Steelhead now....but not later

With all these reports of people going out and limiting on Steelhead makes me wonder.... All this pressure on them now has to do some harm on the runs in the winter. Why dont we do what New York does an lower the limit to 1? I know its a big lake but I do remember everyone worry about harming smolts or them being eatin by snakes, waleye and muskie. but i think with the pressure thats on them now while they are staging is going to cause more harm. THATS JUST MY OPINION dont think Im blaming anyone.

ORIGINAL: kyler16

With all these reports of people going out and limiting on Steelhead makes me wonder.... All this pressure on them now has to do some harm on the runs in the winter. Why dont we do what New York does an lower the limit to 1? I know its a big lake but I do remember everyone worry about harming smolts or them being eatin by snakes, waleye and muskie. but i think with the pressure thats on them now while they are staging is going to cause more harm. THATS JUST MY OPINION dont think Im blaming anyone.

where else would I get my bait for trapping season

I wasnt getting stressed about it, I was just putting that out there for those who are worried about stream pressure and to many out of towners (muperes) were ruining the steelhead population. I and 100% agree anyone can harvest them in the tribs or lake. I just wanted to see what some responses are 

I know the weather palyed a factor last season, but I would have to say that it was a steller steelhead season for many.  It was for me anyway.  And I don't think the lake pressure has increased from years past nor is the limit a factor.  I think the Erie steelhead fishing is great for everyone as long as the anglers don't become gluttons.  And even then, I think there would still be many to go around.  I believe we have one of the best steelhead fisheries in the country when it comes to numbers, hands down.  My two sense.

@#@$%@'n Canadians. It's time to bring down the " Maple Menace".

FOR THE WEST SIDE ITS JUST TOO FAR TO RUN TO CANADIAN WATERS BUT EAST AVE AND LAMPI ITS 7.5 MILES CLOSER AND ONE WOULD NOT BELIEVE THE FISHING PRESSURE THE CANADIAN CHARTERS PUT OUT. LONG POINT IS DUE NORTH OH THE POINT AND THATS THE CHARTERS FAVORITE HAUNT FOR STEEL ALL SUMMER 100-120FT OF WATER.

No doubt a large number of them. But it's nothing new, nor is stream harvest, or lake harvest from the trenches. Yet year, after year we still have huge runs come fall. Some years better than others, but harvest is probabley the least factor.

What does Canada stock in the lake?

This is why I think we need a Lake Erie Commission, made up of Ny,Ohio, Pa and Ontario commissioners. Set up lake wide limits and size req, Put all of their resources together and all get on the same page. Propose a Lake Erie license thats good on the entire lake and the 1st mile up from all tribs mouths. You could generate a lot of $$ this way and it would be nice just to have one governing body,so everything would be equal.I think Pa does the most and we have the smallest shoreline of them all. 

Canada has a two types of lisc.. During the summer The Sportsmen lisc. sets a daily limit of 5 steelhead and the Conservation lisc. sets a daily limit of 2 for Lake Erie. Don't know how many rods they're allowed but last I remember it was 1 per man.

Jeb, as Spoonchucker alluded to, there is a Lake Erie Committee which is part of the Great Lakes Fishery Commission.  The lake Erie committee is made up of all the state’s research units on the lake and Canada.  There is a committee for each lake made up of each corresponding state jurisdictions.  In Lake Erie, all sampling (warmwater and cold water) by each state uses the same standard procedures for ease in data analysis between them.  They all partake in walleye tagging in the spring to gain more information on the seasonal movements of walleye across the lake.  As mentioned above, each state sets creel limits based on the committee’s recommendation and current research results, stocking numbers are more or less controlled also, the committee develops the walleye and perch quota for commercial fishermen in US and Canada.

It is a very good functioning governing body.  All the actual committee members are the ones out there busting their butts doing the research and they, with their first hand knowledge of the resource, are who makes the decisions.

  Here is the description the NYDEC has on their Lake Erie Unit web site that pretty much summarizes it all:

Lake Erie Fisheries Research Unit

The Lake Erie Fisheries Research Unit operates from a station located in Dunkirk on the eastern shore of Lake Erie. Our principal function is to help manage the fish resources within the lake. By managing, we mean evaluating the status of fish populations to enhance some fisheries and to restore others. We also undertake regular surveys to monitor the health of fish populations and to establish the effectiveness of stocking and harvest policies.

  Although most of us are trained biologists, much of our time is devoted to serving people. We regularly respond to questions from the public about the changes currently underway in Lake Erie. We frequently attend meetings to inform people of our work and findings. We also encourage their interest and involvement. bathymetric map of Lake Erie

  We work closely with other management agencies around Lake Erie through the Great Lakes Fishery Commission (GLFC) and the Lake Erie Committee. We have standardized sampling procedures and routinely share information with other agencies. Joint decisions are made annually concerning management and harvest policies that affect all jurisdictions.

If interested, here are some links to NYSDEC reports to the different groups within the LE committee at http://www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/32286.html.

2006 Annual Report of the Lake Erie Coldwater Task Group-- March 2007

Report of the Lake Erie Yellow Perch Task Group- March 2007

Annual Report of the Lake Erie Forage Task Group-- March 2007

Lake Erie Walleye Task Group-- March 2006

Rest easy all. I've caught & released more steel this year than the last 3 years combined. Never net them cause as Mick Fish said they beat themselves to death and stress on the way in. Release at the side of the boat and all but 1 made it down. That 1 went in the smoker. AND the size of the steel is what impresses me. Seeing way bigger fish than previous years at this time.  After a month or so of putting on the feed bag before returning to the streams we should see a marked improvment in quality (size) this fall. I've had to pull up and run to get away from them twice this year.  So, that being said, it's not all doom and gloom.... Dave 

Every year some one has to start that dumb $hit about how the steel pop is being hurt by mupersand it burns my ****!!!!!
 
PUT AND TAKE ROPEUM & SMOKEUM

ORIGINAL: ShutUpNFish

You Go SteelJunkie420!!!

 
You go girl !!!!!!!! 
You and steeljunkie might make a good couple.

Why would I need more than one name? I'm not a snivelling little troll with a chip on my shoulder, like you.
 
How many names do you have now? I can think of 4 including Steeljunkie.
 
I know Slimyfish hammers you relentlessly, but is Yungguru picking on you too?
I think its time to start a new name Fisher501.