Get in on the Black Flyday fly fishing invitational Nov. 23 to benefit 3CU trout conservation and stocking programs.

Fish from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. with black flies only; best combined length wins. Record your witnessed steelhead catches and take your result tally to Crowley’s Restaurant & Irish Pub, 8844 Route 18, Cranesville, from 4-5 p.m.

The $10 entry fee includes appetizers at Crowley’s; the $25 fee includes a steak dinner. Call (814) 774-8450 for details.

A video from photojournalist Jack Hanrahan to whet your appetite for steelhead fishing:

Jonathon Freeman, of Buffalo, N.Y., caught a 24-inch hen steelhead at Walnut Creek Access Area using sucker spawn. He caught another on skein, and both were landed on an ultralight rig spooled with 4-pound test.

His fishing partner, Edward Lawrence, of Corry, caught three steelhead including a 25 1/2-inch, 6 1/2-pound buck upstream of the mouth of Twenty Mile Creek in late October. All hit on skein. Lawrence is a NWPA Outdoors contributing writer.

A reminder that the second annual Great Lakes Steelhead Expo is scheduled for Nov. 3 from 11 a.m. to 5 pm. at Rainbow Gardens, 3100 West Lake Road.

Admission to the Pennsylvania Steelhead Association-sponsored event is $15 per person, and free for those 15 and younger who are accompanied by a parent or guardian.

More than 40 vendors are scheduled to attend. Ox roast, hot dogs and beverages will be served throughout the day.

Three speakers also will appear:

April Vokey is an ambassador for Patagonia, the host of Buccaneers & Bones and a fishing guide on the Dean River in British Columbia. She also writes for several magazines including Fly Fusion Magazine. She is a world famous fly-tier specializing in Northwest patterns.

George Daniel, a Pennsylvania resident and member of the U.S. Fly Fishing team, is the author of “Dynamic Nymphing.” He will autograph his books after his presentation.

Mike Bleech, Erie Times-News outdoors writer, has published more than 5,000 articles in more than 100 publications since 1980.

Here’s a story from the first expo in November 2011.

An improvement project for at Raccoon Creek Park broke ground today at the 195-acre site in Springfield Township.

The Department of Conservation and Natural Resources said it has invested $152,000 through its Community Conservation Partnerships Program, and the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection Coastal Zone Management Program is providing $136,000.

A new pavilion and restrooms will be constructed, along with a food preparation area, utility room, picnic shelter and landscaping.

The project will feature energy-efficient lighting, low-flow plumbing fixtures, a tankless hot water heater and native plantings.

“The health and vitality of our communities is reflected in the quality of their parks and trails, access to waterways, open spaces, and opportunities to be active outdoors,” DCNR Secretary Richard Allan said in a news release. “This project is sure to increase visitors who are looking for great fishing opportunities, access to Lake Erie or a great place for their children to play.”

Sen. Jane Earll also took part in the groundbreaking.

The DCNR grant money was provided through the Keystone Fund generated from a portion of the real estate transfer tax.

The DCNR said the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission, which stocks Raccoon Creek with steelhead, has indicated an interest in making stream improvements once the park rehabilitation is complete. State Game Lands 314 also borders the park. The DCNR said the township intends to partner with the Pennsylvania Game Commission on trail improvements, security and limited archery hunting.

The second annual Great Lakes Steelhead Expo is scheduled for Nov. 3 from 11 a.m. to 5 pm. at Rainbow Gardens, 3100 West Lake Road.

Admission to the Pennsylvania Steelhead Association-sponsored event is $15 per person, and free for those 15 and younger who are accompanied by a parent or guardian.

More than 40 vendors are scheduled to attend. Ox roast, hot dogs and beverages will be served throughout the day.

Three speakers also will appear:

April Vokey is an ambassador for Patagonia, the host of Buccaneers & Bones and a fishing guide on the Dean River in British Columbia. She also writes for several magazines including Fly Fusion Magazine. She is a world famous fly-tier specializing in Northwest patterns.

George Daniel, a Pennsylvania resident and member of the U.S. Fly Fishing team, is the author of “Dynamic Nymphing.” He will autograph his books after his presentation.

Mike Bleech, Erie Times-News outdoors writer, has published more than 5,000 articles in more than 100 publications since 1980.

Here’s a story from the first expo in November 2011.

The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission officially opened the fish ladder and fishway on Four Mile Creek Monday. Check out a photo gallery and video:

Here’s the Fish and Boat Commission news release on the opening:

The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission has officially opened the Four Mile Creek Fish Ladder and fishway at the Lawrence Park Golf Club, located at 3700 East Lake Road, Erie, PA 16511.

Phase 1 of the project, the Alaskan Steep-Pass Fishway (fish ladder), was completed in July 2010 on private property owned by the Lawrence Park Golf Club. It provides fish passage at the Lawrence Park Golf Club dam, the first upstream barrier to steelhead migrating up Four Mile Creek. Constructed 850 feet upstream of the mouth of Four Mile Creek on Lake Erie, the ladder opened an additional 600 feet of stream to migrating steelhead. It will be operated seasonally to allow winter upstream movements of steelhead while blocking summer upstream movements of sea lamprey, an unwanted invasive fish.

Phase 2 was the construction of the fish by-pass channel thanks to an agreement made with the Lawrence Park Golf Club. Completed in December 2011, this fishway provides passage around a waterfall approximately 600 feet upstream of the fish ladder. Steelhead can now migrate another four miles upstream into some areas open to public fishing. To help ensure the success of steelhead migration, and also to prevent interference with golfers, the areas from 100 feet above the bypass to 100 feet below the fish ladder are off limits to fishing or public fish observing.

The total cost of this project was $393,000. $144,000 of the total was Lake Erie Stamp Money which included $41,000 used for an easement to provide additional approved fishing areas north of Route 5 to 100 feet above the fishway. $120,000 of the total came from combined grant monies from the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection—Coastal Zone Management through the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration; the PA Department of Conservation and Natural Resources through Conservation Partnership Program; and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service through the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative. Grants were shared between Lawrence Park Township, and the Fish and Boat Commission.

Lake Erie Ultimate Angler is putting on a free, 3-hour Steelhead 101 class Oct. 20, among other courses it is offering this fall. Check out the schedule and find out how to sign up here.

The Pennsylvania Steelhead Association will have its membership meeting Oct. 10 at 7 p.m. at American Legion Post 773, 4109 W 12th St.

Bob Hetz, nursery manager and treasurer for 3CU, will give an update on steelhead stocking and raceway cleanup. Waterways conservation officers from the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission will give stream updates.

Members and the public are invited to attend.

Erie Times-News contributing writer Ed Lawrence, of Corry, caught this nice steelhead Sept. 21 at Twenty Mile Creek.

Watch for Ed’s story on early-season steelhead tactics on the NWPA Outdoors page in the Sept. 30 Times-News sports section.

Be sure to submit a photo of your trophy steelhead or other gamefish this fall for posting on the NWPA Outdoors blog and possibly in the Erie Times-News. Upload your photo here or e-mail it with your name, hometown and fish details to sports@timesnews.com.