If Cabin Fever has you climbing the walls, there are plenty of activities coming up.
The ice firmed up at Chautauqua Lake and the traveling afoot has improved since last weekend. There is at least 12-16 inches of firm ice with panfish action over most of the lake.
Lisa Green from the Happy Hooker Bait & Tackle store in Ashville (763-5815) reports anglers have seen bigger bluegills and perch at Prendergast and Bemus with occasional crappie, perch and bluegills hitting at Mayville and Lakewood. Yellow pike have been tough all week.
Article Photos
Photo by Gene Pauszek
Sam Giaimo displays a nice trout he took off the Dunkirk Pier using a live minnow under a bobber.
Locally, trout have been taking a variety of baits off the City of Dunkirk Pier, with low light hours offering the most action. Gizzard shad have once again infested the harbor with smaller sized bait being the norm for 2011, compared to years past. Johnson Sprites and Little cleo spoons are a good choice while fishing live minnows or Berkley Power bait will work under a bobber.
Anglers are still finding smelt through the ice at Hanover Bay and Sturgeon Point continues to lure fishermen in search of larger sized yellow perch.
Calendar:
There will be a pistol course at the Northern Chautauqua Conservation Club on Feb. 12 from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. There is a $40 fee for this course. For more information and to register, call Gary Dudek at 366-3397.
The Eastern Sports and Outdoor Show will end Feb. 13 at the State Farm Show Complex, in Harrisburg, Pa. Headliners for this year's event will be fishing legends Hank Parker and Babe Winkleman. For complete information on the show and schedule of events, log onto www.easternsportshow.com.
The Northern Chautauqua Conservation Club will host its in-club rabbit contest Sunday, Feb. 13. Weigh-in is 3 p.m. sharp. There is a $5 entry fee, with dinner after weigh-in and awards.
There will be a free seminar on coyotes given by Dr. Jaquilin Frair on Wednesday, Feb. 16, starting at 7 p.m., at the Armor Fire Hall, 4932 Clark St., in Hamburg. The presentation will be chaired by the president of the Western New York Environmental Conservation Federation, Dan Tone, and sponsored by the Erie County Federation of Sportsmen Clubs Inc.
South Towns Walleye Association will host a meeting at the same hall Thursday, Feb. 17 featuring guest speaker Mike Clancy from the DEC giving a report on the state of Lake Chautauqua and Silver Lake. The presentation starts at 7:30 p.m. Phone 649-8202 for details.
The Con Club sportsman hunting and fishing contest awards party is Feb. 19 at 5:30 p.m. See club for details. Bring a dish to pass if you like.
Liberty Vineyards, located on Route 20 in Sheridan will host a sportsmen's weekend Feb. 19-20. The public is invited to come and view displays of various wildlife and taste some great wines. Donations will be accepted for the National Wild Turkey Federation youth day event, JAKES Day, which will be held July 10 and is sponsored by our local chapter, the Lakeshore Longbeards. Hours for the Sportsmen's show will be from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 19 and from 11 a.m. until 5 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 20. If you are interested in entering a display, contact Gary Burmaster at 672-4520 before Feb. 18.
There will be a Sportsman's Show on Feb. 19-20 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Seneca Allegany Casino and Hotel, located at 186 Exit 20, 777 Seneca Allegany Blvd. in Salamanca. Look for gun dealers, antique firearms, fishing gear, trapping supplies, modern rifles, shotguns and handguns, archery equipment and other outdoor related items of interest.
Northern Chautauqua Ducks Unlimited, our local chapter of D.U., will host its annual fundraiser/membership banquet Feb. 26 at the Dunkirk Moose Lodge, located at 296 Lake Shore Drive West in Dunkirk. For details or tickets, call Steven Zentz at 410-4848 or visit sdzentz@netsync.net.
The Lakewood Baptist Church, located on 150 Erie St. in Lakewood, will be having a sportsmen's dinner March 12, starting at 6 p.m. with seminars starting at 4 p.m. This year's featured guest is the Duck Commander. For tickets and information call 763-9621.
If you are planning your summer vacation for 2011, the Southtowns Walleye Association tournament is scheduled for June 11-19. The SWA in-club yellow perch tournament is scheduled for May 21 from 6 a.m. until 2 p.m. $10 per person with a perch fish fry to follow the weigh-in.
The Take-A-Kid Fishing Day is tentatively scheduled for June 4.
The Con Club walleye derby is scheduled for Aug. 5-7.
Gene Pauszek is an OBSERVER outdoors columnist. Send comments to sports@observertoday.com.
