* Check out the photo gallery link in the left column for some nice member fish pics!

Our TightLines newsletters are now sent out in digital form with an email blast. You may print all or part of any newsletter if you prefer to read a hard copy. All recent TightLines are available to read in digital format in the Members Only Content area of the web site. Some examples of our newsletter are listed below. Click on the link of the TightLines newsletter issue below to read the digital version:

March 2017 TightLines 12 Page Newsletter Publication.pdf   

April 2017 TightLines 12 Page Newsletter Publication.pdf  

October 2017 TightLines Newsletter Publication.pdf 

November 2017 TightLines Newsletter Publication.pdf

January 2018 TightLines Newsletter Publication.pdf

February 2018 TightLines Newsletter Publication.pdf

The newest TightLines Digital newsletter, the September 2019 issue is now available in the Member-Only Content area along with 51 other older newsletters! Sign in with your email address and Password to access them.

Meetings are typically held at 7:00 pm on the 2nd Wednesday of each month, August through April @ American Legion Post #773,  4109 West 12th Street, Erie, PA.

There are no meetings scheduled in May, June, or July. The next meeting is September 11th, 2019!

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Fall meetings: 

August 14^th Meeting Presenter: Bobby Fragale owner of BF Fly Fishing.

Bobby Fragale was our program presenter to kick off the fall Steelhead season. B F Fly Fishing is owned and operated by Bobby.  He was born and raised on Steelhead Alley, just a few minutes from Elk Creek.  He has been guiding for many years and has spent the last 20 years dialing in the water he guides on today. 

At B F Fly Fishing, they try to do more than just put you on fish; they pride themselves on teaching and having you become a better and more confident angler.  Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned angler, there is always something new to learn or improve on.  B F Fly Fishing has expanded its guide service to include our warm water fishery.  Some of the best Smallmouth, Pike, Musky and Trout waters are right in Erie County’s back yard. 

In Bobby’s down time, he travels to different fisheries and he’s been lucky enough to grow relationships all over the world. Within his travels, he has had the opportunity to explore many destinations with pristine fisheries, such as Belize, British Columbia and the Olympic Peninsula. 

Bobby discussed all the fishing opportunities available to us in our area! He held discussions on where and how to fish and answered questions as well.

September 11th Meeting speaker

Zack Klan, Kayak specialist at Fish USA. He will be our presenter at the September 11 meeting. Zack started at FishUSA in Fairview, Pa in January 2016.

Kayak Fishing Presentation

My name is Zack Klan and I am the Kayak Fishing Specialist at FishUSA. I have been kayak fishing for 6 years now and have been fishing competitively for the past 2 years. I primarily fish for bass, both Largemouth and Smallmouth, but will cross over into other species from time to time. Erie has been called home my entire life. I fish all over the county and even managed to travel to a few other states to fish out of a kayak; New York, Ohio, Michigan, Tennessee, and Oklahoma. Locally, you can always find me on Lake Erie, Presque Isle, Lake Pleasant, Eaton Reservoir, Edinboro Lake, and French Creek. I have experienced all types of weather conditions while fishing from a kayak, even snow! From a competitive side, I fish tournaments put on by a couple organizations, Kayak Angler of Western PA and KBF (Kayak Bass Fishing). To date, my best tournament was held on Lake George in upstate New York. There were 143 anglers and I finished in 43^rd place. I was not able to cut a check from that one but it was the trip, the experience, and the ability to do what I love that makes it all worth while.

During the Kayak Fishing presentation, I will touch on how I got started with kayaking, my set-up, kayak safety, fishing from a kayak, the benefits that a kayak can provide, along with answering any and all questions. There are many fishing techniques that can be utilized on a kayak such as using conventional gear, fly fishing gear, and even trolling gear. As long as there is just a few inches of water to float on, you can go kayaking and catch a fish for yourself!

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Past Programs: 

April 10th Presenter:

Senator Dan Laughlin -

Senate Game & Fisheries committee chair. 

Senator Dan Laughlin was our guest speaker at the April monthly membership meeting. The Senator is Chair of the Senate Game & Fisheries Committee. He discussed the legislative process, the roles of committees and led a discussion of bills before the House Game & Fisheries Committee. He concluded by graciously answering members questions on some of the bills and issues facing outdoorsman.

First off Senator Laughlin revealed he is an avid outdoorsman and hunter. He explained how he gave up opportunities to be on more powerful committees because he is committed to outdoor recreation and activities. There are a number of bills in committee concerning fishing and hunting. The Senator explained how it takes a long time to get bills passed and that there is a lot of back and forth in the process.

Some of the bills he discussed were:

House Bill 584 which includes a waiver on fishing licenses for therapeutic activities.

House Bill 617 which would discount licenses for those that teach hunter safety courses.

House Bill 752 that would remove the current $400.00 cap per acre for buying land that restricts the Pennsylvania Game Commission.

House Bill 514 that would merge the Fish and Boat Commission with the Hunting Commission

House Bill 929 that would increase resident fishing licenses incrementally over 3 years from $21 to $30, as well as raising the Trout & Salmon permits and non-resident licenses.

Senate Bill 315 which would honor veterans and active military with discounted licenses.

Senate Bill 377 which would increase Penalty for Killing Bald or Golden Eagles.

Senate Bill 147 which would make Sunday hunting legal.

Senate Bill 485 authorizing the Sale of Anterless Deer Licenses through the Pennsylvania Automated Licensing System. 

Senator Laughlin gave his views on many of these bills and asked the membership for input on some of those that would impact fishermen. He also discussed the concerns the legislature has about the number of licenses sold dropping and how a price increase could further impact the totals.

The PSA Board of Directors thanks Senator Laughlin for taking the time to attend our meeting and inform us of ongoing issues and how they are being addressed.

March 13th Program Presenter

Craig Lucas - Tionesta/Fairview State Fish Hatchery Manager for the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission gave a presentation of how our Steelhead are raised!

The following is from the May/June 2015 Pennsyvania Angler and Boater Magazine:

“Annually, Tionesta the Tionesta State Fish Hatchery (SFH raises approximately 75 percent of the 1.1 million steelhead yearlings stocked into the tributaries of Lake Erie every spring. Once released they migrate into the main body of the lake and return at 3-years-old ready to spawn. Unfortunately, they are not successful spawning in the shale bottomed Erie tributaries and need the hatcheries to keep this program going. Starting in November, staff from five regional hatcheries, Including Tionesta SFH, converges to Trout Run in Erie to collect
adults for spawning. These adult; steelhead are transported to the Fairview SFH where the eggs are stripped and fertilized. Once spawned, the eggs are transported to Tionesta SFH to be hatched and raised to yearlings for the following season. The PFBC Lake Erie Steelhead Program is a success story, attracting anglers from all over Pennsylvania and generating more than 10 million dollars annually for the Erie area economy.”

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At our January 9th meeting Aaron Benjamin from FishUSA was our speaker and gave a presentation on ice fishing.

Aaron is a customer service rep and Product Specialist for FishUSA. Aaron did a nice presentation on tools, techniques, and new gear for 2019 with a special concentration on targeting the fish of Lake Erie including steelhead. 

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At our December 2018 membership meeting, Eric Peterson showed us how to spin, stack & pack deer hair for bass poppers! It was an entertaining and informative presentation! Thanks to Eric for a lesson on how to tie like a pro.

     

The PA Steelhead Association holds meetings each month except May, June, and July usually at 7:30 pm on the second Wednesday of the month .  Meetings are held  at the American Legion Post 773.  The Legion is located at 4109 West 12th Street (State Route 5), just east of the Erie Airport. 

We meet in the banquet room to the left when you walk in.

Next membership meeting is Wednesday September 11th at 7:00p.m.!

PA Steelhead Associaton Facebook page link below:

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Pa-Steelhead-Association/136804763021961