Photo by Gene Pauszek Chautauqua County Sportsmans Federation’s Zen Olow, left, along with County Executive George Borello, right, present the Jim Nichols family members with a tribute plaque at the annual Harry Probst memorial banquet held at the Lakewood Rod & Gun Club on Monday.

The weather has finally started to warm up and so has the fishing.

Offshore anglers reported locating yellow perch off Evangola State Park on Sunday, with many anglers reporting near-limit catches. Monday the fishing was okay, and by Wednesday, the catches declined. The target area was reportedly 52 feet of water.

Live bait is not an issue with Rick Miller in Irving and Lee Weber in Derby both reporting good stock piles of emerald shiners.

Jim Markham at the DEC Fisheries station commented that the steelhead fishing off the city of Dunkirk Pier has slowed down, but anglers have been finding success in local streams, as well as further east. 18 Mile and Buffalo Creek were showing good runs of trout closer to the lake, rather than further inland.

Skip Bianco at Hogan’s Hut/Stow reports that the calico/perch bite was good over the weekend, but slowed down by Wednesday. The channels are still producing fish but the better bite has now moved offshore. Ashville, Tri James, and near the boat launch area at Lakewood have been decent for shore line fishing. Bullheads have been hitting on Chautauqua Lake also. Bianco commented that anglers are anticipating a good year for walleye on Chautauqua Lake this year too. A few incidental walleye have been hooked while trout fishing in Goose Creek. As of Wednesday, the small-mouth bass have not yet invaded the shallows but that will change soon.

Rick Miller in Irving reported that there are docks in at Hidden Harbor, and none yet at the town or state launch, but that may change soon. If you do plan on heading offshore, take it easy as there is lots of debris floating near the shoreline.

Calendar: There will be a 3-D archery shoot at the Bear Lake Rod & Gun Club on April 29. Call Rudy at 397-9717 for information.

There will be a pistol course at the Northern chautauqua Conservation Club this Sunday, April 29 from 2:30 p.m. until 7:30 p.m. There is a an $80 fee for this course. Call Gary Dudek at 366-3397 for more information.

The Northern Chautauqua Conservation Club will present their annual Take-A-Kid Fishing event on Saturday June 2, from 8 a.m. until noon. There is a $10 fee for this event. First time attendees will receive their own rod & reel outfit which they keep. Veterans to this event will receive a grab bag of tackle. All youths will receive a T-shirt. The day’s activities start with fishing from 8 a.m. until 10 a.m. Then there will be activities and food at the “Con Club.” ALL youths must be accompanied by a parent or adult. Mandatory registration is available at the Northern Chautauqua Conservation Club. Questions? Call 366-1772 and leave a phone number, when necessary.

Cassadaga Lakes Association will host its 25th annual Lew Meade Memorial Youth Fishing tournament on Saturday June 23 on Cassadaga Lake. This event is open to the public for age groups 7 years old and under, 8-10, 11-13 and 14-16 years old. Fishing will be from 7 a.m. until 11 a.m. Trophies will be presented in each age group and for boys and girls. In addition, first place winners will receive their own kayaks. For more information call Steve Wickmark at 595-2900.

Monday night, free fly tying courses at the Northern Chautauqua Conservation Club are from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m. Tying vises, instruction and materials are all provided free. No registration is necessary. The Northern Chautauqua Conservation Club is located on Mullet Street in Dunkirk. Turn towards the lake at the Country Fair store located on Lakeshore Drive West (Route 5).

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. Classes are Wednesday evenings from 7 p.m. until 8:30 p.m. 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.

The Great Lakes Experience Festival in Dunkirk will return this year on June 9 from 11 a.m. until 5 p.m. The event will once again be held in Memorial Park. More details at a later date.

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