Saturday, November 30, 2013

Small Program Charters: Lake Erie Pa Walleye Fishing Charters....Where, When and Why

Small Program Charters: Lake Erie Pa Walleye Fishing Charters....Where, When and Why  . When the central basin of Lake Erie begins to warm and the water temperature reaches the mid-50's, low-60's, the walleye begin to group up in wide spread schools along the 50-60 feet depth of water. Normally, on any lake or reservoir as the water temperature warms the bigger fish move to deeper, more comfortable water. Lake Erie is a prime example of this. Easy accesses to colder water and bait fish such as smelts and alewives ( high protein forage fish found in cooler water) make it simple to understand why trophy walleye find their home in the waters off Erie, Pa.

Later, in mid July and August, the fish move even deeper into the depths of Lake Erie. Walleye are caught on planner boards, while the Steeled and Salmon are caught with downriggers at the same time. How's that for excitement?

Late August and September still provide trophy size walleye in deep water. The fall Salmon and Trout begin to school in front of the creek mouths. If its 3-6 pound Smallmouth Bass you like to catch, late September and October are the time. The big female Bass feed heavily at this time to help develop their eggs for the spawning period.

Thursday, November 28, 2013

FishOn! Northwestern Pennsylvania fishing report, Nov. 22

This has been a very good week for steelhead fishing. The larger creeks have just enough color to hide the bottoms of the pools. Flows are good and probably will continue this way for a while at least.

Starting on the east side at Twenty Mile Creek, there are steelhead from top to bottom. Water color has been good, but now it is getting clear. Fresh steelhead have been moving into the creek. The largest steelhead reported this week from the east side weighed 101/2 pounds. It was caught from Twenty Mile Creek. Sixteen Mile Creek holds plenty of steelhead. Twelve Mile Creek has been holding fewer steelhead. There are few pools remaining here between Route 5 and the lake. Only a few steelhead are in lower Seven Mile Creek. Some steelhead have made it up through the fish passage devices at Four Mile Creek. The bottom end of Four Mile Creek is loaded with fish. Hot baits on the east side have been single eggs and egg skein. Fly fishers have done well using white Sucker Spawn, Crystal Egg with pink and single egg patterns.

West from Erie, steelhead fishing has been hot the past few days. A fresh run of steelhead began moving into creeks at the beginning of the week. Many of the first steelhead were jacks. Later, most of the fresh steelhead have been nice fish. A mix of jacks and larger steelhead are at the mouth of Trout Run. Walnut Creek holds many steelhead; however, steelhead fishing has not been as good as at Elk Creek. Elk Creek still has enough color to hide fish in the pools. It holds steelhead all through its length. Some of the better fishing has been in the mid-section.

This week has been one of the best, weeks for brown trout. The largest caught this week on the east side of Erie weighed 11.66 pounds. It was caught on a white Sucker Spawn fly. Several brown trout were caught this week. Female brown trout are reported to be dropping eggs.

On the west side of Erie, an 11-pound 7-ounce brown trout was caught from Walnut Creek. It took a shiner. Several brown trout were caught at the mouth of Trout Run and Walnut Creek. Try gold/red spoons for targeting brown trout in the lake. Either orange or chartreuse Power Bait has also been effective.

Fishing pressure has been very light this week on Presque Isle Bay. Crappie fishing is still good at the Marina. Several steelhead were caught this week by anglers targeting crappie. The steelhead have been hitting shiners and 1-inch emerald shiner Gulp. Perch fishing has been good in the bay whenever the weather has been mild enough.

Walleye fishing has been fair to good at the Allegheny Reservoir, and in the Allegheny River.

Life jackets required on small craft starting Nov. 1

Life jackets are mandatory on Pennsylvania waters Nov. 1 through April 30 for all people on boats shorter than 16 feet

The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission regulation went into effect for the first time Nov. 1, 2012. It states: “A person shall wear a Coast Guard approved personal flotation device (PFD or life jacket) during the cold weather months from November 1st through April 30th while underway or at anchor on boats less than 16 feet in length or any canoe or kayak.”