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Deer season opens, but don’t sleep on fishing just yet

Sportsman’s Journal

OBSERVER Photo by Gene Pauszek Louis Marrara of Hamburg and Joann Ehrhardt tagged two nice bucks, within 15 minutes of each other on opening day in Pomfret.

After opening day (weekend), Thanksgiving Day becomes the second busiest day of deer season. You old timers can remember when opening day used to start on a Monday. Times have changed and public outcry petitioned that opening day be moved to a Saturday, to allow more hunters to have access. Turkey Day has now become the second busiest day being a national holiday, again allowing more hunters to have time off to get into the woods. Hopefully the weather will cooperate.

The temperature is supposed to start dropping into the freeze range, which in turn could have a big impact on fishing on Chautauqua Lake and other in-land waterways. Skip Bianco from Hogan’s Hut/Stow commented before deer season started, the anglers were “slamming” the walleye in deep water, when they could get out there. Shore line walleyes after dark, could be on the prowl, but that fishing has all but tapered off.

Shore line yellow perch was also great, with lots of fish in the channels especially by Tri -James. Skip commented he and his partner culled through 100 fish to get 30 keepers. The perch were feeding heavily on sun fish fry. Small golden shiners were the preferred bait, but small worms would work also. With the cold spell in the forecast, that fishery, will probably be on hold until safe ice forms. Use caution!

Rick Miller in Irving commented that the smaller creeks are still giving up some nice trout and steelhead. In addition, occasionally lake trout are being caught off the breakwall at the creeks mouth. Miller also commented that there was a flurry of walleye and trout activity in the Niagara River, near Ferry Street, recently.

Several anglers fishing the Dunkirk Pier commented that they hook up with trout once in awhile, and one angler commented he landed a nice lake trout while fishing off Barcelona Pier. It may be worth your while to target walleye near the inner breakwalls and similar structure this time of year. Walleye often return to their shallower spring time haunts during the late fall. There are a lot of small shad in the harbor, which is prime forage and for pre-ice walleye. Try fishing live bait under a bobber, or casting a shad rap, or better yet, trolling along the rip rap. Remember to wear a life preserver this time of year. Hunt and fish safe! Happy Thanksgiving!

Calendar: There will be a pistol course at the Northern Chautauqua Conservation Club on Sunday, Nov. 25 from 2:30 p.m. until 7:30 p.m. There is a mandatory $80 fee for taking this class. To register or for more information call Gary at 366- 3397.

Conservation Club members are asked to bring a non-perishable food item to the club on Tuesdays during hunting season for the Hunters Helping the Hungry program. All canned food items will be donated to charity during the Christmas holidays. Thanks!

The Lakeshore Longbeards, our local chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation, will be having their next meeting on Tuesday, at Liberty Vineyards Winery, located on Route 20 in Sheridan. The agenda will include the introduction of the new Regional Director Brain Gottfried, as well as a look at what will be available for the 2019 membership drive/fundraiser. The banquet date has been set for Saturday, Jan. 19. The meetings are always open to the public.

On Saturday, Dec. 29, from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m., the Erie County Trappers Association, will be conducting a free trappers seminar at the Colins Conservation Club located at 2633 Conger Road, Collins, N.Y. The show will have lots of activities pertaining to how to handle your pelts, furs, and similar activities. There will also be other activities like raffles, games for the kids, fur hats and trapping supplies for sale, and the kitchen will be open. This is a free event. For more information contact Patti at 337-2556.

Free Monday night fly tying instruction has resumed on Monday nights at the Northern Chautauqua Conservation Club, located at Mullet Street in Dunkirk. Classes are for all levels of fly tying, but especially for beginners. No equipment is necessary. All participants get to keep their productions. Classes are from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m. The classes are open to the public. Sometimes they even have homemade cookies!

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.

On Dec. 8 and 9, a gun show at Harbor Creek Fire Dept. Social Hall, located at 7275 Buffalo Road, US Route 20 located between North East, PA and Harbor Creek, PA. For details or information, contact Larry Spicer at 716-792-9972 or go to LRgunshows@gmail.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

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