OBSERVER Photo by Gene Pauszek Pictured from left are Steve Colley, Ron Duliba, Leon Archer and Wade Robertson display part of their catch during the 2017 VIP day on Lake Erie, Wednesday morning.

Now is the time of year to fish for walleye! Lake Erie is loaded with walleye in the 14- to 18-inch range, with older year class walleye also available. Anglers in last week’s walleye competition held by the Northern Chautauqua Conservation Club, showed that there are loads of walleye, once you get offshore in waters deeper than 75 feet.

To be legal size, walleye have to be 15 inches in length, and that is the rub. There are times when even the best anglers will run into sub-legal size walleye before they locate larger fish. Carefully releasing these tasty fish will bode well for next years Lake Erie fishery.

At the Wednesday VIP annual outing, numerous boats were able to connect with walleyes in a variety of sizes before the noon deadline.

One boat connected with 20 keeper-sized “Eyes” released 10 sub-legal fish and boated a bonus steelhead in a half-day of fishing. Ron Duliba was utilizing dipsey divers on wire line, towing stick baits, as well as six colors of lead core line off side planners, and smaller sized spoons with short leads off the downriggers. At times, he had three fish on at once, much to the delight of his crew of outdoor writers, which included Leon Archer, Wade Robertson, Steve Colley and myself. Numerous other members of the Eastern Lake Erie Charter Association also reported with walleye from waters generally off Dunkirk in depths of 80 to 100 feet plus. Look for this fishing to continue for awhile.

Chautauqua lake continues to produce walleye as well as bass in the shallows near structure, and the muskie bite has improved recently also. Yellow perch are missing in action, but could show up later as the Fall season approaches.

Don’t forget archery season is right around the corner and you still have time to sharpen yours skills.

Calendar:

The Cattaraugus County Sportsmans Rendezvous takes place Aug. 11, from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m., Aug. 12 from 8 a.m. until 6 p.m. and Sunday Aug. 13, from 8 a.m. until 3 p.m. at the Cattaraugus County Fairgrounds in Little Valley. Admission is $5 per car per day. Camping is permitted. This event will feature gun dealers, trapping supplies, trapping demos taxidermy dealers, mountain man encampment, and a trapping class if you sign up on the DEC website. Saturday will offer the Trapper’s Chicken BBQ, with other venders also on site. No Alcoholic beverages vended. Saturday night is auction night. For more information contact Kevin Parker or text at 474-7251. Look for the “Big Buck” display also!

The Cattaraugus County Sheriff’s office will be holding a bow hunters education course on Monday, Sept. 4 and Wednesday, Sept. 6, from 4:30 to 9:30 p.m. each day at Hideaway Archery in Dayton. Two-day attendance mandatory for certification. No charge for the course. Participants should be 12 or older, however students age 11 must be accompanied by a parent both days. Class is limited to 35 students. Bring identification, pen or pencil, snacks and a beverage. Mandatory pre-registration at www.register-ed.com. For more information contact the Sheriff’s Office, The DEC at 372-0645, and pick up the course material at Hideaway Archery, or the Sheriff’s Office or print online.

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.

The Bear Lake Rod & Gun Club will host a .22 caliber pistol or rifle “spinner target” course on 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. 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. They will also host a hunter safety training course on Aug. 23 and 24 from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. both days, two-day course mandatory.

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.