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WCO/DWCO Update
July 23rd, 2008
Western Erie County
submitted by
DWCO Randy Leighton and
WCO Brook Tolbert
Conditions
Perch fishing remains as good as it gets with the action so lively that the Erie Times News made it a front page story. Although the usual schools off of Walnut Creek and the Point and Presque Isle are always productive, many anglers are finding perch all along the lake shore in depth of 45 to 62 feet. Perch rigs and emerald shiners are the setup and can be found at most all area bait shops. Walleye fishing has been good to excellent in the deeper waters of the first trench and the south side of the second trench northwest of walnut Creek. Anglers are starting to pick up a few steelhead in both the first and second trenches. Typically, many are caught by anglers trolling the bottom with spoons in search of walleye. Bass fishing in and around Presque Isle Bay has been good to excellent as well. The current Lake Erie water temperature off Toledo is 75 degrees, off Cleveland, 73 degrees, and off the Port of Erie, 77 degrees.
Walnut Creek Access
Dredging has finally started at the mouth of Walnut Creek after a delay in permitting, to clear a large sandbar. Dredging is expected to last through the end of July. Although the channel will remain open throughout the process, boaters should expect possible delays during the week. Depth finders should be monitored when entering or exiting the channel at least until the dredging is complete.
Perch Record Could be Coming?
The current state record yellow perch was caught by Keith Meck. The 2 lb. 9 oz. perch measured 16.25-inches long, and was caught while Keith was ice fishing at Beltzville Lake, Carbon County on February 9, 2000. With the food base the Lake Erie perch have been gorging on the last few years combined with the spectacular catch rates, perhaps it is only matter of time before the next record is caught. A good number of perch over 2 lbs. have been reported this year. It has even been speculated that record fish have been caught and perhaps not reported. It might be wise to check those larger fish. If you think you are close keeping the fish alive in a live well will prevent the shrinking that comes with icing the fish. To be considered for state record certification, a fish must be caught using legal means, in season, from Pennsylvania waters open to the public without charge or fee. Fish taken from farm ponds, fee-fishing lakes, ponds or streams or in waters restricted to use by club members or their guests do not qualify. Potential record fish must exceed the established benchmark by at least one ounce, as weighed on a certified scale. The fish must be examined by a Commission biologist or Waterways Conservation Officer.
Discover Presque Isle
Discover Presque Isle takes place the weekend of, July 25th, 26th, and 27th. This three-day event celebrates Erie's most valuable public resource and introduces thousands of visitors to all that Presque Isle State Park has to offer. Activities include kayak demonstrations, rock wall climbing, nature tours, kite flying, pontoon boat rides, volleyball tournaments, duathlon (run, bike, run), a mile swim, arts and crafts shows, children's areas, giant beach bonfires and much more.
A pancake breakfast will be held on Saturday and Sunday mornings (been there, done it, and it's great). Other food vendors will be on hand throughout the weekend as well. Event times are: 12 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Friday, July 25th, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Saturday, July 26th and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday, July 27th.
Boat Registration Revisited
Questions come in all summer long regarding boat registration requirements and when and where does a boat have to be registered. The following offers the guidelines for registration:
Boats propelled by machinery, including electric motors, must be registered, and they must properly display numbers and a boat registration validation decal. This includes all motorboats regardless of the boat's length and type of motor.
No other number may be displayed on either side of the bow. These numbers may not be removed, altered, tampered with, or defaced except by the owner or representative. Documented vessels, as well as kayaks, sculls, sailboards, and other low-volume boats of similar design, are exempt from the display of numbers but they must display the validation decal. Inflatable boats may carry their numbers and validation decal on boards lashed to each side of the bow. Canoes are not exempt and must display the numbers and the decal.
Often, boaters tell us that they "just sent in their renewal" or "I have my canceled check" and is it okay to boat. The response to this is the boat is considered to be legally registered when the validation sticker is on the boat and the registration card is received and signed. A boat without a current validation sticker and numbers affixed to both sides the bow and a signed registration card are no more legal than an automobile without a current license plate sticker and signed registration card.
Unpowered boats using Commission lakes and access areas must be registered OR display a Commission use permit OR display a State Parks launch or mooring permit.
Boat titles are issued when a boat is sold or when ownership is conveyed. Titles are required for motorboats with a model year of 1997 and newer, except for those that are powered by an outboard motor that are less than 14 feet in length. All 1997 or newer personal watercraft, are also subject to the titling requirement. Voluntary titling is available for any other boat.
IMPORTANT BOATING PHONE NUMBERS
Fish & Boat Commission Boating Course Hotline: 1-888-PAFISH-1 (1-888-723-4741)
Bureau of Boating and Education: 717-705-7833
Bureau of Law Enforcement: 717-705-7861
Boat Registration Office: Toll Free 1-866-BOATREG (1-866-262-8734)
Local Weather
Wednesday Night
Partly cloudy. Lows in the upper 50s. Northwest winds 10 to 15 mph.
Thursday
Partly cloudy. Highs in the upper 70s. Northwest winds 10 to 15 mph.
Thursday Night
Partly cloudy. Lows in the lower 60s. Northwest winds 5 to 10 mph becoming west after midnight.
Friday
Partly sunny with a chance of showers and thunderstorms. Highs in the lower 80s. Chance of rain 30 percent.
Friday Night
Mostly cloudy with a chance of showers and thunderstorms. Lows in the lower 60s. Chance of rain 30 percent.
Saturday
Partly sunny with a chance of showers and thunderstorms. Highs around 80. Chance of rain 40 percent.
Saturday Night
Mostly cloudy. Lows in the mid 60s.
Sunday
Partly sunny. Highs in the upper 70s.
Sunday Night
Partly cloudy. Lows in the lower 60s.
Monday
Partly cloudy. Highs in the upper 70s.
Monday Night
Partly cloudy. Lows in the lower 60s.
Tuesday
Partly cloudy. Highs in the upper 70s.
Local Images Follow.
Walleye action is hot
Working on the sandbar at the mouth of Walnut
Smallie brought in at the Northeast Marina
Jumbo perch bring big smiles!
If your picture was taken and you do not see it here, be sure to check back next week!
Contact Information
Waterways Conservation Officer Brook R. Tolbert
Western Erie County
PO Box 162
Fairview, PA 16415
Phone: (814)-566-7869
Email: WCO14@msn.com
and
Deputy Waterways Conservation Officer Randy Leighton
Western Erie County
Email: rglerie@msn.com
and
Waterways Conservation Officer Ed Stuart
Central Erie County
PO Box 9692
Erie, PA 16505
Phone: (814)-572-0066
and
Waterways Conservation Officer James M. Smolko
Eastern Erie & Western Warren Counties
PO Box 1026
Waterford, PA 16441
Phone: 814-572-0078
Email: Rangerg13@aol.com
and
PA Fish and Boat Commission, Bureau of Law Enforcement, Northwest Region Office
Phone: (814) 337-0444
and
Walnut Creek Marina
Phone: (814) 833-2464
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