Trophy Muskie Boated on Allegheny

Ryan Shepard holds the 52-inch, 35-pound muskie he recently boated on the Allegheny River.

FISHING REPORT

Lake Erie The walleye bite was good this week, with numbers of 8- to 10-pound fish reported. Brian Ruland of Erie did well in 77 feet off the point of the peninsula, while 65 to 70 feet was a productive depth for most anglers. The first trench also provided good yields for boaters out of Walnut. The perch bite was slower this week, with some fish coming in 55 to 60 feet. Alexander Barwin caught a 9-pound 1-ounce, 24 ½-inch brown trout last weekend.Allegheny River/Allegheny Reservoir (Warren County)Walleyes and bass were hitting in the lake and river this week. The river was yielding brown and rainbow trout, 16 to 24 inches. Northern pike, perch, and white bass were reported in the lake, and a few muskies were released in the river. Pymatuning Lake (Crawford County)
Crappies continued hitting off brush piles, stump fields and other deep structure during the day and moved shallower at dusk. Anglers were catching them on minnows under bobbers along the Epsyville/Andover Causeway. The walleye bite continued in mixed sizes and numbers. Anglers were drifting jigs tipped with crawlers or trolling crawler harnesses depending on how much wind there was. Crawford County angler Chelsey Gault caught a 48-inch muskie on live bait, and another local angler Johnny Bressman caught a 45-inch muskie on a Grandma lure. Perch and channel catfish also were reported.Conneaut Lake (Crawford County)
Anglers caught nice numbers of bluegills and crappies on the outside edge of weed beds and in deeper water. Tamarack Lake (Crawford County) Evening panfish action was reported but the muskie bite was slow in recent days. Woodcock Creek Lake (Crawford County)
A few walleyes were reported on leeches in deeper water. Some nice smallmouth bass were caught in recent days. Taylor Zarewicz, 15, caught a 36-inch muskie on a watermelon tube. He and his father Tom Zarewicz caught 8 smallmouth bass, including a 4-pounder. Canadohta Lake (Crawford County) Walleyes were hitting after dark along deep weed lines, with anglers casting perch-colored crankbaits over weed beds. A few northern pike and muskies were reported. A dead 51-inch muskie was found floating in the water with a deep gash on its side from a boat propeller. French Creek (Crawford, Venango counties) Small-size smallmouth bass were reported, along with spotty evening walleye action in the Venango County section of the creek. Canoe and kayak traffic has been heavy. Allegheny River (Venango County)Anglers reported smallmouth bass in mixed sizes up to 19 inches on Jitterbugs near riffles. Kahle Lake (Venango County)A draw-down for dam repairs makes boat-launching from a trailer almost impossible.
Oil Creek (Venango County)The trout bite is over in high water temperatures, but anglers were catching bass on crankbaits and spinners.Lake Wilhelm (Mercer County)Chester and Brian Harsh of Sheakleyville caught four nice walleyes up to 24 inches this week. Other anglers also reported walleyes over 20 inches on Hot n Tots in 8 to 12 feet. Numbers of largemouth bass were hitting. Panfishing was productive, but sizes were running small. Lake Arthur (Butler County)Bob Jesteadt of Prospect caught 8 crappies over 1-pound each near the 528 bridge Sunday. His largest was 2 pounds 7 ounces, 17-inches. Night-time hybrid striper action appeared to peak with this week’s hot temperatures. One angler caught a 14-pounder. Evening walleye action was decent with fish up to 24 inches reported.Allegheny RiverCatfish were hitting, with Gary Cahill of Tarentum earning a junior citation for a 16-pound 8-ounce flathead he landed on a sucker at Highland Park, Saturday. Smallmouth bass were hitting. Ohio RiverThe few anglers fishing in the heat reported average-size smallmouth bass, saugers, and walleyes.
Youghiogheny RiverGood trout fishing was reported in recent days, following last week’s stocking.Youghiogheny Lake (Fayette County)Anglers were catching nice smallnouths. Highpoint Lake (Somerset County)Logan Creighton of Farmington reported smallmouth bass up to 3 pounds. Other anglers reported bass and northern pike.Deep Creek Lake (Maryland)Jumbo perch, slab bluegills and average-size walleyes were reported.

Anti-Poaching Bill Passes with Disclaimers

Governor Ed Rendell signed a new bill into law aimed at curbing wildlife poachers, effective Sept. 7. It took state lawmakers three years to pass the measure, which was amended at the last minute to protect gun rights. So when is a felon not a felon? For the story, visit http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/10192/1071819-358.stm

Mercury Rising in Erie Walleyes

Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission photo

Despite great catches like these, Lake Erie walleyes are showing increasing concentrations of mercury. For the story, visit http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/10185/1070323-358.stm

Mon River in Major Danger

Dave Myers of Carmichaels with a Mon River muskie.

American Rivers recently named the Monongahela River one of the 10 most endangered waterways in the US because of impacts from Marcellus shale natural gas drilling. Read the story at http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/10157/1063526-358.stm

FISHING REPORT

Lake ErieHot weather slowed the walleye and perch bites, making limits spotty. The best bet for perch was 55 to 60 feet out of Walnut Creek. The best numbers and sizes on walleyes were in 65 to 70 feet in the first trench, although anglers were catching smaller ones in 26 to 34 feet. Some anglers were running clear down to the Ohio line in shallower water, but it’s a long haul. Allegheny River (Warren County)Anglers were catching walleyes. Terry Schrader of Warren caught a 5-pound 3-ouncer in the tailrace Monday night. Trout up to 20 inches were hitting, although recently planted rainbow fingerlings were winding up on hooks, too. Allegheny Reservoir (Warren County)Gary Wert of Warren and friends caught two 18-inch walleyes and six northern pike, including two 25-inchers, jigging golden shiners in 20 to 25 feet in Willow Bay. An angler caught a 7 ½-pound walleye trolling a crawler harness Sunday morning. A Disabled Veterans Association open walleye tournament is scheduled for this weekend. For more, call 814-726-7475. Pymatuning Reservoir (Crawford County)Walleyes were hitting on Hot-n-Tots, and crappies were reported in 10 to 18 feet around cover. Walleye anglers were also catching channel catfish. A 44-inch muskie was released last weekend. Conneaut Lake (Crawford County) Gail Peterson of Meadville and Larry McNulty caught a few smallmouth bass on topwaters at first light, and then picked up about 20 largemouth bass outside the deep weed edge on a 4-inch Zoom Centipede on this glacial lake last weekend. Canadohta Lake (Crawford County)This smaller natural lake was yielding panfish, especially bluegills, in recent days. French Creek (Crawford County)A very slow smallmouth bass bite was reported last weekend.
Woodcock Lake (Crawford County) Bluegills were one of the best bets last weekend, with small fatheads, maggots and crawlers working.Pennsylvania State Gamelands Pond No. 69 (Crawford County)Nice catches of bluegills were reported on this pond near Black Ash last weekend. Oil Creek (Crawford County) Bill Logan of Titusville caught five nice rainbow trout on flies north of Titusville last week, before hot weather kicked in. Hatches included Blue-winged olive, tricos and midges.
While smaller streams with canopies such as Little Sugar, Upper Two Mile, Pithole and East Branch of Caldwell may fish better in summer, anglers were advised trout are highly stressed in warm conditions and should not be targeted. Allegheny River (Venango County) A nice evening walleye bite was reported on crawler harnesses, and smallmouth bass were hitting Tiny Torpedoes. Erica Perry, 11, released a 42-inch muskie while fishing with her father Brian Perry. John Conroy of Canonsburg caught smallmouth bass on chubs, shiners drifted under bobbers, and tubes below Franklin. Other anglers reported a good smallmouth bite last weekend, despite high boating pressure. Justus Lake (Venango County) A 36-inch muskie was caught on a golden shiner last weekend. Numbers of largemouth bass---average-size at best---also were reported. Lake Wilhelm (Mercer County)An early morning bass bite was reported by the few anglers fishing in this week’s muggy heat. Allegheny RiverJoey Kieler caught two flathead catfish, 41 and 38 inches, last weekend. The Venture Outdoors’ Downtown TriAnglers reported a variety of releases from the North Shore, including Bob Miller of Moon Township’s 19 ½-inch channel catfish.Ohio RiverNumbers of carp and catfish were hitting along Emsworth lock wall. Anglers also were catching nice smallmouth bass along the riprap on Neville Island’s back channel.Monongahela RiverCatfish and smallmouths were reported, although hot weather kept angling pressure low. Amanda Floriolli leads the Shad Lure Bait and Tackle July catfish contest with a 5-pound flathead caught July 10. One angler limited out on walleyes at Maxwell lock and dam last weekend.Highpoint Lake (Somerset County)A few nice catches of bass were reported at this mountaintop impoundment.Youghiogheny Reservoir (Fayette County)Anglers reported smallmouth bass up to 18 inches, crappies up to 15 inches, and bluegills up to 9 inches with water temperatures cooler on the Pennsylvania side of the lake. Spring Creek (Centre County)Good fishing was reported in clear, close-to-normal flows on this limestoner yesterday along with tricos, caddisflies, terrestrials and midges.

Muskie guide Howard Wagner with a huge Allegheny River muskie he released earlier this fall. Wagner, who owns the Fish Education Center in Fombell, is strictly catch and release.

Williams Run Named to Top 10 List

Valerie Tarkowski of the South Sandy Creek Watershed Association pores over maps of Williams Run with project engineer Justin Griebel. The run is being restored to expand a population of brook trout. To hear the story on WYEP-fm radio, click here http://www.alleghenyfront.org/

Cheetah-like Cat Killed in PA

A PA Game Commission officer holds dead serval.

The Pennsylvania Game Commission has confirmed that a Chester County farmer killed a serval---an exotic, African cat that resembles a small cheetah----Tuesday night because it was killing chickens in his coop. Under state law, a farmer has the authority to kill an animal to protect his livestock, according to the commission, which has opened an investigation regarding the lawful ownership of the animal.

The game commission regulates exotic species in Pennsylvania, many of whom are obtained and owned illegally as pets. Mountain lions, wolves and wolf hybrids are the most common. For an indepth look at exotics in PA, read the following story.

Exotic Pets are a Game Commission Problem

by Deborah Weisberg

Eastern Mountain Lion, US Fish and Wildlife Service photo

The Pennsylvania Game Commission is called about hundreds of mountain lion and hybrid wolf sightings every year, but few lead to an animal’s capture.

“The animal’s there and then it isn’t,” said agency spokesman Gerry Feaser. “A lot are cases of mistaken identify, or a hoax, like that (alleged) cougar attack in Lancaster County last week.”

Other cases, though, may involve exotic pets, many of whom return to their owners, he said. “We had a case in York County where someone cut the padlock off a mountain lion’s cage. When we got there, the cat was sitting on the owner’s porch.”

Hybrid wolves and big cats are by far the most common exotics the commission regulates, but few species are off-limits if a potential owner can prove he has at least two years experience handling the kind of animal he wants to keep, and can provide for its care. Township ordinances take precedence, and vary across the state.

And while permitted exotics may number “in the hundreds if not thousands,” according to Jason DeCoskey, chief of the commission’s exotic permitting enforcement, there may be just as many illegally-possessed big cats, wolf hybrids and other species whose health status and origins are uncertain.

Many are purchased in Ohio, where laws “are non-existent,” DeCoskey said. “You can buy anything and everything there. Go to the Mt. Hope auction some Sunday, and you can get a grizzly bear cub or lion cub for a couple of hundred dollars.”

Jill Herring of the privately-owned Woodland Zoo in Farmington agrees. She received some of her big cats from the US Department of Agriculture, which confiscated them from owners. They include a Siberian white tiger that had attacked its owner in Ohio, she said. “Big cats are a big problem. There are many, many cats without permits.”

Hybrid wolves also keep the game commission busy, and shelling out money it could be spending on other programs. “When we find out someone is selling wolf hybrid pups, we have to investigate,” DeCoskey said. “We have to get the pup DNA-tested, which costs about $800. Usually, we find it’s just a dog someone is trying to pass off for a lot more money. In most cases, they don’t have the proper permits.”

The game commission would rather not regulate non-domesticated, non-farm animals owned by hobbyists, dealers and small zoos, but has failed to convince state lawmakers to reassign the duty to the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture.

“You look at where our funding comes from---hunters and trappers-–yet our officers spend a good bit of their time processing paperwork for exotics, or conducting inspections. We’re almost like a pet industry when it comes to this stuff,” DeCoskey said. “We’d be happy if another agency took this over.”

Even deer in “high fence” hunting compounds which the agriculture department regulates become the game commission’s problem when they escape, or are released, into the wild.“We had to euthanize three Sika deer in the woods around Harrisburg last year after their owner opened their pen and set them free,” said Feaser. “We couldn’t have them mingling with native whitetails.”There is always the concern that “high fence” deer may have been illegally imported from other states and could carry chronic wasting disease they could spread in the wild, DeCoskey said. “It wouldn’t take much…a fence blowing down on a windy day.”

The commission is trying to tighten regulations on ownership of exotics. Effective January, new regulations will prohibit wildlife rehabilitators from obtaining new permits to possess multiple exotics, in an effort to prevent the spread of disease. “We’d like to extend that to taxidermists and others who handle animal fluids and parts,” said DeCoskey. “It’s all about protecting our native resources.”

And while the Game Code was amended this year to clarify the ban on primates, DeCoskey said legislators need to go further. “The list in the Code is too vague,” he said.Fines for illegal possession typically amount to a couple of hundred dollars, but finding unpermitted exotics is the real problem, DeCoskey admitted.

“Our officers have stumbled across drug dealers who keep big cats for protection. But, more often, it takes a tip from a disgruntled spouse or neighbor.”

And placing confiscated animals isn’t as easy as it once was, since many zoos now demand solid paper trails. “We have a network of wildlife rescue facilities we can go to,” DeCoskey said. “Thank God for that.”

Local Anglers Wallop Big Walleyes

Andy Nguyen with one of his huge walleyes.

by Deborah Weisberg

For local river anglers, Thanksgiving is as much about walleyes as turkeys.

The fall holiday typically marks the start of the big walleye bite on the Allegheny, Monongahela and Ohio rivers. This year, though, it may have begun a little sooner, with reports of several trophy-size ‘eyes taking the bait at the Highland Park Dam, lock three and other spots in recent weeks. One of the biggest was the 12-pound, 34-incher Andy Nguyen landed on a shiner in the white water of the Ohio River’s back channel dam Nov. 5.

“The bite may be a little early because water temperatures are a tad colder than normal,” said Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission biologist Rick Lorson.

Anglers also may be seeing walleyes from a couple of exceptional year classes in the mid-1990s, he said, and this is prime time for the cool water species to forage. Although 68 degrees is optimal for walleyes, they actively feed until the mercury dips to 50, and the baitfish they are preying on are bulking up for winter, too, Lorson said. “Gizzard shad and emerald shiners are more available now and they’re bigger, because they’re feeding heavily on insects and plankton.”

Because water below the dams and the mouths of creeks provides the abundance of food and oxygen fish need, anglers typically do well at these locations. And while one huge walleye is a coveted catch, anglers could hook into more. “Walleyes school pretty much all year,” Lorson said. “They even school during the spawn. So if you get one big walleye, it’s likely there will be others in the same area.”Ron Fulton of Spring Church, PA, caught two trophy-size walleyes on the Allegheny the same day, including a 31-inch, 10 ½-pounder, on creek chubs.

“This time of year, walleyes run right up to the locks, and shore fishermen seem to do best because they can get right up in the fast water,” said Mike Kalafut of Uniontown, and a die-hard river angler. “If you’re fishing from a boat, try to get up along the lock wall or find a hole or any break in current.”Kalafut typically fishes jigs and three-inch, chartreuse curly tails, often tipped with fathead minnows or shiners. “Let your bait go down to the bottom and jig slowly. The colder the water, the slower you should jig,” he said. “Keep as vertical as you can to avoid snags. The current will dictate the weight of the jig, which could be anything from 1/8th to 5/8ths of an ounce.”

Walleyes are among the earliest local gamefish to spawn, moving in late winter to gravelly areas near shore when water warms to 50 degrees and periods of daylight lengthen. “Walleyes are broadcast spawners,” Lorson said. “They don’t guard their nests because they lay so many eggs.”

In fact, the walleye population on all of the state’s rivers, including the Monongahela---the only river stocked locally----has been so robust, the commission stopped river plantings this year. Lorson suspects numbers are so high, anglers may be seeing fewer saugers, the walleye’s smaller cousin.

“I’ll have to go back and compare years of data, but I’m getting the impression that, overall, conditions are swinging toward walleyes,” Lorson said. “Walleyes prefer a little better water quality and may be out-competing saugers for habitat and food. The saugers, over time, simply won’t reproduce in pools dominated by walleyes.”

Although saugers are native to local rivers, there would be no effort to bolster their numbers with stockings, Lorson said.

If the rest of the fall and winter turns out to be as productive as the walleye fishing so far this month, anglers should seize the opportunity, he said.

“As a general rule, big walleyes occur every three years. It’s true for both lakes and rivers, but especially for rivers, and has to do with water flow and temperature, available forage, overwinter survival, and natural and fishing mortality.”

“Any predictions I make could easily get blown out of the water,” he said, “but if, in fact, we’re in one of those three year cycles with good fishing, anglers should take advantage of it.”

Neither rain nor sleet nor snow...

photo of Erie lake shore courtesy PA Fish and Boat Commission

Half a foot of snow and near-freezing temperatures failed to keep steelheaders away from Erie Sunday. The good news, of course, is that the precip will eventually boost water in the tribs. Veteran steelheaders say late fall offers some of the best fishing of the season.