Photo by Gene Pauszek The DEC fisheries have been busy lately stocking lake trout that are shipped from the Allegheny fish hatchery, then transported by the DEC vessel Argo to deeper water.

Warm weather has finally set in and the fishing has been pretty good.

Bass anglers are reportedly finding bass along the entire Lake Erie shoreline up to and including the 20 foot mark. Walleye anglers continue to find active walleye near traditional walleye spawning spots after hours. Long line trolling stick baits like straight size 11 or 13 rapalas in black and silver/black and gold, or perch flavor, are good starting points.

Van Buren reef is a local favorite as well as off Lake Erie State Park. If conditions allow, try anchoring and casting, when the fish are stacked up. Anglers have also been able to hook up with walleye during the daytime by moving further offshore in 30 to 45 feet of water and fishing along the bottom. As an added incentive, the Department of Environmental Conservation Fisheries has jaw tagged a number of walleye, and inserted radio transmitters, that are worth a cash reward if caught and returned.

Rick Miller in Irving reports that anglers have been doing decent on yellow perch lately, weather permitting by launching out of Cattaraugus Creek and heading east towards the “white wall” area in depths of 50 to 60 feet. Golden shiners are the most popular bait offered lately with the lack of emerald shiners.

Skip Bianco at Hogan’s Hut offered that Chautauqua Lake has been very good at night for walleye, for anglers long line trolling after dark. During the daytime, try trolling ultra slow along the weedlines with small spinners. Yellow perch have slowly started to show up, and bullheads are everywhere. Muskies have also moved into the shallows . Muskie season opens on the last Saturday of May and allows for a one per day harvest, a minimum of 40 inches in length. Skip also commented that white bass are also showing up, while the calicos have become harder to find, showing a preference for insects lately. Bass fishing on Chautauqua Lake has also been excellent. The season on bass statewide opens up on the third Saturday of June. Walleye are also reportedly showing up in the tailwaters of Quaker Lake.

Calendar: If you enjoy taking a ride around the Dunkirk City Pier, year round, or fishing from the pier be sure to attend the public viewing of the “Concepts” proposed for improvements/enhancements to that area. The “concepts” will be on display at the Dunkirk High School cafeteria on Thursday, May 24 at 6 p.m.. This meeting will be open to the public. Boaters and fishermen are suggested to attend.

The Southtowns Walleye Association will be having a monthly meeting Thursday at 7:30 p.m. at their club located at 5895 Southwestern Boulevard, Hamburg. Speakers at the meeting will include Okuma Fishing, and Eye-Fish. The meetings are open to the public and there is a kitchen and bar available.

Bear Lake R&G will host a rimfire shoot on May 27. For information, contact Tom Kessler at 680-0209.

There will be a safe boating course held on May 19 at the Northern Chautauqua Conservation Club starting at 7:30 a.m.

The Eastern Lake Erie Charter Boat Association will hold its monthly meeting on Friday, May 18, starting at 7 p.m. The meetings are open to the public and are held at the Northern Chautauqua Conservation Club.

The Northern Chautauqua Conservation Club will present its 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 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 kayak. For more information call Steve Wickmark at 595-2900.

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. Note that Classes will SWITCH from Wednesday evenings from 7 p.m. until 8:30 p.m., to Tuesday evenings 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.