WCO Report for Erie County 07/14/2004: Erie area, PA,
WCO Report Posted: July 13, 2004

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 13, 2004 at 18:56:15:

WEST ERIE COUNTY, DWCO Randy Leighton, WCO Brook Tolbert

Conditions:
Walleye action is picking up on the West side out of Walnut Creek. A fair number of fish are being caught in the shallower water, 25-40'. Anglers are also picking up a few eyes on the north side of the first trench in 55-65' or water. Medium and larger dipseys trolled 125 to 165 feet back with fluorocarbon leaders seem to be the correct rig for now. Stinger spoons and tandem crawler harnesses have been working. Although the walleye action is sporadic, it seems to be better than last year pending wind and wave conditions.

"Perch Palooza" continues to be the storie with the Erie area featured in a number of national fishing publications and Erie perch reports published weekly in the Clevland, Buffalo, and Pittsburgh newpapers. Area bait and tackle shops have been doing their best to keep up witht the high demand for ice and shiners. Many anglers from out of town have opted to bring there own minnows or to settle for fatheads. Typically the native emyrald shiners are the best bait to draw in your limit in the shortest time although alternative minnows are working also. The livlier the bait the better.

Bass and panfish are still biting well around Presque Isle and can make great fishing for the kids. A simple hook and bopper set up with crawlers, shiners, or when you can get them , crayfish can keep a child busy for hours at Presque Isle State Park.

Lake Erie water temperature as of this writing is 71 degrees

Congestions at the Walnut Creek Access:
With perch fishing at its peak and good fishing expected for a while, the Walnut Creek Access area has been on overload . This past week end saw parking conditions and boat traffic akin to the coho days years ago. The key is patience and a little common sense. Officers are tolerant to a little creative parking when conditions warrant so, however there are a few areas where parking is unacceptable. Do not park in any area that would block a building entrance or access, any place that would block right of way or another vehicle and in any handicapped spot without proper license or permit. Parking anywhere along the north bank (just above the beach) is not permitted as much of this area is "dredge fill" and can be unstable. Parking on the Sunset Memorial Garden island is not permitted. Always be sure there is all asphalt areas are full before considering parking on any grass area and if there is any doubt as to permitted parking areas ask an officer or office personell.

Teach Your Kids to be S.M.A.R.T. Anglers: Smart is an acronym for Safety first, Manners are important, Appreciate clean water, Release some of your catch, and Teach others to be SMART anglers.

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 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.

Local Weather:

Wednesday night
Mostly cloudy with a chance of showers and thunderstorms. Lows in the lower 60s. West winds 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 40 percent.
Thursday
Mostly cloudy with a chance of showers and thunderstorms. Highs in the mid 70s. Northwest winds 15 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 40 percent.
Thursday night
Partly cloudy with a chance of showers and thunderstorms. Lows in the upper 50s. Chance of rain 30 percent.
Friday
Partly cloudy. Highs in the upper 70s.
Friday night
Partly cloudy. Lows around 60.
Saturday
Partly cloudy. Highs in the upper 70s.
Saturday night
Partly cloudy with a chance of showers and thunderstorms. Lows in the lower 60s. Chance of rain 30 percent.
Sunday
Partly cloudy. Highs in the upper 70s.
Sunday night
Partly cloudy. Lows in the upper 50s.
Monday
Partly cloudy. Highs in the upper 70s.





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


(4.11.157.239)