×

Beautiful weather is prime for good walleye/perch fishing

OBSERVER Photo by Gene Pauszek Bill Begier in the foreground and David Woodworth in the back at the Southtowns Walleye Association meeting on Thursday.

The Southtowns Walleye Association of Western New York held their monthly meeting last Thursday at their club located at 5895 Southwestern Boulevard, Hamburg. The meetings usually start at 7:30 p.m. and will feature typical announcements and club business, which is brought before the membership, which consists of numerous senior citizens, who all have a vast knowledge of walleye fishing. Just ask them.

This month had a good turn out, and the topic was just how good the walleye fishing on Lake Erie has been this year, and in particular most recently. Several items that may interest you readers is that there will be new tournament directors for 2018. One of the suggestions made was to increase the tournament fee from $75 to $90. The purpose is to increase the prize money for all the winners including the ones closer to the final “200” spot, which would potentially pay out $100 compared to $50. Increasing the Grand Prize structure is another possibility. The motion was met with a variety of opinions, so we will wait and see.

SWA President David “Woody” Woodworth, who has held office for 14 years also announced he was stepping down, unless his dear sweet wife would allow him to run another year. Her voice rang loud and clear from the kitchen, with a two syllable reply of “N.O.” Look for changes in the near future.

The guest speaker for the evening was Bill Begier from Bill’s Hooks. Bill helps run the family business with his mother Gerri and brother Pete, but Bill is also a Certified technician for Cannon downriggers and Minn Kota trolling motors. Bill admitted he is not a public speaker, but he is honest, hard working and good at his trade.

He offered common sense advice: Fishermen should remove their motor propellors periodically and check for wear from fishing line and other debris. Spare propellers are readily available. Carry extra batteries for I pilot devices and use the garden hose for cleaning maintenance on foot pedal controls. Cannon downriggers can be usually repaired and upgraded for long time service. The new electric riggers are very dependable and scary fast on retrieval.

In addition, Bill commented that you should be sure to register your new equipment, and purchase extended warranties a month or so before the current warranty ends. The highlight of the presentation was when numerous “customers” stepped up and announced how pleased they were with Bill’s work, integrity, service and extended that same courtesy to his mom Gerri Begier. Bill’s Hooks has been a generous benefactor to local fishing tournaments and events for a long time. Bill in his soft spoken manner replied, “Thanks!”

Calendar:

The Lakewood Rod & Gun Club will be holding their annual gun raffle on Sept. 24 starting at 1 p.m. The event will take place at the club located on Terrace Avenue in Lakewood. It’s open to the public.

Monday night free fly tying courses will resume on Monday at the Northern Chautauqua Conservation Club from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m. Tying vises, instruction and materials are all provided free No registration is necessary. The Northern Chautauqua Conservation Club is located on Mullet Street Dunkirk. Turn towards the lake at the Country Fair store located on Lakeshore Drive west (Route 5).

There will be a pistol course at the Con Club on Sept. 27 from 5:30 p.m. until 10:30 p.m. There is a mandatory fee of $75 for taking this course. Call Dudek at 366-3397 for more information.

The Children of the Stream Youth Fly Fishing Program will be starting its 18th year of providing weekly free fly tying and fly fishing classes to both youths and adults in our area. Classes will be on Tuesday evenings starting on Aug. 29 from 7 p.m. until 8:30 p.m. at the Costello Community Room (P84) in the new addition to the Rockefeller Arts Center at SUNY Fredonia. You do not need any prior experience to attend these classes and the course is geared towards ages 10 and older. For more information contact Alberto Rey at 410-7003 or alberto@albertorey.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.

Newsletter

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)
Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper? *
   

Starting at $4.62/week.

Subscribe Today