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Recent cold spell has spooked the fish

Sportsman’s Journal

Photo by Gene Pauszek Access on the Dunkirk City pier has been restricted lately due to construction.

The recent cold spell has cooled down a hot bite locally. Area streams are worth checking out, but you may have to look a little harder for fish. Lower water levels and clear water conditions will put the fish in the spooky mode, so slow down your approach and avoid noise detection. Since the State wide trout opener, many anglers have headed inland. The Cassadaga Creek outlet was stocked earlier this week. Rick Miller in Irving reports that local creeks like Silver and Walnut Creek are still productive and Cattaraugus Creek has been fishable, too. Some anglers have found trout success casting spoons at the mouths of area streams. Goose Creek has been invaded with walleye, now that the walleye season is closed, until the first Saturday in May.

Skip Bianco at Hogan’s Hut/Stow reports that crappie fishing has been up and down, along with the temperature. The night bite in the canals has seen bigger fish at times, and the bull head bite has been coming on slowly. Daytime fishing on Chautauqua Lake has seen some action at Mayville, Burtis Bay, Maple Springs and along the bridge.

The City of Dunkirk Pier is currently being remodeled. Vehicle access onto the pier is restricted, but there has been some angling sighted on the pier. Lake Erie ice cover is evident offshore out of Dunkirk and a lot of the ice has moved east towards Silver Creek. Note that the docks at the Chadwick Bay marina/Dunkirk boat launch took a pounding during the winter. The floating docks at the launch are partially underwater, also. Be prepared if you come for an outing.

Calendar: The Department of Environmental Conservation in co-operation with NYS Assemblyman Sean Ryan and The Southtowns Walleye Association, will be presenting the New York Sea Grants State of Lake Erie meeting today, April 11, from 7 p.m. until 9 p.m. Topics covered will include the status of cold water communities by DEC biologist Jim Markham, warm water fish communities by NYSDEC Unit leader Jason Robinson, an update on Barotrauma in Lake Erie Perch by Jesse Lepak of Sea Grant, and Inspiring Environmental Leadership and Stewardship by Sandy Smith from Nichols School Faculty. The presentation is free and open to the public and will be at the Southtowns Walleye club located at 5895 Southwestern Blvd, Hamburg.

On April 13-14, there will be a gun show at Ashtabula County Fairgrounds (Ashtabula County Expo Center Building), 127 North Elm Street, Jefferson, Ohio. Show hours are from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sunday. Call Larry at 792-9972 for information or go to LRsportingEvents.com.

The Bear Lake Rod & Gun Club will host a hunter Safety Training course on Saturday, April 13 from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. To register for this one day course you must register online at NYS DEC Hunter Bowhunter-Trapper Ed Course Sign Up Link. For questions go to vince@villageofwestfield.org or call 753-6347.

The NYS Youth Wild Turkey Hunting weekend is April 20-21.

The Chautauqua County Sportsmen Federation Banquet will be held on Monday April 22 at Lake Wood Rod & Gun Club For tickets or information call 640-2776 or 499-8346.

The Greater Lewiston Smelt Festival will be held on May 3, at the Lewiston Landing starting at 5 p.m. Go to www.niagarariverregion.com for details.

On May 5, The Chautauqua Lake Walleye OPEN Tournament, Chautauqua Bassmasters at Long Point Park. Contact Mike Russo at (716)- 640-6915 for details.

On May 11, Bison City Tackle Swap-flea Market from 8 a.m.- 1 p.m. Contact Willie Sieber at 626-0660 for details.

May 18 is The Southtowns Walleye Association Perch Tournament from 7 a.m.- 2 p.m. Must be a member. Call 649-8202 for details.

May 19 is the Crappie Team OPEN at Chautauqua Lake. Contact Mike Russo at 640-6915 for info.

From May 10-19, Lake Ontario Counties (LOC) Spring Trout and Salmon Derby. Info call 1-888-REEL-2-IN. or www.loc.org.

Free Monday night fly tying instruction has resumed 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! Note that The Children of the Stream Youth Fly Fishing Program have changed the dates to their program to Mondays from 7 p.m. until 8 p.m. at the Costello Community Room (P84) in the new addition to the Rockefeller Arts Center at SUNY Fredonia. This program is in its 18th year of providing weekly free fly tying and fly fishing classes to both youths and adults in our area. 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.

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