Western New York is one of the prettiest places to be outdoors during the fall season. The blue skies and fresh air with an occasional whiff of hard wood smoke from someone's fireplace. The sounds of waterfowl traveling overhead seeking safe haven from the approach of cold weather. The spectacular colors that adorn all foliage before it flutters to the ground to renew the cycle of life. The sounds of running water as it returns to its point of origin. The fall season is a great time to be outdoors. And wait until you hear about our fantastic fishing and hunting.
If you are traveling Interstate 90 take the Dunkirk/Fredonia exit. Head north and you will encounter Route 5. The locals refer to this road as Lake Shore Drive and the entire shore line is home to some of the best fresh water fishing in North America. From Niagara Falls to the State of Ohio, there is great fishing to be had at some time of the year for a variety of species ranging from yellow perch and small mouth bass to walleye and rainbow trout and all manner of fresh water fish in between.
An excellent source of fishing information is the Dunkirk based Department of Environmental Conservation Fisheries station located north of Route 5 on Cedar Point in Dunkirk The offices are open weekdays usually from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. (366-0228) and contain a wealth of information on our local fishery. If you are looking for information during the weekend stop at local tackle shops. Bill's Hooks is located on Route 5 just west outside of the City of Dunkirk limits (366-0268), Chadwick Bay Marina located just east of the City of Dunkirk Pier (366-1774) Miller's Bait & Tackle in Irving (934-2477), Weber's Bait & Tackle Route 5 in Evans (look for the landmark lighthouse or call 549-3426). At the far western end of Chautauqua County is Barcelona Harbor, home of some of the best deep water fishing in Lake Erie. All these areas have information for travelers looking for a place to wet a line.
If you have access to a boat try your luck with some hands-on fishing for yellow perch. You can launch for a few dollars at Dunkirk Silver Creek, and Barcelona and encounter yellow perch from any of these ports. In Dunkirk, head outside the harbor and look for the large red mark buoy. Use a fish detector to locate schools of traveling fish, bait a live or salted minnow on a perch/crappie rig and let it settle to the bottom (usually 43- 55 feet) and within minutes you should be in business. You can catch a large variety of fish in that area including catfish up to 20 pounds, bass in the three to five pound range and white perch and sheephead.
If you have equipment for multiple rod/offshore fishing like planner boards, dipsey diver rigs and down riggers, head for the deep water of 75 to 110 feet deep and try your luck for walleye, lake trout and steelhead. If you don't have your boat or that type of equipment you can still experience this thrilling type of fishing by going on a fishing charter. Charter services provide all the equipment and will show you a good time ,fishing from the safety of a well equipped vessel with experienced fishermen. Visit the Web site of the Eastern Lake Erie Charter Boat Association at www.great-lakes.org/ny/elecba or e-mail them at fisheasternbasin@hotmail.com. Lake Erie is among the best ratio of hook-ups per man hours invested in pursuing rainbow trout in New York state. Those trout will start entering the Lake Erie tributaries as soon as the water cools enough and the water level rises to allow a fresh run of trout. You can expect to encounter rainbow/steelhead trout in Lake Erie tributaries from September into early May, under ideal conditions. Artificials like flies, or spinners or spoons will take trout as well as meat baits like egg sacks and worms. Wearing hip boots or waders will allow you access to most of the trout hideouts in Canadaway Creek, Chautauqua Creek, Cattaraugus Creek and many of the smaller tributaries that dot the shoreline. Be sure to check the rules and regulations booklet on New York State fishing and parts of Cattaraugus Creek may require a special license.
Inland lakes like Bear Lake, Chautauqua Lake, Cassadaga Lakes and Findley Lake are also treasure troves of fresh water fish, that await your presence.
Fishing really is great in our section of New York state.
Gene Pauszek is an outdoor columnist for the OBSERVER.
