Where can you fish for steelhead trout in Lake Erie?

Three anglers have lost their fishing rights for five years and three more could lose their rights as well because of an incident in Erie County in October involving 74 steelhead trout and being fined over $5,500.

The revocations were discussed Monday during the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission’s Law Enforcement Committee meeting, which came immediately before the agency’s full meeting, where the revocations were approved, subject to final appeal.

“Six individuals were involved in the illegal harvest of 74 steelhead trout in hatchery waters and all six individuals were found guilty of not having a fishing license, fishing in fish hatchery or hatchery waters and exceeding the daily limit of steelhead trout,” said Jeffrey Sabo, Director of the Bureau of Law Enforcement.

In this Oct. 18, 2021, photo, steelhead swim from Lake Erie into Trout Run. Trout Run is a hatchery water for the Pa. Fish and Boat Commission's spawning efforts. The agency revoked the licenses of six anglers for illegally taking 74 fish from the creek.

The incident occurred on October 18 in Trout Run at Avonia Beach in Erie County, a narrow stream used by the agency as a breeding water where fishing is prohibited. Anglers are allowed to keep three trout per day during the fall and winter where fishing is permitted.

“Seventy-four steelhead is obviously a significant amount of fish taken from the hatchery waters and they are being asked to have their fishing licenses revoked for five years,” he said. Each of the six anglers received a $930 fine, for a total of $5,580 in fines for the incident.

Board Chairman William Gibney said the anglers are from New York and are working together. He asked if there was reciprocity with New York regarding the revocation of their fishing licenses there. “If they get their license revoked in Pennsylvania, does that affect their New York privileges?” he asked.

Sabo responded that this should be kept because both states are part of the Interstate Wildlife Violator Compact and he will work to ensure this is enforced. Don Anderson, chairman of the Law Enforcement Committee, said, “I think that would be a good thing. It sends the message to people that if you come to Pennsylvania to commit violations, we are serious and that if you are caught in a serious violation, you will lose your privileges, not just in Pennsylvania but in virtually every state in the nation.”

The incident is not the only case of anglers losing their licenses to fish for steelhead trout in the hatchery waters last fall.

During the board’s April meeting, the board suspended fishing privileges for five years for six other nonresident anglers who also illegally fished in the steelhead hatchery waters in two separate incidents. One incident on Sept. 24 involved four people who caught 24 fish. They each paid $1,616 in fines.

More:Six anglers lose their fishing rights in Pennsylvania for 5 years; unusual fish species are introduced

The second incident, on October 15, involved two men who caught 15 steelhead trout in the closed waters. They each paid a fine of $1,989.

“We’re constantly looking for ways to improve our enforcement efforts in Erie,” Sabo said. “It’s kind of a catch-22. It’s such a great fishing area and the fish are there. Unfortunately, the presence of the fish there creates a magnet for illegal activity,” Sabo said.

The waterway is monitored by a public webcam that is used by anglers to monitor the condition of the creek and Lake Erie.

Permanent access at Crooked Creek

In other steelhead business, the agency’s board on Monday approved the acquisition of a land easement in Girard Township, Erie County, on property owned by David Lee and Constance Ann Sedler. Under the proposed agreement, the PFBC will pay $85,000 for approximately 5,420 linear feet along Crooked Creek. The agency reports that Crooked Creek offers significant steelhead fishing opportunities in the area and the private owners have permitted public fishing in the area.

“This will be open to the public indefinitely,” said Renae Kulk Kiehl, the agency’s chief adviser.

Plans are in place to build parking lots off Lexington and Glosky Roads, with funding coming from the purchase of special Lake Erie fishing licenses and combined trout and Lake Erie fishing licenses.

New PFBC President

The agency’s board also elected a new president and vice president. The board elected Daniel Pastore of Fairview, Erie County, as president. Pastore, who served as vice president, replaces William Gibney of Honesdale, Wayne County.

“It has been an honor to represent the board in the Northwest Region and I am honored to now have the opportunity to serve as president,” said Pastore.

Pastore shared some of his goals for the coming year, including completing the PFBC’s Trout Management Plan, creating additional public access to our waterways, improving partnerships with our wildlife and conservation partner organizations, simplifying fishing and boating regulations, and improving overall customer service.

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