WCO Report for Erie County 09/23/2009: Erie area, PA,
WCO Report Posted: September 23, 2009

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Posted by DWCO Randy Leighton on September 23, 2009 at 07:10:32:

September 23rd, 2009

West Erie County, DWCO Randy Leighton, WCO Brook Tolbert

Conditions:

Minor rainfall earlier this week did little to improve trib conditions. Other than near the mouths, the tribs remain low and clear with little flow. A few fish have made it past the Manchester bridge on Walnut, but very few. Anglers have had some success at the Lakeshore at Trout Run at daybreak but even this has been limited. Construction in that area has temporarily cut down on parking. Temperatures have been mild and rain is a must for any movement. Walleye and Perch continue to be caught in good numbers with a number of Walleye anglers picking up the occasional steelhead being reeled in...a good sign. Current Lake Erie water temperature is 68 degrees. Current West County trib conditions are very low and clear with little flow.

PFBC Plans Brown Trout Stocking in Erie:
Meadville, PA - The PFBC will be stocking brown trout into the tributaries of Lake Erie beginning as soon as Sept. 29, 2009. These 7-inch long trout will be fin clipped for identification purposes before being stocked the next day. Planned stocking locations are Trout Run, Presque Isle Bay, Crooked Creek, Godfrey Run and Orchard Beach Creek. All tributary stockings will be done as close to the mouths of each stream as possible as long as there is adequate water flow. If stream flow is low, the fish will be stocked directly into the lake near the stream mouth.

"The goal of this program is to emulate the brown trout program on Lake Ontario, but on a smaller scale," said Lake Erie Fisheries Biologist Chuck Murray. "The intention of this effort is to add some diversity to the tributary fishery, create a near shore springtime fishery and enhance the offshore summer boat fishery. These brown trout stockings will supplant the surplus steelhead stocked since the elimination of the Coho program in 2003. The program was started through the gracious donation of 100,000 certified disease free eggs provided by the New York Department of Environmental Conservation. As the program evolves, the PFBC will develop self sustaining Lake Erie brown trout brood program at their hatcheries."

Murray also added that "this will be a cooperative venture between the PFBC and local cooperative sportsman's nurseries. In addition to the thousands of brown trout to be stocked by the PFBC, approximately 35,000 additional brown trout were already stocked earlier this year by 3-CU and the Wesleyville Conservation Club with the assistance of the PFBC Cooperative Nursery Unit. The success of the program will be monitored through creel surveys and existing assessment programs over the next several years. Brown trout stocking will be about 50,000-100,000 annually, representing about 5-10% of the steelhead stocking levels."

The mission of the Fish and Boat Commission is to protect, conserve, and enhance the Commonwealth's aquatic resources and provide fishing and boating opportunities. For more information about fishing and boating in Pennsylvania, please visit our website at www.fishandboat.com.

Important Changes to the Lake Erie Permit Program:
Harrisburg, PA – Legislation sponsored by Sen. Jane Earll (R-49, Erie County) and signed into law last month implements a number of important changes to the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat
Commission’s (PFBC) Lake Erie fishing permit program, including allowing the Commission to fund fish habitat projects with proceeds from the sale of these permits. “Lake Erie is a unique and valuable fishery that provides tremendous economic benefits not only to the northwestern region but the entire state,” said Sen. Earll. “The Lake Erie permit program has been vital to ensuring long-term public access to the lake and the watersheds of Lake Erie. I am very pleased that we were able to successfully pass this legislation. ”The newly-signed law provides that proceeds from the sale of the permit will continue to be deposited into a restricted account until Dec. 31, 2014, and extends their use to projects that protect or improve fish habitat. In the past, funds were restricted to projects that provide public fishing access. “With this legislation, the Lake Erie permit program will now play an additional important role by providing funding to sustain and improve the natural resources that support an excellent fishery,” said PFBC Executive Director Douglas J. Austen. “Since the program was introduced, the Commission has secured public access to more than 10 miles of stream. Now we’ll be able to use some of that money for equally important fish habitat projects in the Lake Erie watershed.” The new law, which takes effect Oct. 26, also extends the Lake Erie permit requirement to Conneaut Creek, Turkey Creek and their tributaries and allows the Commission to use proceeds for projects in and along those waters. Anglers have been required since 2004 to purchase a Lake Erie permit to fish the lake, Presque Isle Bay and most tributaries. This permit is required in addition to a resident fishing license. Permits cost $9.70 each or $15.70 for a trout/salmon/Lake Erie combination permit. In 2008, the Commission sold approximately 19,000 Lake Erie permits and about 85,700 combination permits. One hundred percent of the proceeds from the sale of each Lake Erie permit and $6 of the proceeds from the sale of each combination permit are deposited into a restricted account to
be used only for the specified purposes. The mission of the Fish and Boat Commission is to protect, conserve, and enhance the Commonwealth’s aquatic resources and provide fishing and boating opportunities. For more information about fishing and boating in Pennsylvania, please visit our website at www.fishandboat.com.

Think You Have What It Takes?:
Application for Waterways Conservation Officer Trainee will open on October 7, 2009 and the announcement will close on November 18, 2009. For for a description, contact information and qualifications go to http://www.fish.state.pa.us/careers_law.htm

Support Your Local Sportsmens' Clubs:
The Pennsylvania Steelhead Association will be holding its annual "Big Run Banquet" on Saturday, September 26th from Noon to 6:00 P.M. at the Shades Beach Park Pavilion in Harborcreek. Donation is $10.00 per person. Tickets can be purchased at Poor Richards, Lake Erie Ultimate Angler, Green Roof Inn, FishUSA, Elk Creek Sports, East Avenue Bait and East End Angler. This is a must attend event for the steelhead anglers and is a great bargain. There are always plenty of the area locals on hand with tips and demonstrations, door prizes, raffles, and great food.

The SONS of Lake Erie will have their regular monthly meeting on Monday, September 28th, 2009 at 7:30 p.m. at the Polish Falcons Club, 431 E. 3rd Street, Erie, PA. The public is welcome to attend.

Local Weather:

Wednesday Night...Mostly cloudy. A chance of showers and thunderstorms in the evening. Lows in the lower 60s. Southwest winds 5 to 10 mph...becoming north after midnight. Chance of rain 40 percent.

Thursday...Partly cloudy. Highs in the lower 70s. North winds 5 to 10 mph.

Thursday Night...Mostly clear. Lows in the mid 50s. Northeast winds 5 to 10 mph.

Friday...Mostly sunny. Highs in the lower 70s.

Friday Night...Increasing clouds. Lows in the mid 50s.

Saturday...Mostly cloudy with a 50 percent chance of showers. Highs around 70.

Saturday Night...Mostly cloudy with a 50 percent chance of showers. Lows in the upper 50s.

Sunday...Cloudy with a 40 percent chance of showers. Highs in the upper 60s.

Sunday Night...Cloudy with a 40 percent chance of showers. Lows in the mid 50s.

Monday...Cloudy with a 50 percent chance of showers. Breezy with highs in the upper 60s.

Monday Night...Cloudy with scattered showers. Lows in the lower 50s. Chance of rain 50 percent.

Tuesday...Cloudy and cool with scattered showers. Highs in the lower 60s. Chance of rain 40 percent.




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