There were 90 teams that reported to the scales on the first day of competition. Who wants to start a three day total weight event with a score of 00.0? After the first day of competition, it was pretty clear that in order to have a chance to place in the top five slots for three day total weight, a team would need a first day weight over 12.0 pounds. Yesterday, Boat 47 lead by Captain Brad Milleville came in with three walleye weighing 12.36 pounds. On Saturday, the same team pulled down the scales with a total weight of 25.03 pounds. They had the heaviest walleye of the day weighing 9.15 pounds, an eight pounder and a heavy seven pounder. They won the Big fish of Saturday prize, the biggest total box prize and will most likely have fish in the heaviest 15 walleye of the tournament.

Captain Cindy Ciszkowski of Boat 15 weighed in the second heaviest walleye on Saturday at 8.99 pounds. She and her husband John along with Ed Stechenfinger had a day one total weight of 16.06 pounds and a Saturday total weight of 18.05 pounds for a two day total of 34.11 pounds.

Dennis Gaul entered the third heaviest walleye Saturday at 8.75 while Russel Tenamore was fourth with an 8.69 pound entry. Gregg Marczec the G-Man crew Captain had an 8.64 entry while Charles Frazier had 8.54 and John Ferdinand weighed 8.52 pounds. Herb Schultz, who leads the derby with the only ten pounder at 10.31 also weighed in an 8.15 entry on Saturday. Former derby winner Dan Sobczak weighed in a 8.56 pounder and Bob Rustowicz weighed in an 8.08 entry. TJ Brown just missed the 8 pound mark with a 7.98 entry.

Consistently finding heavy fish in the 6 and 7 pound range will help with total weight. Ron Duliba Jr. is in first place for total weight at 39.76 pounds followed by Garry Olsen Jr. with 38.73 pounds. Next is Rustowicz with a 38.31 total , then Gregg Marczec with 38.24. The fifth spot is held by Thomas Slawatycki with 38.03. This competition is going to be very close. Sunday is the last day and it is a short one ending at 1 p.m. sharp. All competitors MUST be in line by 1 p.m. The weigh-in will conclude after all fish have been weighed. Winners will most likely be announced around 3 p.m. As of Saturday, 525 fish have been weigh-in with an average weight of 4.51 pounds. On Saturday, 17 teams chose not to weigh-in fish. Most every team reported catching over 15 fish daily and most teams caught at least one big lake trout. Lake Erie is AWESOME!!!! Go fish. Come down to the Conservation Club on Sunday and join in the fun. Look for the final results in the Monday edition of the OBSERVER.

OBSERVER Photo by Gene Pauszek Ed Stechenfinger along with Captain Cindy Ciszkowski and her husband John had the second heaviest walleye on Saturday that weighed 8.99 pounds for a total weight of 18.05 pounds.

Calendar: The Cattaraugus County Sportsmans Rendezvous held at the Cattaraugus County Fairgrounds. Little Valley N.Y. is scheduled to take place Friday August 10 from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. Saturday from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. and conclude on Sunday Aug. 12 from 8 a.m. until 3 p.m. Admission is $5 per car, per day. Camping and parking available. Saturday night is the auction and Social Hour, with NO alcoholic beverages vended. For more information contact Kevin Parker at (716)- 474-7251, Brian Davis at 945-4223, or Matt Spittler at 359- 5141.

The National Wild Turkey Federation Youth Day event “JAKES Day” is back in business and will be held Rain or Shine on Saturday, Aug. 18 from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. Registration starts at 9 a.m. the same day. Some of the learning stations will include, hunter safety, one-on-one shooting of guns, bows, and fishing . Included will be how to call turkey and deer. Each of the Jakes will construct their own bird house which they get to take home. Lunch will be provided for everyone. Registration fee is $10 per child. Make checks out to the Lakeshore Longbeards of N.W.T.F. Open to the public!

Aug. 7, 8, and 9, several Outdoor Writers will be in the area to sample some of our tremendous fishery, scenery, cuisine, and hospitality.

Wednesday, Aug. 8 the Eastern Lake Erie Charter Association in connection with the Northern Chautauqua Conservation Club, will be hosting the annual VIP Day, where local and state level politicians as well as various administrators, who play a role in protecting/influencing our environment are invited to a half a day of fishing on Lake Erie, complete with a friendly competition for who catches the largest walleye ,capped off with a fish fry with all the trimmings. Invitation only.

It will be Kid’s Day on Aug. 16 at the next Southtowns Walleye Association monthly meeting held at 5895 Southwestern Boulevard, Hamburg. Starting at 6 p.m. before the regular scheduled meeting, they will have Bay Rat lure painting, casting board competition and bracelet making, plus hot dogs and burgers for sale, and make your own free ice cream sundae. Please RSVP to KidsKorner@southtowns walleye .com or call Amy at 716-225-6999.

OBSERVER Photo by Gene Pauszek Brad Milleville, with Stephen and Jim Perri weighed a three walleye total weight of 25.03 pounds, with a 9.15 pound walleye, the big fish on Saturday.

Aug. 25 is the Innovative Outdoors Walleye Challenge out of Dunkirk. A one day tournament with optional Big Fish Friday on Aug. 24. Limited to 65 boats. Contact Jim Steel at 481-5348 or go to lakeeriewalleyetournament.com. Last chance to scratch your Lake Erie walleye tournament itch.

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. Note that classes will switch from Wednesday evenings from 7 p.m. until 8:30 p.m. to Tuesday evenings 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 366-1772, 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.