Reports compiled by Keith Edwards (kedwards@state.pa.us), Northwest Regional Outreach and Education Coordinator, using information provided by Waterways Conservation Officers, Area Fisheries Managers and other PFBC staff.

Rains this week brought the water levels of Twelve, Sixteen & Twenty Mile creeks back up, and more steelhead moved in. The levels have remained low to moderate, and clear. Fish have made it to the upper limits of Twelve and Sixteen Mile creeks. On Twenty Mile Creek, fish have made it up to the Pennsylvania, New York line. Anglers have also reported catching fish in the early morning and late evening hours in the lake at the creek mouths.

Erie County (Central)

Recent rains have brought in fresh runs of steelhead trout to Lake Erie’s central tributaries within the past few days. Four Mile Creek is seeing a notable increase in angler pressure. Reports of snagging, littering, and trespassing have dramatically increased as well. Most fish being caught appear "fresh" and have been reported to be actively taking various baits. Few fish have run up Seven Mile Creek, although some fish are in while angler pressure is still light. The fishing pressure on these tributaries is moderate to light at this time.

Fishing on Four Mile Creek north of the golf course dam is restricted to the west side of the creek. All applicable NO TRESPASS areas are well marked with signage. Trespassers who ignore the NO TRESPASS signage on the east side of the creek and choose to fish there, and also ignore the NO TRESPASS signage on the private property around the fishing club, will be charged and prosecuted--no questions asked. All anglers, when asked by a club member to identify themselves, must identify themselves to that club member or face prosecution under Title 30--Fish and Boat Code.

Erie County (West)

Anglers have had good success, dependant on water conditions, in the lower stretches of Elk and Walnut creeks. There are steelhead in Crooked Creek, but angling pressure has been light. Many steelhead creels inspected have exceptionally large fish. Law enforcement officers have been citing several snagging, over limit, license, and nursery water violations. There are still trespass violations occurring on adjacent landowner property to the PFBC Elk Creek Access area.

Salmon Creek and East Hickory Creek (Delayed Harvest Area) were stocked last week. Water levels are low, however, temperatures were 49 and 50 degrees.

Anglers were catching trout on flies in East Hickory Creek (Delayed Harvest Area). A caddis dry fly or larvae should produce as should a bead head nymph with a very fine tippet.

Walleye and musky fishing should start to pick up on the Allegheny River in Tionesta. Mid-November seems to be the peak of the walleye fishing on the Allegheny in Tionesta.

Kahle Lake: Boating -- A five foot water level draw down of the lake began on 10-1-08 and will continue until 3-15/09. This drawdown is an effort to reduce and control the amount of aquatic vegetation that the commission has received numerous complaints about at this lake. Drawing the lake down is necessary for effective control on a good percentage of the lake shoreline. It will take approximately 3-4 weeks to drop the water level. Boaters are advised to exercise caution when using the boat ramps since launching and retrieving their boats will be more difficult. Once the drawdown level is reached, staff will begin the cleaning out process.

Crawford County

Woodcock Creek: Fishing –Trout stocking will take place on 10/1/08 on Woodcock Creek in the area below the dam, and also in the Catch and Release Fly Fishing Only area of Caldwell Creek just inside Warren County.

Woodcock Creek Lake: Fishing –Diehard small mouth bass anglers are still catching decent numbers of fish.

Erie County

Fishing -- (Central Erie) Heavy rains in past days have dramatically increased the water levels of Cascade Creek, Mill Creek, 4 Mile Creek, and 7 Mile Creek. This has allowed heavy runs of steelhead to proceed upstream of the later two tributaries. Although levels have dramatically dropped, fish are in and active. The fishing pressure on said tributaries is moderate to light at this time. Fishing on 4 Mile Creek south of the golf course dam is limited to the west side of the creek. Trespassers who ignore the applicable signage on the east side of the creek and on private property will be charged and prosecuted.

Fishing -- (East Erie) The heavy rains last week brought the water levels of 12, 16 & 20 Mile Streams up and some steelhead moved in. The levels have since dropped (low & clear) and the fish that moved in have not made it past Route 5. Anglers have also reported catching fish in the early morning and late evening hours in the lake at the creek mouths.

Eight year old Noah Glaister caught this 15” brown bullhead at a Family Fishing Program held at the Butler Hunting and Fishing Club pond on 10/5

Woodcock Creek – Trout stocking will take place on 10/1/08 on Woodcock Creek in the area below the dam, and also in the Catch and Release Fly Fishing Only area of Caldwell Creek just inside Warren County.

Woodcock Creek Lake – Diehard smallmouth bass anglers are still catching decent numbers of fish.

Bowfin caught at Geneva Swamp, Crawford County, on Sunday, 9-28-08) by Ed Richards. The fish measured 27 1/4" with a 14-15" girth, estimated to be in the 7-8 lb. range.

Erie County

Little to no rain has continued to leave area tribs very low and clear and down to a trickle in some of the upper stretches. The fish that have moved in are in a holding pattern with little movement south of Route 5. A good number of fish have been coming in during the early morning hours and at sunset allowing fair to good steelhead fishing along the wall at Walnut Creek, from the Elk Creek Access north to the Lake, and along the shorelines at Trout and Godfrey runs. Wind and waves have kept the water levels of the tribs fairly good near the mouths. Catches along the wall at Walnut Creek were good this past weekend with fish in the 7 to 10 pound range. Nighttime temperatures have been getting cooler and with some much needed precipitation, we should see additional steelhead movement. Forecasts for the week are calling for up to a 50 percent chance of rain and night time temperatures dipping into the 40's.

Perch fishing is still good to excellent north of Walnut Creek. Walleye fishing, although still fair, has begun to fall off as is typical this time of year.

Current Lake Erie water temperature is 66 degrees off Toledo, 68 degrees off Cleveland, and 67 degrees off the Port of Erie. Current West County trib conditions as of this writing are extremely low and very clear with very little flow.

-- excerpt from our weekly Erie Report