jimski2

Geneva State Park , just west of Ashtabula, Ohio has the finest boat ramp and marina in the Central Basin. Great summer fishing there. Check it out on Google Earth and see if we could have a site like that here in New York State Parks. Sent from my iPhone using Lake Erie United

The more important question and answer is "when will they open for operation?"

Check out the boat ramp at Crystal Beach, Ontario. The Canadians know how to put in a boat launch ramp with parking. The strange point is their population there is not ten per cent of our New York residents. They just know how to get things done. Look at the site on Google Earth at Crystal Beach, Ontario. Sent from my iPhone using Lake Erie United

New ramps are being installed at the State site at the Cattaraugus Creek. When they will be available is unknown now. With Sturgeon Point being unopened the parking area at the Catt will be overwhelmed. Maybe the State or County could take over the dredging problems. It is thirty miles to Irving without any other boat ramps. Dunkirk and Barcelona are a lot more. Barcelona is fifty five miles each way. Sent from my iPhone using Lake Erie United

South Shoreline ice all the way to the Dunkirk Lighthouse. One boat out off Van Buren Bay, first of the year. Sent from my iPhone using Lake Erie United

We have three State Parks where boat trailer boat ramps could be properly constructed on Lake Erie. The millions of dollars collected for registration fees, sales taxes on boats and equipment is where the money is at. It disappears in the "Black Hole" called Albany. Contact your legislators to see if we could get something back.

Early spring perch, from ice off to end of spawning, can be found in shallow water, like ten foot of water and less. Using light action spinning rods with a split shot or two and a double hook, and emerald shiners, cast off the boat and slowly bring the minnow back to the boat. The boat spooks the perch away but by casting out you can reach the perch schooling up to prepare to spawn in the warmer shallow water. Even if ice is present they will be there on the beach. Casting away from the boat will bring the perch closer as they follow the slow moving minnows.

For those who are centrally located on Lake Erie things are fine but the majority has to travel thirty miles or more to access the lake it is a couple hour round trip . There are some people who can not chew gum and skip rope at the same time. They will never learn to back up a trailer ever. There are those that can do and those that teach, they usually end up being teachers Get out of your car and give them some guidance.

It should be noted that the State Park sites have bathrooms, plenty of parking areas, campgrounds, Park Police on duty, access from major highways and not gridlocked on weekends with major delays from launching and retrieving too many boats. After all these years of doing nothing, it is about time we demand changes for the trailer boat community. Just simple launching sites nearby where we need them and getting our registration, sales tax and equipment taxes back.

After celebrating my seventy fifth birthday, I looked back at the development of trailer boat access on Lake Erie in New York State in my lifetime. The result I found is there is none. When I was five years old my father took us out on the lake from Woodlawn Beach or the old Pillsbury Grain Elevator near Tifft Street.Both sites are gone today. Then was the Small Boat Harbor was opened around 1950 and that was it. There are three State Parks on Lake Erie, Woodlawn Beach, Evangola and Lake Erie where boat ramps could be built without acquiring purchasing tax producing property. Without nothing being done with the millions of dollars collected from boating sales taxes, boating supplies, registration fees and fuel taxes over the past seventy years. It has deposited that money in the "black hole" called Albany and disappeared. This is our fault. Millions of tax dollars are deferred to build hotels and other of tourist type features happen annually but we are forgotten by Albany and our legislators. Open your eyes and mouths to "MAKE SOMETHING HAPPEN"!

Walleye success is dependent on perch population and their predation on walleye fry and fingerlings. We must maintain a balanced population in the lake. There you go. Sent from my iPhone using Lake Erie United

The ice boom went in last Sunday. Lake Erie water surface to bottom temperatures are now 39 degrees. In a couple weeks the ice will start to form and there will be less turbid water down in the lower river from high wind storms. Sent from my iPhone using Lake Erie United

Not Lake Erie’s but a couple nice perch catches came in from Oneida and Sodus Bay. Sent from my iPhone using Lake Erie United

Last year the Canadian Frost Derby out of Crystal Beach produced a possible state record bass in November. The entry was eliminated due to the lack of a non resident fishing license. November has the largest well fed bass after the summer that are developing their spawn eggs. Now is the time to try for the state record bass.

Driving past the Safe Harbor Marina, I noticed small boats launching at the old boat ramp near the restaurant area.

While the launch ramp docks are gone, with hip boots or waders you can launch and retrieve your boat. We launched boats at Woodlawn Beach for years that way. After the water warmed up, you did not need boots. A set it oars helped getting the boat off shore also. Sent from my iPhone using Lake Erie United

Perch were taken off Vermillion in 32 foot of water. They are moving inshore now the water temperature ha s fallen.