shops are more than willing to help you on that first outing and to give suggestions as to "what they are biting on" Another PFBC Basic Boating Course Offered:
Area officers from the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission, will be conducting a safe boating class on Monday and Wednesday, June 2nd and 4th from 6:00 PM to 10:00 PM each evening. The class will be held at the Gem City Outdoorsmen Club The club is located at 6701 Van Camp Road in Fairview. There should be plenty of room for anyone interested. This comprehensive 8 hour class is designed for the novice boater or boater to be, as well as the experienced boater who would like to refresh his knowledge and is especially recommended for the new boater and their families. The class covers basic boating safety, boating laws and regulations, and equipment. Successful completion of the course qualifies the individual for a Pennsylvania boating education safety certificate (card). There is no charge for the course or materials, although registration is required. These classes typically fill up and early sign up is recommended. To register for this class, email DWCO Randy Leighton at rglerie@msn.com with your name, address, phone, age, and number of people you would like to register or you can phone WCO Brook Tolbert at (814) 774-4672
Upon successful completion of the course , the Agency will require a processing fee for your Basic Boating Safety Certificate (card) if desired.
Do You or Your Family Need a Boating Safety Certificate?:
Boating Safety Certificates (Actually a plastic card) are required for anyone operating a personal watercraft (jet ski) and anyone born on or after January 1st 1982 operating a boat powered by motors greater than 25 Horsepower.
U.S. Coast Guard Maritime Security MARSEC Levels: The Coast Guard has a three tiered system of Maritime Security (MARSEC) levels consistent with the Department of Homeland Security's Homeland Security Advisory System (HSAS). MARSEC Levels are designed to provide a means to easily communicate pre-planned scalable responses to increased threat levels. The Commandant of the U.S. Coast Guard sets MARSEC levels to commensurate with the HSAS. Because of the unique nature of the maritime industry, the HSAS threat conditions and the MARSEC levels will align closely, though they will not directly correlate.
MARSEC levels are set to reflect the prevailing threat environment to the marine elements of the national transportation system, including ports, vessels, facilities, and critical assets and infrastructure located on or adjacent to waters subject to the jurisdiction of the U.S.
MARSEC Level 1 means the level for which minimum appropriate security measures shall be maintained at all times. MARSEC 1 generally applies when HSAS Threat Condition Green, Blue, or Yellow are set. MARSEC Level 2 means the level for which appropriate additional protective security measures shall be maintained for a period of time as a result of heightened risk of a transportation security incident. MARSEC 2 generally corresponds to HSAS Threat Condition Orange. MARSEC Level 3 means the level for which further specific protective security measures shall be maintained for a limited period of time when a transportation security incident is probable, imminent, or has occurred, although it may not be possible to identfy the specific target. MARSEC 3 generally corresponds to HSAS Threat Condition Red. As of this writing we are at MARSEC Level 1 and the U.S. Goverments national threat level is yellow or elevated as of this writing.
Boating Safety Tip of the Week:
In Pennsylvania, all children 12 years of age or younger are required to wear a life jacket when underway on a boat that is 20 feet in length or less and all canoes and kayaks. Besides being a statewide regulation, ensuring that youngsters are wearing a properly fitting life jacket simply makes good sense.
Local Weather: Wednesday Night...Occasional showers with a chance of thunderstorms. Lows in the lower 50s. Southwest winds 15 to 20 mph with gusts up to 30 mph. Chance of rain 80 percent. Thursday...Mostly cloudy with a 50 percent chance of showers. Much cooler with highs in the upper 50s. Northwest winds 5 to 10 mph. Thursday Night...Mostly cloudy. A chance of showers in the evening. Lows in the mid 40s. Northeast winds 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 40 percent. Friday...Mostly cloudy. Highs in the lower 60s. Friday Night...Mostly cloudy. Lows in the mid 40s. Saturday...Partly cloudy. Highs in the upper 50s. Saturday Night...Partly cloudy. Lows in the mid 40s. Sunday...Partly cloudy in the morning...then becoming mostly cloudy. A 40 percent chance of showers. Highs around 60. Sunday Night...Cloudy with a 40 percent chance of showers. Lows in the mid 40s. Monday...Mostly cloudy with a 40 percent chance of showers. Highs in the mid 50s. Monday Night...Mostly cloudy. Lows in the lower 40s. Tuesday...Partly cloudy. Highs in the lower 60s.
|