Ice is on at Dunlap Creek Lake
A couple of weeks ago I discussed some ice fishing basics but bemoaned the fact that we didn’t have any ice. Well, Friday the word from Al Packan at Captain Al’s bait and tackle shop on Dunlap Creek Lake is “the lake is finally frozen.
“It froze over in the early part of the week. The ice is about 4-to5 inches thick, and there have been a few fishermen out,” he said.
Al said that the lake is “pretty low” right now. Prior to the lake freezing over, the water was drawn way down as the county is working on the boat launch area.
The ramp is being improved so that when fishermen back their trailers far enough down the ramp for the boat to float off, the trailer’s wheels will still be on concrete, making launching much easier and resulting in fewer bent and lost license plates.
Along with the launch ramp, handicap ramps will be constructed along each side of the launch area, so handicapped people can get to the dock area more easily.
Packan said, “I think it will be one of the nicest dock areas around when it is done.”
The Dunlap Lake Task Force Committee is also putting structure in the lake to provide fish habitat. This year they gathered Christmas trees, tied them together and placed them in the lake with concrete block anchors to hold them in place.
The committee has been meeting regularly with county officials and has been questioning fishermen as to how they feel about the lake.
Packan said that the county is committed to sprucing up the whole park area and is looking at the comfort stations and the possibility of adding some new playground equipment.
Packan said that ever since the drawdown, the Dunlap Lake Task Force Committee, along with volunteers and the Menallen Township supervisors, have been cleaning along the banks.
A lot of work is being done on the little pond across the road on the backside of the lake. The Fish and Boat Commission would like to designate the area for use by children exclusively, especially during the first six weeks of the trout season.
The Committee has really been sprucing up the lake. While there is still litter, littering is not as bad as it used to be as the committee keeps an eye on what is going on, plus the Fish and Boat Commission conducts regular patrols, which tend to deter individuals who want to use the park for activities other than what it is intended.
When asked if anything unusual was found when the lake was drawn down, Packan said, “We just found a lot of rods and reels that apparently fell from boats.”
If you plan to take advantage of the cold weather to head out on the ice, be sure to check for ice thickness before proceeding.
Remember to dress warmly, wear a flotation device, wear ice cleats on slippery ice, carry a set of hand ice picks to pull yourself out should you go through and never fish alone.
Packan said that the Dunlap Lake Co-op Stocking Program would also be in effect this year.
The Co-op solicits $5 donations from anglers who in turn receive a button which says, “I Helped Stock Dunlap Creek Lake.’
Last year two stockings were made by theCo-op. The trout stocked are larger than those stocked on average by the Fish and Boat Commission, weighing in excess of two pounds. All trout stocked last year measured between 14 and 27 inches with each shipment consisting of about 330 trout.
“The program was well received by the fishermen,” Packan said. “It was a big success.”
Dunlap Lake attracts fishermen from all over the area and even some from out of state.
“It is definitely a big attraction for Menallen Township and Fayette County,” Packan said.
Packan said that Captain Al’s would be open this week for the convenience of ice fishermen and those wishing to purchase Co-op stocking buttons.
MORE HABITAT IMPROVEMENT: January 11 approximately 180 discarded Christmas trees were use to construct reefs on the lakebed at Youghiogheny River Lake.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, employees of Henry Clay Township and members of the Somerset Bassmasters, Yough Walleye Association and the Salisbury Elk-Lick Hunting Club built the structure to improve fish habitat in the lake.
FLY TYING CLASSES: Beginning Feb. 3, the Dunbar Sportsmen’s Club will hold fly-tying classes for beginning, intermediate and advanced tiers.
Beginners will meet at 5 p.m., intermediate tiers at 6 and advance tiers at 7.
The classes will run eight weeks with Mark DeFrank serving as head instructor.
The cost is $4 per session. The fee includes all materials and tools.
To register or obtain more information contact John Maddas at 412-277-4258.
Rod Schoener is the Herald-Standard outdoors writer.