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Midnight Express wins Sunset Bay Shoot Out

OBSERVER Photo by Gene Pauszek: In front from left: Fisher, Amy and Annie Sleeman, and Morgan and Courtney Outhouse. In back from left: Matt Reber, Ethan and Craig Sleeman, Khristina Cahoon and Mark Outhouse. Their team, Midnight Express, won the Sunset Bay Shoot Out, by fishing west of Barcelona with worm harnesses for a total winning weight of 42.90 pounds.

The seventh annual Sunset Bay Shoot Out Walleye tournament is in the books. The anglers had good weather on both Big Fish Friday and on Saturday for the main event.

There were 95 teams entered in the SBSO, but only 53 fish coolers reported to the weigh station. Not every team catches a limit of fish, but with the banner year class of walleye entering the Lake Erie fishery, it is hard to find walleye in the 7-pound-plus range. At least under a time restraint, of eight hours.

The weigh-in for the SBSO started around 5 p.m. Some anglers did not make the deadline, and others were disqualified because they failed to follow the rules, which were outlined at the mandatory captains’ meeting on Friday evening. The SBSO has each team come to the stage with their cooler of fish. The team members sit on a set of chairs refereed to as the “hot seat,” while their fish are weighed. They remained there until a heavier weight total moves them out of contention.

Mike Fletcher, of team Yaleye Fish Lures, was getting comfortable with a six-fish total weight of 39.78 pounds. Then the last 10 coolers came up to be weighed. In the end the Midnight Express, led by Captain Craig Sleeman, tipped the scales at 42.90 pounds to take first place. Bob Henton of team Connor Logging finished in second with a total weight of 40.80.

Paul Earl, of team Fishweiser, placed third with 39.78; Fletcher finished in fourth place followed by Randy Jaroszewski of team Ice Breaker with 39.59.

OBSERVER Photo by Gene Pauszek: Top left from left: Team Fish Killer with Kim Skoczylas front and Dave Subuda, Chris Ehrenreich, Jim Skoczylas and Corey Wictor had the largest walleye on Saturday at 9.40 and finished 10th with a total weight of 34.04 pounds

Local Captain Bob Rustowicz, of team Forever Fishin, finished in sixth place with 34.81 followed by Rob Oram team (Eye Con) with 34.61. Local talent Bud Marsh, of team Kra-Mar Sportfishing finished in eighth with 34.52 and Chuck Simpson, of team Gypsy Diver was next with 34.23 pounds. Jim Skoczylas, of Team Fish Killer, finished in tenth place at 34.04 along with the heaviest fish on Saturday caught by his wife, Kim, that weighed in at 9.40 pounds. Keith Wind/Team Fin Angler was next with 33.87 followed by Jesse Nussbaum of team 5-Alive with 33.19. Gregg Marzec of Team G-Man placed thirteenth with 32.69 and Arron Nidezwiecki of Nudz Eyes had 32.67.

The final place was taken by team Underdog lead by Nick Schmitt with 31.43 pounds. Just missing the pay out were Larry Johnson with 31.13, Jacob Malloy at 30.41 Jeff Bognar with 29.87, Mark Lewandowski with 29.76 and Frank Simonick with 29.43 pounds. Big Fish of the SBSO Saturday event were: Jim Skoczylas with 9.40, local talent Ron Duliba with 9.33, Bob Henton with 9.10, Bon Vandette with 8.88 and Bud Marsh with an 8.86 pounder. This was the highest paying walleye tournament around and Don Ruppert and his crew that included at least 40 local volunteers, and numerous businesses from the Sunset Bay area , did an awesome job. See ya next year!

Calendar:

The Bear Lake Rod & Gun Club is proud to host the Archery Shooters Association (ASA) New York Federation Championship. This 3-D archery event will include shooters from all of New York, Pennsylvania, and Ontario, Canada. This special event will be held in conjunction with the regular 3-D archery shoot with an addition of Saturday, July 29, from noon until 4 p.m., registration on Sunday, July 30, from 8 a.m. until 1 p.m. Winners of each class will receive ASA state championship belt buckles and plaques for the runner ups. Shooter are not required to shoot both days. The tournament will consist of 30 McKenzie life-size animal targets set o the yardage guidelines set by the ASA. Unique to this event is that the ASA speed limit will not be enforced nor is membership in the ASA required. A $25 entry fee is required to compete in the state championship and your meal is included. Those archers only wishing to shoot the club shoot will be required to pay the usually cost of $12. The Bear Lake Club located at 4391 Stockton Cassadaga Road in Stockton has been making numerous improvements to the club and the course during the past five years. The public is invited to attend and observe novice and professional level 3-D archery competition. Food and beverage will be available during the event. For further information contact Rudy Abersold at 397-9717.

The Chautauqua Watershed Conservancy will be giving a seminar at the Northern Chautauqua Conservation Club on Sunday, Aug. 20. Continue reading this column for further details.

OBSERVER Photo by Gene Pauszek: Top right from left: Mike Yarema, Lance Connor, Marshal Pike and Bob Henton finished in second place with 40.80 pounds.

The Bear Lake Rod & Gun Club will host a .22 caliber pistol or rifle “spinner target” course on Aug. 5 and Sept. 9, from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. Cost is $10 per person and includes a hot dog or hamburger, chips and a non-alcoholic beverage. Open to the public. The Bear Lake Club will also host a 3-D archery shoot on July 30 from 8 a.m. until 1 p.m. On Saturday, Aug. 19, the BLR&G Club will host Chappy Outdoors, a 3-D benefit shoot with a 9 a.m. shotgun start. Contact Rudy Abersold at 397-9717 for information. All shoots are open to the public contact Rob at 485-3773, Tom at 680-0209 or the Club at 595-3334. The Bear Lake Club is located at 4391 Cassadaga-Stockton Road, Stockton 14784.

The 7th Annual Sunset Bay Walleye Shootout is July 22 with an optional Big Fish Friday on July 21. For details call Don Ruppert at 498-7770 or Bob Rustowitz at 830-6394.

The Northern Chautauqua three-day walleye tournament will be held Aug. 4-6. For details contact Zen Olow at 640-2776.

The Innovative Outdoors Walleye Challenge from Chadwick Bay Marina is Aug. 26, with optional Big Fish Friday. For details contact Jim Steel at 983-7867 or visit https://lakeeriewalleyetournament.com.

If your club or organization is holding a hunter safety training/trapping course or a turkey shoot or any other outdoors event, and would like to see it posted in the calendar, send information to the OBSERVER, 10 East Second Street, Dunkirk, N.Y. 14048, or call the sports dept. at 366-3000 ext. 5 after 6 p.m.

Note: If you have a big-game fishing or trapping success story you would like to share, call 366-1772, or 467-2079 and leave a name, phone number and a time you can be reached. You can also call 366-3000, ext. 5, after 6 p.m.

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