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Weather helping trout anglers

Sportsman’s Journal

Photo by Gene Pauszek Don Szwejbka instructs Nicholas Solares how to tie a fly while Willie Fedrick observes at a Monday night fly tying course at the “Con Club.”

The unseasonably warm weather has not been kind to those who indulge in winter sports, but has been great for trout anglers lately.

Rick Miller in Irving reports that trout anglers have been doing well in the smaller hard bottom creeks like Walnut and Silver Creek, but Cattaraugus Creek has been a bit high and murky lately. Those anglers who have been participating in the Angler Co-operative Diary Program indicate that the numbers of trout taken lately are very good. Many anglers also prefer to catch and release their fish. Miller also commented that no one has been out offshore for yellow perch as the wind has been working up the water a lot lately.

A quick ride by Canadaway Creek on Wednesday afternoon revealed that near the mouth of the creek the water had a green tinge green and was murky. The mouth of the creek was probably obstructed by wave action. There were a number of anglers present further upstream.

Mike Sperry from Chautauqua Reel Outdoors commented that there has been very little angling pressure on Chautauqua Lake lately with lots of wind, colder temperatures, and deer season contributing to the diminished action. Sperry did mention that trout anglers who frequent his store commented that the trout action in Chautauqua Creek is the best it’s been in 10 years. Mr. Sperry, who is also a guide on Chautauqua Lake, commented that the musky fishing on Chautauqua Lake as well as the walleye fishing were very good this year.

On a different note, readers may have noticed that in the Calendar section of this column, there are two opportunities for the public to learn how to tie fishing flies. All materials are provided free. One of the main components of tying flies are feathers. Not just any feathers, but those with specific patterns and properties. There is a neat magazine article on unique feathers that are genetically produced on a chicken farm for fly tying. The article is in the latest issue of Field & Stream magazine, which is probably available in many doctors’ offices or a public library.

Calendar:

Attention big game hunters! If you need help locating a big game animal, after exhausting all attempts to find it, call Deer Search at 648-4355. This is a volunteer service that will help, whenever possible, with a high percentage success rate. Our local chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation — the Lakeshore Long Beards — announced at the Wednesday meeting that the annual banquet/fundraiser will take place on Jan. 20, 2018. This is the 20-year anniversary for the Long Beards.

The Northern Chautauqua Conservation Club will continue this year with their Hunters Helping the Hungry program. Club members are urged to bring one non-perishable food item (canned food or water) on Tuesdays. This year, the need is greater than ever. Thank you for your help!

On Dec. 16-17, there will be a gun show at the Harborcreek Fire Department, Social Hall located at 7275 Buffalo Road, US Route 20, located between North East and Harborcreek, Pa.

On Jan. 27-28 there will be a gun show at Conneaut Lake, Pa., at the Conneaut Lake Sportsmans Association located at 11861 Sportsman Road (off Route 18).

Monday nights, free fly tying courses at the Northern Chautauqua Conservation Club are 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 in Dunkirk. Turn towards the lake at the Country Fair store located on Lakeshore Drive west (Route 5).

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 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 department 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., or email Sports@observertoday.com.

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