Erie has been in deep freeze over the last week strengthening ice conditions on the Bay and area ponds and putting the Erie Tribs back into ice over. This past weekend Presque Isle Bay was one busy place with hundreds of ice huts scattered, ice boats making their way throughout, and even quite a few ice skaters. One unfortunate ice boater managed to find some thin ice and broke through but was pulled out unharmed.

Angling success was hit or miss depending on who you talked to, but a good number of panfish limits were observed coming off the ice. The occasional steelhead and a a few bass here and there were reported as well. Although the ice continues to harden, use caution.

Steelhead Fishery Public Hearing

The Senate Game and Fisheries Committee will put on a public hearing Thursday, February 4th in Erie regarding the steelhead fishery and its economic impact on the Erie region. The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission's financial status and Lake Erie management and operations are also on the agenda. The hearing will take place at 3:00 PM at the Tom Ridge Environmental Center, 301 Peninsula Drive.

Support Your Local Sportsmens' Clubs

The Pennsylvania Steelhead Association will be holding their next meeting at 7 PM Wednesday, February 10th at the American Legion Post 773 at 4109 West 12th Street in Erie. This is on the south side of West 12th Street (State Route 5), just east of the Erie Airport. The public is welcome.

Pennsylvania Steelhead Association to Host Seminar

The Pennsylvania Steelhead Association will be hosting a steelhead fishing seminar at the South Hills Assembly, 2725 Bethel Church Road, Bethel Park, PA. 15102 on February 6th. Start time is 10:00 AM. Scheduled speakers are Jim Jankovic, steelhead guide, who will talk about rigging and spin fishing techniques and Adam Norris who will cover fly fishing techniques. There will be information on center pin fishing and in addition Chuck Murray, PFBC Fish Culturist will be discussing Lake Erie stocking programs and it history for Steelhead, Brown Trout, and Lake Trout. This event should be loaded with valuable information for the novice steelhead anglers as well as the well most experienced. For more information go to PSA Steelhead Fishing Seminar.

Elk Valley Sportsmen Reverse Raffle...Don't Miss It!

The annual Elk Valley Sportsmen Reverse Raffle is just around the corner. Your ticket gives you a chance at the $1,500 main prize, dinner, drinks, music, games of chance, & dancing. It is being held on Feb. 20th @ St. John's Social Hall / Girard with Happy Hour starting at 5:30 ... Dinner @ 7:00 ... Dancing from 9:00 to Midnight. At a bargain price of $60/couple, it is one of the best buys out there. Your ticket for two covers dinner, entertainment, and all legal beverages.

This is the only fundraiser held by the Elk Valley Sportsmen Club for the year. This helps to fund the Annual Kid's Fishing Derby & improvements at the Girard Boro Pond as well as Turkey Feeding, Hunter's Safety Courses, and many other community projects. Tickets are available at McDonald's Meats on Route 20 in Girard (near the Overlake Golf Course) or by calling Lee Weaver at 922-3412 (area code 814 if needed) or any club officer. This is the sportsmen's social event of the season in Northwest Erie County. Tickets are limited to 150 couples so get yours now!!

Learn How to Ice Fish

The S.O.N.S. of Lake Erie in cooperation with the PFBC and DCNR will be offering instruction and demonstration on ice fishing techniques on Saturday, February 13th. Interested anglers and observers should meet at the Rotary Pavilion near the Waterworks pond on Presque Isle. The Erie area offers some of the best ice fishing in the state and this is your chance to learn every thing you need to know from local experts. Equipment will be provided for those in need. For more information and times, contact the S.O.N.S. of Lake Erie at 814-453-2270 or email sonslakeri@aol.com.

The SONS regular monthly membership meeting is scheduled for January 25th at 7:30 PM at the Polish Falcon's Club, 431 East 3rd St., Erie, PA.

Winter Stocking Schedules for the Erie Area

1. Lake Pleasant is scheduled for February 3rd, 2010. Meeting time is 9:30 AM.
2. The East and West Basin Ponds at Presque Isle State Park is scheduled for February 10th, 2010. Meeting place will be just past the Park office at the Niagara boat launch at 10:00 AM.
3. The Fairview Gravel Pit Pond is scheduled for February 2nd, 2010. Meeting place will be the Fairview State Fish Hatchery on Route 5 in Fairview at 9:45 AM.

Stocking schedules are subject to change for more information go to Winter Stocking Schedule.

PFBC Basic Boating Class

Area officers from the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission will be conducting Basic Boating classes in March. These comprehensive, 8 hour classes are designed for the novice boater or boater to be, as well as the experienced boater who would like to refresh his knowledge and is especially recommended for the new boater and their families. The class covers basic boating safety, boating laws and regulations, and equipment.

Successful completion of the course qualifies the individual for a Pennsylvania Boating Safety Certificate (card). There is no charge for the course or materials, although registration is required. Upon successful completion of the course , the Agency will require a processing fee for your Basic Boating Safety Card if one is desired.

The first class will be held on March 10th and 11th from 6:00 PM to 10:00 PM each evening at the Tom Ridge Environmental Center , Room 112. For more information and registration contact Chad Foster at chfoster@state.pa.us or 814-683-5126. The second class will be held on March 27th from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM at the Dan Cliff Hose Co., 4th and High Street, Waterford, PA. For more information and registration for this class contact WCO Jim Smolko at jsmolko@state.pa.us or leave a message at 814-572-0078. For additional boating classes around the area look for Boating Courses on the PFBC calendar.

Who Needs a Boating Safety Certificate

Boating Safety Certificates (actually, a plastic card) are required for anyone operating a personal watercraft (jet ski) and anyone born on or after January 1, 1982 operating a boat powered by motors greater than 25 horsepower.

Local Weather

Wednesday Night
Mostly cloudy with a 40 percent chance of snow showers. Lows in the lower 20s. West winds 10 to 15 mph.
Thursday
Partly sunny. Highs in the lower 30s. West winds 5 to 10 mph.
Thursday Night
Partly cloudy in the evening...then becoming mostly cloudy. Near steady temperature in the mid 20s. West winds around 5 mph...becoming south after midnight.
Friday
Partly sunny. Highs in the lower 30s.
Friday Night
Mostly cloudy with a 50 percent chance of snow. Lows around 20.
Saturday
Mostly cloudy. A chance of snow in the morning. Highs in the upper 20s. Chance of snow 50 percent.
Saturday Night
Mostly cloudy with a chance of flurries. Lows around 20.
Sunday
Partly sunny. Highs in the lower 20s.
Sunday Night
Mostly cloudy. Lows 10 to 15.
Monday
Mostly cloudy with a 30 percent chance of snow showers. Highs in the mid 20s.
Monday Night
Cloudy with a 40 percent chance of snow showers. Lows around 20.
Tuesday
Cloudy with a 40 percent chance of snow showers. Highs in the mid 20s.

A rapid meltdown this past weekend brought significant changes to area fishing conditions. Temperatures in the 40's left open water in some areas of Presque Isle Bay and very unstable ice conditions with little to no activity as most hard water anglers choose to play it safe for now. The warming trend opened up a short window of opportunity for fishing the tribs with levels rising and eventually giving way to full blow out conditions Monday afternoon. As of Tuesday levels had dropped and temperatures again began to plunge. As of Tuesday afternoon area tribs were high and flowing and starting to clear in some areas. Temperatures in the teens are predicted over the next week perhaps making the open water window short lived.

PFBC Basic Boating Class

Area officers from the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission will be conducting Basic Boating classes in March. These comprehensive, 8 hour classes are designed for the novice boater or boater to be, as well as the experienced boater who would like to refresh his knowledge and is especially recommended for the new boater and their families. The class covers basic boating safety, boating laws and regulations, and equipment.

Successful completion of the course qualifies the individual for a Pennsylvania Boating Safety Certificate (card). There is no charge for the course or materials, although registration is required. Upon successful completion of the course , the Agency will require a processing fee for your Basic Boating Safety Card if one is desired.

The first class will be held on March 10th and 11th from 6:00 PM to 10:00 PM each evening at the Tom Ridge Environmental Center , Room 112. For more information and registration contact Chad Foster at chfoster@state.pa.us or 814-683-5126. The second class will be held on March 27th from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM at the Dan Cliff Hose Co., 4th and High Street, Waterford, PA. For more information and registration for this class contact WCO Jim Smolko at jsmolko@state.pa.us or leave a message at 814-572-0078. For additional boating classes around the area look for Boating Courses on the PFBC calendar.

Who Needs a Boating Safety Certificate

Boating Safety Certificates (actually, a plastic card) are required for anyone operating a personal watercraft (jet ski) and anyone born on or after January 1, 1982 operating a boat powered by motors greater than 25 horsepower.

Elk Valley Sportsmen Reverse Raffle...Don't Miss It!

The annual Elk Valley Sportsmen Reverse Raffle is just around the corner. Your ticket gives you a chance at the $1,500 main prize, dinner, drinks, music, games of chance, & dancing. It is being held on Feb. 20th @ St. John's Social Hall / Girard with Happy Hour starting at 5:30 ... Dinner @ 7:00 ... Dancing from 9:00 to Midnight. At a bargain price of $60/couple, it is one of the best buys out there. Your ticket for two covers dinner, entertainment, and all legal beverages.

This is the only fundraiser held by the Elk Valley Sportsmen Club for the year. This helps to fund the Annual Kid's Fishing Derby & improvements at the Girard Boro Pond as well as Turkey Feeding, Hunter's Safety Courses, and many other community projects. Tickets are available at McDonald's Meats on Route 20 in Girard (near the Overlake Golf Course) or by calling Lee Weaver at 922-3412 (area code 814 if needed) or any club officer. This is the sportsmen's social event of the season in Northwest Erie County. Tickets are limited to 150 couples so get yours now!!

Learn How to Ice Fish

The S.O.N.S. of Lake Erie in cooperation with the PFBC and DCNR will be offering instruction and demonstration on ice fishing techniques on Saturday, February 13th. Interested anglers and observers should meet at the Rotary Pavilion near the Waterworks pond on Presque Isle. The Erie area offers some of the best ice fishing in the state and this is your chance to learn every thing you need to know from local experts. Equipment will be provided for those in need. For more information and times, contact the S.O.N.S. of Lake Erie at 814-453-2270 or email sonslakeri@aol.com.

The SONS regular monthly membership meeting is scheduled for January 25th at 7:30 PM at the Polish Falcon's Club, 431 East 3rd St., Erie, PA.

Winter Stocking Schedules for the Erie Area

1. Lake Pleasant is scheduled for February 3rd, 2010. Meeting time is 9:30 AM.
2. The East and West Basin Ponds at Presque Isle State Park is scheduled for February 10th, 2010. Meeting place will be just past the Park office at the Niagara boat launch at 10:00 AM.
3. The Upper Gravel Pit Pond is scheduled for February 2nd, 2010. Meeting place will be the Fairview State Fish Hatchery on Route 5 in Fairview at 9:45 AM.

Stocking schedules are subject to change for more information go to Winter Stocking Schedule.

Local Weather

Wednesday Night
A chance of snow showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 23. Breezy, with a west wind between 17 and 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 50%. Little or no snow accumulation expected.
Thursday
Snow showers likely, mainly after noon. Cloudy, with a high near 27. Breezy, with a west wind between 16 and 22 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Thursday Night
Snow showers likely. Cloudy, with a low around 13. Breezy, with a west wind around 23 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
Friday
A chance of snow showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 15. Chance of precipitation is 40%.
Friday Night
A chance of snow showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 13. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
Saturday
Cloudy, with a high near 23.
Saturday Night
Cloudy, with a low around 11.
Sunday
A chance of snow showers. Cloudy, with a high near 28. Chance of precipitation is 40%.
Sunday Night
Mostly cloudy, with a low around 22.
Monday
Partly sunny, with a high near 31.
Monday Night
Cloudy, with a low around 22.
Tuesday
Cloudy, with a high near 34.

Temperatures around the area have been hovering above the freezing mark causing a very slow meltdown and and increase in trib levels. Many of the west county tribs have a considerable amount of good flowing, dark green water. Temperatures are forecast to be above freezing and possibly as high as 40 degrees this weekend. The gradual meltdown should continue and should open up very good fishing opportunities by the end of the week if the meltdown continues gradually and avoids blowout conditions.

Ice on the bay is thinning out, although anglers were out there Tuesday afternoon. With the slow meltdown, ice conditions will be changing daily over the next week. Remember, if in doubt...don't go out.

Elk Valley Sportsmen Reverse Raffle.. Don't Miss It!

The annual Elk Valley Sportsmen Reverse Raffle is just around the corner. Your ticket gives you a chance at the $1,500 main prize, dinner, drinks, music, games of chance and dancing. It is being held on Feb. 20th @ St. John's Social Hall / Girard with happy hour starting at 5:30 ... Dinner @ 7:00 ... Dancing from 9:00 to midnight. At a bargain price of $60/couple, it is one of the best buys out there. Your ticket for two covers dinner, entertainment and all legal beverages.

This is the only fundraiser held by the Elk Valley Sportsmen Club for the year. This helps to fund the Annual Kid's Fishing Derby & improvements at the Girard Boro Pond as well as Turkey Feeding, Hunter's Safety Courses, and many other community projects. Tickets are available at McDonald's Meats on Route 20 in Girard (near the Overlake Golf Course) or by calling Lee Weaver at 922-3412 (area code 814 if needed) or any Club Officer. This is the sportsmen's social event of the season in Northwest Erie County. Tickets are limited to 150 couples so get yours now!!

Learn How to Ice Fish

The S.O.N.S. of Lake Erie, in cooperation with the PFBC and DCNR, will be offering instruction and demonstration on ice fishing techniques on Saturday, February 13th. Interested anglers and observers should meet at the Rotary Pavilion near the Waterworks pond on Presque Isle. The Erie area offers some of the best ice fishing in the state and this is your chance to learn everything you need to know from local experts. Equipment will be provided for those in need. For more information and times, contact the S.O.N.S. of Lake Erie at 814-453-2270 or email sonslakeri@aol.com. The SONS regular monthly membership meeting is scheduled for January 25th at 7:30 PM at at the Polish Falcon's Club, 431 East 3rd St., Erie, PA.

Ice Safety and Common Sense

Wear a personal flotation device, or at least carry a floatation cushion so sit on and don't fish alone.

Leave information about your plans with someone, where you intend to fish and when you plan to return.

Know the conditions of the ice before venturing out; taking into consideration recent possible effects changes in the weather have had on the ice.

Children should ALWAYS be supervised on the ice.

Use an ice spud bar or an auger to test the ice ahead of you.

Before venturing out onto the ice, check with local sources, such as bait and tackle shops, for the most up-to-date information and always consider any information on ice thickness as suggestion, not fact.

Avoid ice formed over flowing water near shore and around inlets and outlet.

Avoid aeration devices such as warm water bubblers used near marinas.

Temperature fluctuations typically occurring in early winter and spring will again make for uncertain ice.

Be suspicious of gray, dark or porous spots in the ice as these may be soft areas. Ice is generally strongest where it is hard and blue.

Heavy snow cover insulates ice and prevents it from freezing as evenly and as quickly as it would if the snow weren't there. Snow cover is also deceptive and makes evaluating the ice cover difficult.

Be especially wary of tributary ice, as it can be highly variable in thickness due to the erosive action of the underlying water current. Many anglers like to ice fish the Walnut Project waters which has some deep holes. One can be standing on ice eight-inches thick on a trib and just a few feet away, the ice may be only two-inches thick.

Carry a set of "grippers" (a couple screwdrivers on a length of nylon cord will do in a pinch). If you should go through the ice, they can provide a "grip" on the slippery surface and aid in getting out.

Should you break through the ice, try not to panic. Remember to turn toward the direction you came from, toward the ice that supported you. Use you "grippers" or your hands to gain a hold on the unbroken surface of the ice, and advance by kicking your feet.

Once you are out of the water and are lying on the ice, don't stand! Roll away from the point where you broke through until you are on solid ice.

If you do see someone fall through the ice, do not run toward them. Carefully extend a rope, ladder, pole or line to the victim.

Local Weather

WEDNESDAY NIGHT
Partly cloudy. Lows in the lower 20s. East winds around 10 mph.
THURSDAY
Partly cloudy. Highs in the mid 30s. East winds 15 to 20 mph.
THURSDAY NIGHT
Mostly cloudy with a chance of rain. Also a chance of freezing rain and snow. Lows in the upper 20s. East winds 15 to 20 mph. Chance of precipitation 30 percent.
FRIDAY
Mostly cloudy. A chance of rain and snow in the morning. Highs in the upper 30s. Chance of precipitation 30 percent.
FRIDAY NIGHT
Mostly cloudy. Lows in the mid 20s.
SATURDAY
Partly cloudy. Highs in the lower 40s.
SATURDAY NIGHT
Mostly cloudy. Lows in the lower 30s.
SUNDAY
Rain likely. Highs in the mid 40s. Chance of rain 60 percent.
SUNDAY NIGHT
Rain likely. Lows in the mid 30s. Chance of rain 60 percent.
MONDAY
Cloudy with a 40 percent chance of rain showers. Highs around 40.
MONDAY NIGHT
Cloudy with a 40 percent chance of snow showers. Lows in the upper 20s.
TUESDAY
Cloudy with a chance of snow and rain showers. Highs in the mid 30s. Chance of precipitation 40 percent.

Cold temperatures have kept the area tribs locked up, but have gotten hard water fishing season well underway. Parking was at a premium at Presque Isle this past weekend with an abundance of ice huts on Misery Bay, at the end of Presque Isle State Park, and at the west end of Presque Isle Bay. Anglers in these areas seemed to be picking up good numbers of panfish although most were on the small side. Ice anglers trying their luck off of Dobbins Landing in deeper water were picking up panfish as well along with a number of good size perch.

Angler reports on ice thickness varied anywhere from 4 to 8 inches with significant snow on the surface. A few anglers were spotted working the ice at the Walnut Creek Marina, but success was questionable. Ice continues to build on Lake Erie and for now is still unstable drifting ice. Although the Erie area still has a significant amount of snow on the ground, area roadways are clear for now.

Support Your Local Sportsmens' Clubs

The Pennsylvania Steelhead Association will be holding their next meeting at 7 P.M. Wednesday January 13th, at the American Legion Post 773 at 4109 West 12th Street in Erie. This is on the south side of West 12th Street (State Route 5), just east of the Erie Airport. The public is welcome.

Winter Stocking Schedules for the Erie Area

• Lake Pleasant is scheduled for February 3rd, 2010. Meeting time is 9:30 AM.
• The East and West Basin Ponds at Presque Isle State Park is scheduled for February 10th, 2010. Meeting place will be just past the Park office at the Niagara boat launch at 10:00 AM.
• The Upper Gravel Pit Pond is scheduled for February 2nd, 2010. Meeting place will be the Fairview State Fish Hatchery on Route 5 in Fairview at 9:45 AM

Stocking schedules are subject to change. For more information go to Winter Stocking Schedule.

Ice Warnings

As ice builds along the lake shore, so does the formation of "ice dunes." These beautiful formations occur as the waves pound the shoreline and gradually build up frozen mounds form the drift ice and wave mist. As spectacular as they are to view, they are equally dangerous to walk on. Many of these dunes are hollow inside with open water underneath. A fall through a dune can leave an individual trapped with little chance of escape.

The 25th annual Erie Outdoor Sport and Travel Expo will be held March 6th through March 8th along the Erie bay front just west of Dobbins Landing. Hours are noon to 8 PM on Friday, 10 AM to 8 PM on Saturday and 10 PM to 5 PM on Sunday. With 24 years under its belt, this expo has developed into the definitive cabin fever event for area hunters and anglers. The expo is a fabulous mix of the latest in hunting and fishing information and gear blended with exhibits by local clubs, bait shops and sport and travel stores and outfitters from around the globe. Great buys, informative demonstrations, and noted guest speaker clinics round out the expo. Area PFBC officers and representatives from the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission, as always, will be on hand throughout the weekend to answer questions and listen to your comments. See you there.....For more information go to Erie Outdoor Sport and Travel Expo.

Local Weather

Wednesday Night
Mostly cloudy. Lows in the mid 20s. Southwest winds 10 to 15 mph.
Thursday
Mostly cloudy. Highs in the upper 30s. Southwest winds 15 to 20 mph.
Thursday Night
Mostly cloudy with a chance of rain...freezing rain and snow. Lows in the lower 30s. Southwest winds 15 to 20 mph. Chance of precipitation 30 percent.
Friday
Mostly cloudy with a chance of rain and snow. Highs around 40. Chance of precipitation 30 percent.
Friday Night
Mostly cloudy. Lows in the upper 20s.
Saturday
Partly sunny. Highs in the upper 30s.
Saturday Night
Partly cloudy. Lows in the upper 20s.
Sunday
Partly cloudy. Highs in the upper 30s.
Sunday Night
Mostly cloudy. Lows in the mid 20s.
Martin Luther King Jr Day
Partly sunny. Highs in the upper 30s.
Monday Night
Partly cloudy. Lows in the upper 20s.
Tuesday
Partly cloudy. Highs in the upper 30s.