WCO Report for Erie County 11/03/2010: Erie area, PA,
WCO Report Posted: November 03, 2010

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Posted by DWCO Randy Leighton on November 03, 2010 at 18:49:23:

November 3rd, 2010

West Erie County, DWCO Randy Leighton, rglerie@msn.co
Conditions:

Steelhead fishing has been tough over the past week with very little rain leaving the tribs low and very clear. There is the possibility of rain in the forecasts, however at this point it does not look significant but with the unpredictable fronts that Erie experiences this time of year, anything is possible. Temperatures dipping into the thirties already have the weather watchers talking snow. Many anglers have chosen to wait out the rain and as such the low conditions have provided significant elbow room. Anglers that are catching fish are doing so at daybreak and at dusk for the most part. Very light presentations are a must with many anglers dropping line strength and tippets as low as 2 lbs.

There are fair to good reports of steelhead being caught in Presque Isle Bay and Marina Bay at Presque Isle State Park. A number of anglers floating shiners have picked up an occasional steelhead while targeting perch and crappie.

Best bets right now would be to target deeper water at the tributary mouths as well as the lakeshore at Trout and Godfrey Runs on calm days.

The Walnut Creek Marina Basin is scheduled to be open to fishing Wednesday November 3rd at noon and may be a good place to try pending additional precipitation

Lake Erie water temperature as of this writing is 53 degrees. Area tributary conditions as of this writing are low and clear with little flow.

Support Your Local Sportsmen's Clubs:
The Pennsylvania Steelhead Association will hold its regular monthly meeting on Wednesday November 10th, at the American Legion on West 12th street (route 5 just east of the Tom Ridge Field) at 7:00 PM. The public is invited

Law Enforcement:
Low clear conditions have made angling a challenge for the honest sportsmen however, being able to see the fish in the shallow conditions has made poaching and snagging all too tempting. Area officers continue to have their hands full. Violations this past week included snagging, failure to conform to the vehicle code, not conforming to posted traffic control signs, and litter. Many anglers have noticed and commented on the increased PFBC Officer presence this fall. These highly successful details will continue to keep up with with the large crowds that are drawn to the area. Officers from around the state along local law officers will enhance the already strong law enforcement program dedicated to the Erie area.

Cold Weather Trib Tips:
Cold weather is around the corner and requires some modifications that can be prepared for in advance. Here are some of those tips to make your experience in Erie more satisfying:

Allowing your reel to get wet in freezing weather can make the drag system ineffective. Be sure to thoroughly dry out a wet reel or even change reels .... especially in freezing conditions.

Smearing a thin coat of petroleum jelly or lip balm on each eyelet can alleviate frozen rod eyelets. Water will not stick to the eyelets and allow them to freeze them shut.

Have your rod and reel rigged and ready to cast at home. Trying to thread a size 18 hook streamside or in a parking lot with the wind howling and the temperature dropping can be a real challenge.

Ice on your line or float will adversely affect you casts and excessive ice build up can make 4# test line sound like rope when it hits the water. Clear any ice build up frequently.

When wading, an extra set of gloves can be a blessing if that first pair falls into the water. Neoprene gloves are great for cold water fishing. An extra set of dry clothes in the vehicle can be gold after a cold day on the tribs.

Disposable pocket hand warmers work great when they are kept dry but nothing beats the good old Jon E. Hand warmers for my money.

Fish become less active as the water temperature drops. Sometimes it is necessary to induce the strike. Bright colored Glo Bugs and Blood Dots and sucker spawn in red, chartreuse, pink and orange can be the ticket in cold water. "Jigging" will often produce a strike when the fish aren't hungry. Twitching a small maribou jig under a very light float will often produce the desired result. Try pink, chartreuse, or white in cold water. Steelhead are cold blooded and as such their body temperature adjusts to the water temperature. The colder the water, generally the less active the fish will be. A slight increase in water temperature by just a few degrees can trigger activity that was absent the day before.

Never wear cotton clothing under your waders. Cotton retains moisture and has very little insulation value when damp. It also becomes a medium for fungal infections. The organisms that cause infections such a jock itch and athletes foot can not live in synthetic fabrics. Synthetic materials tend to "pass-through", rather than "retain" moisture from perspiration. Nylon, acrylic and polyester do not retain as much moisture as cotton, silk or wool. Dressing with layers of Synthetic material under your waders will help keep you dry and dry means warm.

Local Weather:

Wednesday Night...Cloudy with a 40 percent chance of showers. Lows in the upper 30s. West winds 5 to 10 mph...becoming southwest after midnight.

Thursday...Showers likely. Highs in the upper 40s. Southwest winds 5 to 10 mph...becoming west 10 to 15 mph in the afternoon. Chance of rain 60 percent.

Thursday Night...Rain showers likely. Lows in the mid 30s. Northwest winds 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 60 percent.

Friday...Cloudy. Rain or snow showers likely...then a chance of rain or show showers in the afternoon. Highs in the lower 40s. Chance of precipitation 60 percent.

Friday Night...Cloudy with a 40 percent chance of snow showers. Lows around 30.

Saturday...Mostly cloudy with a 40 percent chance of snow showers. Highs in the lower 40s.

Saturday Night...Mostly cloudy with a chance of snow showers in the evening...then partly cloudy after midnight. Lows in the lower 30s. Chance of snow 40 percent.

Sunday...Partly cloudy. Highs around 50.

Sunday Night...Partly cloudy in the evening...then becoming mostly cloudy. Not as cool with lows in the lower 40s.

Monday...Partly sunny. Highs in the mid 50s.

Monday Night...Partly cloudy. Lows in the lower 40s.

Tuesday...Partly cloudy. Highs in the mid 50s.





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