Chautauqua County has once again hosted a national-level sporting event. The National Walleye Tour has been enjoying Lake Erie off Dunkirk Harbor for the past several days. With major sponsors Cabela’s, Bass Pro Shops, Ranger Boats, Power-Pole, Mercury, and others, the event not only attracts top anglers it also attracts nationwide coverage. The Pursuit Channel and World Fishing Network have been streaming on-demand televised coverage through several platforms.

Professional walleye anglers have typically fished the waters of Lake Erie’s western basin, so this move to Dunkirk is something new for them. Not only is the Lake Erie shoreline in Chautauqua County beautiful, but walleye spawn early in the spring in the western part of Lake Erie where the reefs are shallow. As the water warms through the summer those fish migrate east, some traveling as far as Buffalo. In addition, just a handful of the 40 professional anglers competing in this year’s championship have had any experience trolling the eastern Lake Erie basin.

In a pre-event news conference Dunkirk Mayor Wilfred Rosas noted, “Lake Erie is one of the county’s top walleye destinations. This will be great for our local fishing community, and the area has great attractions that everyone can enjoy.”

Four qualifying events were held across the Midwest, as the top 40 pros and top 40 co-anglers competed to participate in this fabulous event. The Clarion Hotel and Conference Center hosted a welcome dinner, and the daily fish weigh-in was held on the Dunkirk Pier. A number of ancillary events helped to draw the community as spectators, including a free Kids Future Angler fishing clinic, and the final Music on the Pier summer concert. Congratulations to the City of Dunkirk and the organizers who worked to make this outstanding event possible.

The 50 miles of Lake Erie shoreline in Chautauqua County is a true asset for our entire region. Its scenic beauty is unmatched, and while much of that shore is privately owned, there are public access spaces including beaches and boat launches. But Lake Erie is much more than a recreational asset, it is also an economic driver for our region. The natural geography of the shoreline tempers the climate along Lake Erie, providing excellent growing conditions for grapes and other fruit, creating what is fertile ground for food and beverage producers regionwide.

From any point in Chautauqua County, you are never more than 20 minutes away from a body of water, whether it’s Lake Erie, Chautauqua Lake, the Cassadaga Lakes, Findley Lake, Bear Lake, or one of our scenic rivers or streams. While we still have summer weather conditions, consider spending some time along the Lake Erie shore in Chautauqua County. Whether it’s Sunset Bay, Wright Park or Point Gratiot in Dunkirk, Lake Erie State Park, or Barcelona Harbor, you’re certain to find a beautiful view and enjoy a great day on the water.

GET TICKETS NOW FOR HOPS AND POPS SEPTEMBER 15

The Dunkirk and Fredonia Community Chambers of Commerce proudly present Hops and Pops, a great evening of beer and wine tastings, to be held Thursday, September 15 at the Clarion Hotel & Conference Center, 30 Lake Shore Drive East in Dunkirk. Enjoy local wines, beers and appetizers! Samples will be available, and you can purchase by the bottle or the case while you are there. In addition, there will be five $100 prize drawings throughout the evening for a total of $500 – plus additional raffles and giveaways. The cost is $15 per person or two for $25. Proceeds help support the scholarship funds for the Dunkirk and Fredonia Community Chambers of Commerce. Hops and Pops is sponsored by Brooks-TLC-Kaleida Hospital System, Farrell Roofing, Jamestown Community College, and LaBella Associates. Buy tickets through the Chamber’s web calendar at www.chautauquachamber.org or call the Chamber at (716) 366-6200 or (716) 484-1101 for the ticket location nearest to you.

BUSINESS AFTER HOURS AT BEMUS POINT GOLF CLUB & TAP HOUSE SEPTEMBER 27

Join your fellow Chamber of Commerce members for a Business After Hours networking event and visit this charming spot in Bemus Point! The Bemus Point Golf Club & Tap House is at 72 Main Street in Bemus Point. Enjoy appetizers and a cash bar while you network with other businesspeople. Chamber member businesses can send two people at no cost. The price is $10 for non-member businesspeople or for additional member attendees above the two free. Be sure to bring business cards for our door prize drawings and come prepared to give a quick (30 second) overview about your business so other attendees can get to know you. Sponsors for this event are Bemus Point Golf Club & Tap House, DFT Communications, Media One Radio Group, OBSERVER, and The Post-Journal. Register now through the Chamber’s web event calendar at www.chautauquachamber.org. We look forward to seeing you there!

CONSIDER ADVERTISING IN THE SPECIAL CHAMBER OF COMMERCE EDITION

Preparations are underway for the annual Chautauqua County Chamber of Commerce Edition to be published September 15, 2022, in the OBSERVER, The Post-Journal, and Westfield Republican. This special publication features the people and businesses to be honored at the Chamber’s Annual Awards Banquet, which will be held October 6th at the Williams Center at SUNY Fredonia. Chamber award recipients will be announced shortly including the Economic Development Award, Person of the Year, and Community Service Awards from each of our Community Chambers in Dunkirk, Fredonia, Hanover, Jamestown, Mayville-Chautauqua, and Westfield-Barcelona. Advertising in the Annual Chamber of Commerce Edition provides additional recognition for your business, a great way to recognize the accomplishments of our awardees, and countywide exposure to over 29,000 readers with the potential to reach new customers. If you already have an advertising representative at the OBSERVER or The Post-Journal, contact them now to ask about special pricing for this edition. If not, call their advertising departments and tell them you want to participate in this publication as a Chamber member.