Save Our Native Species Inc.
S.O.N.S. of Lake Erie Fishing Club
(A 501 C (3) not for profit organiz

Old News

P.F.B.C. EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR ARWAY ADRESSED THE S.O.N.S.

PFBC’s Executive Director, John Arway and Commissioner Ed Mascharka spoke at our October 2010 General Membership meeting. They spoke on several subjects including the possibility of a regulation change that would allow for the individual possession of 150 minnows. Mr. Arway stated that the matter would be reviewed and considered after a formal request for the change was made by the SONS. We intend to submit a letter requesting this regulation change.

The PFBC reps also talked about the proposed change to the regulations that would permit the use of three rods per person while fishing. The Charter Captains and many other Lake Erie fishermen support the change. The PFBC staff has no objection to the rule change because it will not affect the fishery because the creel limits will still remain the same. Hearings will be held on the matter after the proposed change is published in the Pennsylvania Bulletin. 

Chuck Murray, the Lake Erie Unit’s Chief Biologist, fielded questions about future Walleye limits. According to Chuck, no decisions have been made yet. Changing creel limits in Pennsylvania requires a regulation change that requires several levels of approval that take at least a year to go into effect. There are no plans to change current regulations. Chuck Murray will be asking the PFBC at its January meeting to consider adopting an adaptive approach to resource management that would allow changes in creel limits to be made in real time. The adaptive management plan would allow the fisheries management branch to respond to changes in the resource as research identifies the lake wide stocks of fish. The Fisheries Branch would have the authority to set creel limits without the current red tape. 

Mr. Arway impressed us as the kind of guy you would like to have as a fishing buddy. He is very down to earth individual but on the same note exhibits an aura of confidence and knowledge that makes one realize that he is very much in control and the right man in the right place, at the right time, as the head of the PFBC. He expressed admiration and respect for the SONS and we look forward to working with him in the future.   

THE S.O.N.S. HATCHERY HAS 25^th ANNIVERSARY  

 Earl Myers (ctr) Head of the PFBC's Cooperative Nursery Division presented a 25 year participation certificate to SONS President Jerry Skrypzak and SONS Director and Hatchery Manager Bob Zawadzki. The certificate marks our club’s 25year affiliation with the PFBC’s cooperative program. In 25 years our hatchery has produced over 25,000,000 walleye, 30,000,000 perch and over 1,000,000 steelhead fry. The certificate was presented at the March 14^th Commission’s biennial cooperative nursery meeting in Oil City.

S.O.N.S. PURCHASE RADAR UNITS FOR PFBC BOATS

Two of the PFBC’s patrol boats are sporting new radar units thanks to the S.O.N.S. of Lake Erie.
Last year some Lake Erie fishermen lost their lives because of the length of time it took to locate them and their capsized boat. We felt that had more boats with radar units participated in the search the outcome may have been different.

On request of our regional WCO’s it was decided to upgrade two of the PFBC’s patrol boats with new state of the art Raymarine radar-gps units. The S.O.N.S. portion of the price tag was $5,589.00.  Technicians at Anchor Marine did the installation of the units.

S.O.N.S. Receive Award for Work With Handicapped

The S.O.N.S. of Lake Erie were presented with the “Advocates for Independent Living Award” at the October 21, 2009 Annual Meeting of Erie Independence House Inc. Ms. Cathy Elizabeth Miller, President of the Erie Independence House presented the award to the S.O.N.S. in recognition of several past projects that have provided access and hands on fishing opportunities for the handicapped. Some of these projects include the construction of a bridge and ramp on the South pier and a handicapped ramp on the North pier. The S.O.N.S. also contributed funds toward the construction of the floating fishing platform on Presque Isle’s Waterworks pond.

L to R Ms. Cathy Elizabeth Miller, Pres. Jerry Srypzak, Director Bob Zawadzki
Director Ron Lubak and VP Ed Kissell

S.O.N.S. Pres. and VP Named Sportsmen of the Year

S.O.N.S. President, Jerry Skrypzak and Vice President Ed Kissell were presented the “Sportsman of the Year Award” by the Northwestern Pennsylvania Sportsman’s Coalition. The presentation was made by Coalition President, Ron Dombrowiak, on April 23, 2009 at the Regional PFBC informational meeting, which was held at the Hirt Auditorium.