Captain you should remain positive, Arway is doing a great job on his personal project the Susquehanna and, BASS appreciates his effort.  That's if the rumor isn't true and Arway continues in his present position, past March 2018
 
Besides......
 
 

Oct 14, 2017

With fewer people fishing, reduction to hatcheries, stockings seems likely.........

 
"Maybe the issue isn't the issue.Last month, Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commissioners gave their executive director, John Arway, the authority to trim up to $2 million from the agency budget. He has to make the cuts if state lawmakers don't raise the cost of fishing licenses or otherwise provide the agency additional revenue by July 1.Just what might fall to the axe isn't set in stone.But the plan floated so far includes shutting down the Oswayo trout hatchery — eliminating 240,000 adult trout — and scaling back production of several warmwater species, among other things.That possibility has generated a lot of talk".  ~ http://triblive.com/sports/outdoors/12828346-74/with-fewer-people-fishing-reduction-to-hatcheries-stockings-seems-likely 
 

 
Here is another section of the article I find quite interesting seeing how the PFBC denies trying to produce "fish specific lakes".  
 

Master's degree candidates in Penn State's college of agricultural sciences did a business analysis of the commission.  It found the agency does things backwards. 
 
“Typically, marketing and sales professionals discuss goals before production is scheduled, then manufacturing determines production amounts and executes the plans,” it reads.    The commission, by comparison, produces fish, decides where to put them, and only then, “on the back end,” tries to generate demand.  That should change, the report said. With revenues flattening and expenses rising, “lowering fish production appears to be a necessary step” to balance budgets, it reads.“You have to ask, how many fish do you really need and how many can you afford?” added Judd Michael, a professor of ecosystem science and management who oversaw development of the analysis.       
 
If production is cut, the business plan makes two recommendations.  The first is to concentrate stockings and then market those hot spots to “generate demand at select locations prior to stocking,” it reads.The second is to consider how fish are used these days.
 

CAPTAIN HOOK
Bald Eagles all over Shenango Lake today ! Seen 3 right near the causeway (rt. 18 ) looked like another on the ice edge near the open water. Must be picking on some fish floating, lot of open water mostly the old river channel......beautiful majestic birds. 

A few years back a friend of mine got some awesome pics of eagles on Arthur at this time of year picking off the resident mallards and geese that didn't migrate and were packed into the last little bits of open water in the channel by the 528 bridge.

No response from ODNR regarding my email. Perhaps I did something wrong or emails need be sent during regular business hours. I shall try again tomorrow.

We had an eagle visit for a few months this spring/summer. The flock of turkeys which started with a gobbler, two hens, and 11 poults ended up with the gobbler, a hen and two young ones; all of the young of the year groundhogs disappeared; and two does spent the year with no fawns.

Somehow, the rabbits, squirrels, and neighbor’s numerous, semi-feral, barn cats seemed unaffected.

It is really cool to see them up close ( 30 yards or less) sitting in the yard.

Captain I just emailed a second inquiry to ODNR to the address given on their web sight (wildinfo@dnr.state.oh.us), now I shall wait (again) to see what, if anything, happens.
 
I watched two Eagles walking the ice between the causeway and I-79 while fishing at Wilhelm a week ago.   Honestly, it kind of bothered me at first as I couldn't see anything but two very large birds appearing, to be staring at me.  I kept looking skyward expecting to see more circling overhead but finally, the two birds took flight, revealing they were Eagles.  Although, Eagles do feed on dead things!!!! 

ALLLLLLL RIGHTY THEN...........  I got a response from the ODNR and a very nice response I might add.  ODNR does stock Walleye into Pymatuning every may and the numbers are.........  be right back, after a word from our sponsor
 

 
where with an order of $50.00, Shipping is always free...... BUT WAIT!!

I'm hearing good ice on Shenango ....around 10" in most spots......white bass , crappie, and a few perch feeding. I'll wait till spring or the next warming trend.

This may be a bit off topic, but looking back at trapnet figures from 2010 up, Shenango just may become the "dead sea" in a few years. Right now, it seems the crappie numbers are pretty good, but it just ain't a place to be targeted for Musky, Northerns, or Walleyes. I think the PFBC would rather it be noted as a trophy catfish lake. I've been reading what other states do when they start gettin' lower trapnet numbers besides stocking; notably Minnesota and Wisconsin. Minnesota's slot limits are the exact opposite of the Pa's. For their crappie and bluegills, they want the largest ones released, and here, like on Pymie, you can only keep a 9" crappie and up, so, there goes the better breeding stock. We may soon end up with lots of stunted fish. Not good for the average angler, but won't make any difference to the "straw hatters", who grind every fish they catch. I think we need less college educated fishery biologists and we need to replace them with some "common sense" administrators. If you practice "selective harvest", you're doing the best you can to sustain the fishery. That's just common sense. I rarely keep any fish I catch, but on occasion will harvest a few walleyes for table fare. My boys and I have our own "slot limit", no matter where we fish. 15" to 17" walleyes max. Everything else goes back. You can get a decent fillet from a 16" fish, so no reason to be a hog.

PA. says natural spawning occurs very little in the Keystone waters and what hatch does take place, produces a very low survival rate. ODNR says spawning does occur in the Buckeye waters but there is a need to suppliment area waters through stocking.

I have additional information to post regarding reports from ODNR and will gladly do so as soon as I can convert PDF files to jgp, jpg mgp, mpg or whatever the hell the stupid files need be to post.😡


I should like to add, I received two very nice responses today from persons working in the ODNR with a welcome to ask additional questions anytime.

One regulation change that I would agree with regarding Walleye in Pymatuning would be a closed season during spawning.

The fish commission needs to understand that poor fishing regardless of lake has a huge effect on local economies. Last year on some days I was one of very few burning gas and buying bait.  
 

Slot limits should help increase or stable future numbers ....just a few thoughts ...how about on Walleye you are allowed to keep any from 15-20" all others are released. Those are your best eating size anyway. Most females are your larger size fish so we would be tossing back most of them.  I'd favor a short window shutdown for spawning season also....maybe Feb.1st - Apr. 1st.

 
 
Are the docks in yet??? 
 
 
 
CURRENT LAKE INFORMATION:
Pool Elevation: 890.59, which is 4.08 feet below normal summer pool.
Sluice Gates 1 - 7 are open to 3.5 feet each.
Sharpsville River Level: 5.95 feet
Transfer River Level: 4.11 feet
8am Air Temp: 34 degrees
8am Water Temp: 38 degrees
Weather: Rain
For current lake details and other important information, please call our daily recorded message at (724) 962-4384.

 
 

This 'plains wassup with Shenenago Lake reports, dadburn phones ain't workin..... huh!!!!   Suggest using Facebook to stay up with current information which is alright, as long as ya don't mind stupid popups covering what yinz trying to read, if ya ain't a Facebook enrollee!!!  Which I ain't but being the type of guy I am I shall endure, those obstacles or hardships, and bring yinz the latest available updates.  When I feel like it.
 
 
NOTICE: Our daily recorded message's phone line is currently down. We are working on resolving this issue. Please use the Shenango River Lake Facebook page as your resource for daily lake information.[See I told yinz they was promot...... er, recommending Facebook.]
CURRENT LAKE INFORMATION:
Pool Elevation: 896.04 which is 1.37 feet above normal summer pool
Sluice gates 1 - 7 are open to 4 feet each
Sharpsville River Level: 6.98 feet
Transfer River Level: 3.79 feet
8am Air Temp: 29 degrees
8am Water Temp: 40 degrees
 
 
 
Impotent news for campers too............
 
 
ATTENTION CAMPERS - Beginning June 15 campers will be required to present a photo ID and their AtB (America the Beautiful) senior or access pass to register for a discounted campsite. This procedure is being implemented to comply with standard operating procedures for AtB pass use, and will apply to reservations as well as walk-in transactions.
Reservations can be made at www.recreation.gov six months prior to arrival. The campground opens for the season May 18.
 
 
 
 

n/m

So Shenango Lake fans how long before the trout migrate into the lake, from the year round stocked area of the Shenango River at Hamburg RD bridge down stream toward Valley RD,  giving reason for the PFBC to charge you a Trout Stamp to fish for your favorite wipers, walleye, bass, musky, pike &, crappie???
 
Don't forget,  trout are no longer stocked "below" the dam..........
 
 
2018 Fish Consumption Advisory. News Release. Agencies Advise Not to Eat Fish from Shenango River: Shenango Lake Dam to mouth (Mercer & Lawrence Counties, PA). Do Not Eat advisory expanded to all fish species due to high levels of PCB's found in fish. ~ PFBC
 
.... you be the judge????
 
 
 
Heyyyy,  could this be the PFBC's answer to controlling the shad orrrrr, for not stocking walleye and other toothy critters in Shenango ???