OBSERVER Photo by Gene Pauszek Team Dances with Fish: Jeff Caparco, Rich Eggleston, Ron Duliba Jr. and Jason Biffaro, caught the second heaviest walleye during the Sunset Bay Shoot out last Saturday, weighing 9.33 pounds, held by William Duliba.

The walleye fishing on Lake Erie and Chautauqua Lake remains good for those able to find the time to go angling during Fair week.

Rick Miller in Irving reports that anglers have been successful fishing for walleye around the 65-foot depth west of the mouth of the “Cat,” toward St. Columban’s. Skip Bianco at Hogan’s Hut commented that the yellow perch bite has slowed down on Chautauqua Lake, but the walleye bite is awesome with worm harnesses, jigging techniques, and diving crank bait all producing fish along the weed edges and near deeper water. The bass bite cooled down with the last cold front and muskies have been up and down.

One angler commented they witnessed a nice catch of 16 walleye on Wednesday at the Chadwick Bay Marina fish cleaning station and one large lake trout, with the smallest “eye” about 7 pounds. This anglers got a chance to take his family — daughter Rebecca, son -in-law Rich and grand daughter Rachel — out last Sunday evening after 4 p.m.

They targeted the 60-to-77-foot depths in front of Dunkirk. It was multiple rod walleye fishing class 101 that covered set-up and driving the boat. They were on shore at 7:30 p.m. as planned and boated three keeper walleye, released one and lost several, including a 20-pound lake trout behind the boat that took a worm harness, presented on seven colors of lead core line in 67 feet of water. They had a good time and daughter Rebecca coined a new fishing term, “Worm Germ,” when she declined her husband’s suggestion that she bait her own lure.

When talking about Lake Erie yellow perch most anglers reply, “Don’t ask!” However, on several occasions, I have noticed what could possibly be yellow perch in 63 to 73 feet of water off the light house. Sometimes the fish are suspended a few feet from the bottom and we did catch incidental perch while targeting walleye. Worms might make a decent bait alternative now that emerald shiners are seldom available.

Stop by the conservation building while visiting the Chautauqua County Fair this week and register for a free fishing rod & reel combo. No gimmicks and they give away a fishing outfit each day!

Calendar:

The Bear Lake Rod & Gun Club is proud to host the Archery Shooters Association (ASA) New York Federation Championship. This 3-D archery event will include shooters from all of New York, Pennsylvania and Ontario, Canada. This special event will be held in conjunction with the regular 3-D archery shoot with an addition of Saturday, July 29, from noon until 4 p.m. Registration on Sunday, July 30, from 8 a.m. until 1 p.m. Winners of each class will receive ASA state championship belt buckles and plaques for the runners up. Shooters are not required to shoot both days. The tournament will consist of 30 McKenzie life-size animal targets set to the yardage guidelines set by the ASA. Unique to this event is that the ASA speed limit will not be enforced, nor is membership in the ASA required. A $25 entry fee is required to compete in the state championship and your meal is included. Those archers only wishing to shoot the club shoot will be required to pay the usual cost of $12. The Bear Lake Club located at 4391 Stockton Cassadaga Road in Stockton has been making numerous improvements to the club and the course during the past five years. The public is invited to attend and observe novice- and professional-level 3-D archery competition. Food and beverage will be available during the event. For further information contact Rudy Abersold at 397-9717.

The Chautauqua Watershed Conservancy will be giving a seminar at the Northern Chautauqua Conservation Club on Sunday, Aug. 20. Continue reading this column for further details.

The Bear Lake Rod & Gun Club will host a .22 caliber pistol or rifle “spinner target” course on Aug. 5 and Sept. 9, from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. Cost is $10 per person and includes a hot dog or hamburger, chips and a non-alcoholic beverage. Open to the public. The Bear Lake Club will also host a 3-D archery shoot on July 30 from 8 a.m. until 1 p.m. On Saturday, Aug. 19, the BLR&G Club will host Chappy Outdoors, a 3-D benefit shoot with a 9 a.m. shotgun start. Contact Rudy Abersold at 397-9717 for information. All shoots are open to the public contact Rob at 485-3773, Tom at 680-0209 or the Club at 595-3334. The Bear Lake Club is located at 4391 Cassadaga-Stockton Road, Stockton 14784.

The Northern Chautauqua three-day walleye tournament will be held Aug. 4-6. For details, contact Zen Olow at 640-2776.

The Innovative Outdoors Walleye Challenge from Chadwick Bay Marina is Aug. 26, with optional Big Fish Friday. For details contact Jim Steel at 983-7867 or visit https://lakeeriewalleyetournament.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, N.Y. 14048, or call the sports dept. 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.