WCO Report for Erie County 01/20/2010: Erie area, PA,
WCO Report Posted: January 21, 2010

Conditions: Daytime temperatures around the area have been hovering above the freezing mark causing a very slow meltdown and and increase in trib levels. Many of the west county tribs have a considerable amount of good flowing, dark green water. Temperatures are forecast to be above freezing and possibly as high as 40 degrees this weekend. The gradual meltdown should continue and should open up very good fishing opportunities by the end of the week if the melt down continues gradually and avoids blowout conditions.. Ice on the bay is thinning out, although anglers were out there Tuesday afternoon. With the slow meltdown, ice conditions will be changing daily over the next week. Remember if in doubt...don't go out.

Elk Valley Sportsmen Reverse Raffle..
Don't Miss It!
The annual Elk Valley Sportsmen Reverse Raffle is just around the corner. Your ticket gives you a chance at the $1,500 Main Prize, dinner, drinks, music, games of chance, & dancing. It is being held on Feb. 20th @ St. John's Social Hall / Girard with Happy Hour starting at 5:30 ... Dinner @ 7:00 ... Dancing from 9:00 to Midnight. At a bargain price of $60.00/couple, it is one of the best buys out there. Your ticket for two covers dinner, entertainment, and all legal beverages. This is the only Fund Raiser held by the Elk Valley Sportsmen Club for the year. This helps to fund the Annual Kid's Fishing Derby & improvements at the Girard Boro Pond as well as Turkey Feeding, Hunter's Safety Courses, and many other community projects. Tickets are available at McDonald's Meats on Route 20 in Girard (near the Overlake Golf Course) or by calling Lee Weaver at 922-3412 (area code 814 if needed) or any Club Officer. This is the sportsmen's social event of the season in Northwest Erie County. Tickets are limited to 150 couples so get yours now !!

Learn How to Ice Fish:
The S.O.N.S. of Lake Erie in cooperation with the PFBC and DCNR will be offering instruction and demonstration on ice fishing techniques on Saturday, February 13th. Interested anglers and observers should meet at the Rotary Pavilion near the Waterworks pond on Presque Isle. The Erie area offers some of the best ice fishing in the state and this is your chance to learn every thing you need to know from local experts. PFBC officers will be on hand to assist and answer questions regarding ice fishing regulations. Equipment will be provided for those in need. For more information and times, contact the S.O.N.S. of Lake Erie at 814-453-2270 or email sonslakeri@aol.com The SONS regular monthly membership meeting is scheduled for January 25th at 7:30 PM at at the Polish Falcon's Club, 431 East 3rd St.Erie, PA

Ice Safety and Common Sense: Wear a personal flotation device, or at least carry a floatation cushion so sit on and don't fish alone.

Leave information about your plans with someone, where you intend to fish and when you plan to return.

Know the conditions of the ice before venturing out; taking into consideration recent possible effects changes in the weather have had on the ice.

Children should ALWAYS be supervised on the ice.

Use an ice spud bar or an auger to test the ice ahead of you.

Before venturing out onto the ice, check with local sources, such as bait and tackle shops, for the most up-to-date information and always consider any information on ice thickness as suggestion, not fact.

Avoid ice formed over flowing water near shore and around inlets and outlet

Avoid aeration devices such as warm water bubblers used near marinas.

Temperature fluctuations typically occurring in early winter and spring will again make for uncertain ice.
Be suspicious of gray, dark or porous spots in the ice as these may be soft areas. Ice is generally strongest where it is hard and blue.

Heavy snow cover insulates ice and prevents it from freezing as evenly and as quickly as it would if the snow weren't there. Snow cover is also deceptive and makes evaluating the ice cover difficult.

Be especially wary of tributary ice, as it can be highly variable in thickness due to the erosive action of the underlying water current. Many anglers like to ice fish the Walnut Project waters which has some deep holes. One can be standing on ice eight-inches thick on a trib and just a few feet away, the ice may be only two-inches thick.

Carry a set of "grippers" (a couple screwdrivers on a length of nylon cord will do in a pinch). If you should go through the ice, they can provide a "grip" on the slippery surface and aid in getting out.

Should you break through the ice, try not to panic. Remember to turn toward the direction you came from, toward the ice that supported you. Use you "grippers" or your hands to gain a hold on the unbroken surface of the ice, and advance by kicking your feet.

Once you are out of the water and are lying on the ice, don't stand! Roll away from the point where you broke through until you are on solid ice.

If you do see someone fall through the ice, do not run toward them. Carefully extend a rope, ladder, pole or line to the victim.

Local Weather:

WEDNESDAY NIGHT - Partly cloudy. Lows in the lower 20s. East winds around 10 mph.

THURSDAY - Partly cloudy. Highs in the mid 30s. East winds 15 to 20 mph.

THURSDAY NIGHT - Mostly cloudy with a chance of rain. Also a chance of freezing rain and snow. Lows in the upper 20s. East winds 15 to 20 mph. Chance of precipitation 30 percent.

FRIDAY - Mostly cloudy. A chance of rain and snow in the morning. Highs in the upper 30s. Chance of precipitation 30 percent.

FRIDAY NIGHT - Mostly cloudy. Lows in the mid 20s.

SATURDAY - Partly cloudy. Highs in the lower 40s.

SATURDAY NIGHT - Mostly cloudy. Lows in the lower 30s.

SUNDAY - Rain likely. Highs in the mid 40s. Chance of rain 60 percent.

SUNDAY NIGHT - Rain likely. Lows in the mid 30s. Chance of rain 60 percent.

MONDAY - Cloudy with a 40 percent chance of rain showers. Highs around 40.

MONDAY NIGHT - Cloudy with a 40 percent chance of snow showers. Lows in the upper 20s.

TUESDAY - Cloudy with a chance of snow and rain showers. Highs in the mid 30s. Chance of precipitation 40 percent.