Erie Streams Stocked with Thousands of Steelhead Smolts

Recently, the PA Fish & Boat Commission released thousands of 6 to 8 inch steelhead smolts into local streams.  These steelhead hopefully will return from Lake Erie in a few years and venture up the same streams to spawn which will provide anglers the opportunity to catch big steelhead trout.

Today, while I checked out 4 mile creek, I saw a few kids fishing for trout.  They were hooking quite a few smolts and some unfortunately were released practically dead.  The kids really could not help it as there were literally hundreds of smolts in the bigger holes along with recently stocked brown trout.

I tried to film the smolts in 4 mile creek with my phone camcorder but the video does not show many smolts due to the glare of sunlight off of the water.  Believe me though, that black mass on the far side of the video is hundreds of small smolts.

The fishing in 4 Mile Creek is going to vastly improve over the next few years due to the  thousands of steelhead smolts being released.

Fishing Report -April 15 2014 - Presque Isle Bay (Erie Pennsylvania_

Large numbers of jumbo perch are being caught by boaters in the deeper areas of the bay.  The sizes are mixed with many fish over 12 inches.  Nice Crappie are also being caught along with good sized bluegills.  Gar pike are also being caught.  Steelhead are in the creeks in good numbers.  Shore fishing is beginning to pick up in the usual spots.  One thing to note that fishing off of the public dock thus far this year has been real slow.  Usually by this time, large jumbo perch can be caught off the public dock.  However, this year I have not seen any perch caught off of the dock.  South pier is still on the slower side but on certain days it has been fair.

Ice Out: Crappies Starting to Bite

Recently, I have been scouting around Presque Isle Bay in search of locating fish.  The ice is practically gone from the bay now and the fish should wake up from their cold water slumber and start biting again.  I have heard rumors of jumbo perch being caught but I have yet to see this.  Small crappies are biting and yesterday I only caught one.  There are some big steelhead in the creeks and I saw a nice 28 inch fish caught out of small Cascade Creek.  

This Sunday, April 13 is the annual SONS Ice Out Party.  If you have not attended an Ice Out Party, they are a ton of fun for the entire family.  Ten dollars per person will get you in and you do not have to be a member to attend.  Door prizes are given out throughout the day and most people do win something.  The best hot dogs in the world will be served, Smith hotdogs, along with beer, pop, and chips.  The money raised by SONS goes directly into helping with the Lake Erie and Presque Isle Bay fishery.  Each year SONS raises and releases thousands of Yellow Perch, Walleye, and Steelhead into Lake Erie.  Without SONS, it is highly likely that the fishery would not even be close to what it is, so if you cannot attend the Ice Out Party, please join the club or give them a donation to help out ===>SONS of Lake Erie

Saturday is the first day of trout season and it looks like it is going to be great weather.  Fishing season is now upon us so get those fishing poles ready and head on out!  Good Luck!