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Ice fishing successful off Hamburg

Photo by Gene Pauszek Here are members of Operation Big Dip in action off the Northern Chautauqua Conservation Club and Bart’s Cove last Saturday.

Ice fishing has extended to Lake Erie off Hamburg, according to recent reports. The ice has been safe enough for snow machines to make it out to productive water and the yellow pike are outnumbering the yellow perch being caught. Rick Miller in Irving commented that he has had customers purchasing bait and heading out.

Local creeks are still iced up, at least near their mouths, but warming temperatures could open up some productive water later in the daytime, if you try further upstream.

Lee Weber in Derby confirmed the ice fishing success in Hamburg, commenting that there have been several reports of limit catches of walleye and some fish in the 8-pound range. Live minnows seem to be the ticket. No clear picture on what productive depth to key on, but the fish seem to be active at a variety of depths.

The Dunkirk harbor was the scene for a multi unit ice rescue response drill last Saturday. A rescue boat was launched at the Chadwick Bay Marina, and numerous other participants engaged off the launch site of the Northern Chautauqua Conservation Club, and another team was located off Bart’s Cove. The theme for the operation, titled “Big Dip,” was “BE SAFE! Wear a life jacket.” The ice craft used for the rescue service will usually head out to pick up anyone who falls through the ice, but they are also used to transport the dive team to the site if needs be, to save time and energy. It was pretty impressive to watch.

On Chautauqua Lake, Skip Bianco from Hogan’s Hut/Stow reports that the ice fishing action had slowed down on Chautauqua Lake lately but started to pick up again on Tuesday into Wednesday. A few keeper sized walleye were reported taken fairly shallow off Long Point.

Calendar: The Northern Chautauqua Conservation Club’s annual Sportsman’s party will be held Saturday Feb. 3. starting at 6 p.m. Anyone who was in the fishing or hunting contest is invited. Bring a dish to pass if possible. A limited amount of guests are also allowed for a $10 fee.

Our local chapter of Ducks Unlimited will be holding their annual membership/fund raiser banquet on Feb. 24 at the Beaver Club. There are about 25 tickets left. Contact Ron Romance or any committee members soon.

The Friends of the NRA will be holding their banquet, also on Feb. 24, at the American Legion Samuel Derby Post 556, located at 9 Meadow Lane, Frewsburg. Dinner is from 5-6:30 p.m. For more information contact Jennifer Schmitt at 487-2487 or email chautauquacountyfriendsofnra@yahoo.com.

The next gun show is March 3-4 at Hickory Post VFW located at 5550 East State Street, Hermitage, Pa.

Another gun show will be on March 17-18 at the Harborcreek Fire Department Social Hall located at 7275 Buffalo Road between North East and Harborcreek, Pa.

On April 14 and 15, there will be a gun show at Ashtabula County Fair Grounds at the Expo Center Building located at 127 North Elm St., Jefferson, Ohio. For more information, contact Larry Spicer at 792-9972 or LRgunshows@gmail.com

The Seneca Allegany Casino Events Center will host the annual Outdoor Show on Feb. 24-25. Log on enchantedmountains.com for more information.

There will be a Sportsmen Flea/Yard sale at the Northern Chautauqua Conservation Club on Sunday, March 4 from noon until 5 p.m. Bring or look for old-new fishing, hunting, Trapping, camping equipment etc. NO GUNS. Call Paul at 680-4629 for information.

The Western New York Sport & Travel Expo held at the Erie County Fairgrounds in Hamburg will be a four day event from March 8-11. Check out eriepromotions.com for more information.

The first annual Lake Erie Outdoor & Fishing Show is scheduled for April 21 at the Clarion Hotel Marina & Conference Center from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. They are still looking for vendors. Call 366-3000 ext. 420 or email mpatton@observertoday.com.

Monday night, 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 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 were on Tuesday evenings, but will now be held on Wednesday 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, NY 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 366-177, 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.

photo 1)Participating members of operation Big Dip –“Be Safe, Wear a life jacket” were in action off the Northern Chautauqua Conservation Club and Bart’s Cove last Saturday.

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