OBSERVER Photo by Gene Pauszek DEC fisheries personnel, Rich Zimar and Captain Doug Zeller, were cleaning fish and taking walleye samples at the Dunkirk boat launch on Tuesday to the delight of successful fishermen.

Summer weather has turned the walleye bite on for anglers who have been heading west recently, but yellow perch is still a no-show.

Successful walleye anglers report doing good on walleyes fishing straight out of Dunkirk and Westfield. Many reports include using stick baits (renosky, bombers etc.) in various colors, on a variety of presentations including five or more colors of lead core line, snap weights, dipsey divers, wire line and down riggers. Worm harnesses will still earn their place in the cooler too.

Rick Miller in Irving reported that a few anglers have been fishing out of the “Cat”, but success stories are silent with the weekend Sunset Bay Shoot-Out walleye tournament set for this Friday and Saturday. Note that Friday is Big Fish Friday, an optional event, Saturday is the main event.

Skip Bianco at Hogan’s Hut/Stow reports that the walleye fishing continues to be good along the weed line. Bass fishing is good along shore line structure including most docks, and the yellow perch bite has slowed down a bit. Lake Erie yellow perch has been almost non-existent for most anglers. Look for a report on Big Fish Friday in the Saturday OBSERVER.

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 runner-ups. Shooters are not required to shoot both days. The tournament will consist of 30 McKenzie life-size animal targets are set to the yardage guidelines 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.

Calendar:

The next meeting of the Southtowns Walleye Association is on Thursday, July 19, at the club located at 5895 Southwestern Boulevard, Hamburg. Start time is 7:30 p.m. and meetings are open to the public.

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.

Here is a summer fishing tournament for the weekend warrior or the veteran angler called the NYS Summer Classic Tournament. For details, rules and regulations go to: info@fksportfishing.com or call the tournament director, Tim Thomas, at (585) 330-0494.

There will be a pistol course at the Northern Chautauqua Conservation Club on Thursday, July 20, from 5:30 p.m. until 10:30 p.m. There is a $75 fee for this course. For information and registration call Gary Dudek at 366-3397.

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 7th Annual Sunset Bay Walleye Shootout is July 22 with an optional Big Fish Friday on July 21. For details call Don Ruppert at 498-7770 or Bob Rustowitz at 830-6394.

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 an 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.