WCO Report for Erie County 07/07/2010: Erie area, PA,
WCO Report Posted: July 06, 2010

Brought to you by FishLakeErie.com


[FishLakeErie.com] [ PA Fish Reports ] [ News/Articles ] [ More WCO Reports & Photos ] [ Recent WCO ]

Posted by DWCO Randy Leighton on July 06, 2010 at 22:00:27:

July 7t, 2010
West Erie County, DWCO Randy Leighton, rglerie@msn.com

Conditions:

Area temperature in Erie have been consistent with the Northeast part of the country with temperatures hitting the 90's Hot, humid temperatures, and heavy haze have blanket the area. Area fishing reports all have been good with many limits of both perch and walleye being brought in. Anglers that are new to Walleye fishing are learning that there are not always big tricks or secrets and an arsenal of tackle isn't always a necessity. A few dipseys, some no stretch line, and a few tandem crawler harness in a variety of colors have been often all that has been needed. Those anglers that are not into trolling and enjoy using drift fishing with bottom bouncers have also done well. Charter captains from both the East and West sides of Erie have been consistently reporting good catches in relatively short periods of time. Perch schools are forming due north of Walnut Creek and off the point Area temperatures have been warm bring the Lake temperatures up. Lake Erie water temperatures off Toledo are 74 degrees, off Cleveland, 71 degrees, and off Erie, 74 degrees.
Boating Safety Tip(s) of the Week:

Although not required safety equipment, consider the following list of additional items to help insure your safety on the water

Oars or paddles. They are helpful to get back to shore if the boat's engine fails. Anglers spending many hours miles off shore on Lake Erie will have a "kicker" motor added to the transom to supplement the main engine. Kickers are typically 4 to 10 HP and although primarily used for trolling, they can be a lifesaver in returning a boat to sure when the main engine fails.

Anchor and line. An appropriately sized anchor with good-quality nylon line is an essential piece of equipment for boaters. Typically, a Danforth style anchor works best on Lake Erie with a ratio of at least 7 times the length of line for the depth of water. All boaters on rivers with locks should carry a mooring line at least 75 feet long.

Bailing device. All boats should have on board some kind of bailer to remove water from the boat, even if you have an electric bilge pump

Marine radio. There is no substitute for a marine radio in an emergency. A marine radio is an excellent addition to boats with a console. Operators of smaller boats should consider portable units. The USCG monitors channel 16 on the marine band 24/7 on Lake Erie

Cell phone. A cell phone is an excellent way to call for help if the operator knows the emergency numbers for the area in which he or she is boating. Cell phones should not be the only source of communication on Lake Erie since we overlap with Canadian Towers.

Boating maps have revealed a significant number of boaters breaking no wake zones in and around Presque Isle Bay. Boaters and PWC operators are again advised that the area within 500' of Presque Isle along Presque Isle bay is a "slow no wake area".
Other "slow no wake" problem areas have included Marina Bay, Misery bay, the Erie Channel and a number of areas along the south side of the bay. "Slow no wake" speed means simply that you should not be creating any wake

Maps or charts and a GPS (Global Positioning Sensor) These items are useful for planning outings. They can help boaters avoid problems. Other useful items. Sunscreen, motion sickness medication, flashlight, visual distress signals (required on Lake Erie), compass, throw (rescue) bag, extra gas can, first aid kit, boat fenders, tool kit, spare spark plugs, propeller pins, spare propeller and extra light bulbs and fuses.

Law Enforcement:
Recent details have revealed a significant number of boaters breaking no wake zones in and around Presque Isle Bay. Boaters and PWC operators are again advised that the area within 500' of Presque Isle along Presque Isle bay is a "slow no wake area".
Other "slow no wake" problem areas have included Marina Bay, Misery bay, the Erie Channel and a number of areas along the south side of the bay. "Slow no wake" speed means simply that you should not be creating any wake behind your boat. It should be the minimum speed required to keep your boat on a steady course...no more. Other violations included lack of or unserviceable safety equipment, improper or no PFDs on board, no boater safety certificates as required, and over the legal creel limit of fish.

Bowfin: Occasionally during the summer months an unsuspecting angler fishing Presque Isle Bay or even Lake Erie will pull in a Bowfin only to wonder what in the world they caught.

Bowfins are widely distributed over the eastern half of North America. In Pennsylvania, they are found in Presque Isle Bay, on Lake Erie, and in a few other scattered locations in the Delaware, Ohio and Susquehanna River watersheds. Their preferred habitat is heavily vegetated lakes, sluggish rivers and swamps. Bowfins can tolerate very warm water. Their body functions become limited and their activity slows when it becomes too hot. To overcome these adverse conditions, the bowfin has a swim bladder that opens to the throat. The bowfin, like the gar, can go to the surface, stick its head out, and gulp air. Bowfin have also been called "dogfish" and "mudfish."

As unique as they are these prehistoric throwbacks are relatively easy to identify. First, the long dorsal fin that gives the fish it's most common name. The dorsal has more than 45 rays and covers over half the length of the fish. The body is heavy and cylindrical, with a wide bony jaw. The catfish has a similar shape (although it is unrelated), but unlike the cat, the bowfin has scales. Coloration is dark on top, light on the bottom, in shades of mossy green to silvery green . The bowfin has sharp teeth, but they are not large. The bowfin has a tiny pair of barbels above the nostrils. Bowfin average 25" long and 5 or so pounds. They can top three feet and over 20 pounds. Juveniles and males typically have a dark spot on the full, rounded tail. This spot is lacking in adult females. Although Bowfin are primarily gill breathers, they do have a primitive lung and can breathe air. At times can be seen gulping air at the water's surface.

Discover Presque Isle 2010 July 23 - 25th:

Discover Presque Isle (DPI) is a three day outdoor festival which takes place on the last weekend of July at Presque Isle State Park. It is the primary fundraising event for the Presque Isle Partnership and is renowned for bringing together over a hundred quality food and craft vendors resulting in the areas largest outdoor arts and crafts show.With live music, athletic events, and fun multi-day events for adults and children of all ages, it is easy to see why over 100,000 people attend this exciting weekend event each summer. For more information, schedules, etc., go to Discover Presque Isle


Local Weather: Wednesday...Mostly sunny in the morning...then becoming partly cloudy. Highs around 90. Southwest winds around 5 mph...becoming west in the afternoon.

Wednesday Night...Mostly clear. Lows around 70. Southeast winds around 5 mph.

Thursday...Mostly sunny in the morning...then becoming partly cloudy. Highs in the upper 80s. South winds around 5 mph...becoming northwest in the afternoon.

Thursday Night...Partly cloudy in the evening...then becoming mostly cloudy. Lows in the upper 60s. North winds around 5 mph... Becoming southwest after midnight.

Friday...Showers and thunderstorms likely. Not as warm with highs in the upper 70s. Chance of rain 60 percent.

Friday Night...Mostly cloudy with a chance of showers and thunderstorms. Lows in the mid 60s. Chance of rain 50 percent.

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

Saturday Night...Partly cloudy. Lows in the mid 60s.

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

Sunday Night...Mostly clear. Lows in the lower 60s.

Monday...Partly cloudy. Highs in the lower 80s.

Monday Night...Mostly cloudy. Lows in the mid 60s.

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




[FishLakeErie.com] [ PA Fish Reports ] [ News/Articles ] [ More WCO Reports & Photos ] [ Recent WCO ]


(71.116.55.200)