4 January: The ice is thin, but there is ice on Presque Isle Bay!

Ice-Fishermen: Some anglers have been catching bluegills, crappies and perch. Most of the action has been at Misery Bay and Horseshoe Pond. The ice fishing this year looks good with a cold winter predicted. Last year there was no safe ice.
Anglers should be carefull at this time as THE ICE IS THIN SO FAR.

Steelhead Anglers: Steelhead fishing has slowed considerable due the the creeks icing. Good fishing can be found at the very few open holes. A few fish have moved south of route 20 as the streams continue at a very low water level and are mostly ice covered now. The lack of rain or melting snow to the area has kept the majority of the steelheads contained in the lower streams near the lake. Very few fish have made it south of I90. The larger holes on all the streams close to the lake are holding many fish. Many Anglers have been catching nice limit catches of good size steelies when the water is open. These tackle-busting steelies give an angler quite a thrill. Many fish can be hooked but only a few are landed. This year has been a real bonanza for the steelhead fishermen. Fishing pressure had been heavy at Walnut Creek basin and Elk Creek access when the water was open.

Stream Fishing: Steelhead and Salmon have entered the lower end of the many streams. Some of the good baits are bright colored power bait, minnows, night crawlers, sucker spawn and single hooked salmon eggs are all working well. Hooking a ten-pound trout is possible. Landing one of these tackle busting beauties is another story. The fishing will be best when the water is murky and slightly high.

  Erie lies in the middle of many streams, both to the east to the NY border and to the west to the Ohio border. A note of caution: Fishing is prohibited in Trout Run and Godfrey Run, which are both nursery streams.

Presque Isle Bay: Perch, Bluegills, Crappies and Burbot are mostly being caught.

PA Lake Erie Permit NOT required for 1999.