OBSERVER Photo by Gene Pauszek From left: Canadian based Team “Mid River,” consisting of Eric Pytlik, Andrew Pytlik, Captain Jeff Bognar and Roy Hryckowian, won Rayzor’s Big Dawg Walleye tournament last weekend with five walleye that collectively weighed over 42 pounds.

Northeasterly wind tends to bring unproductive fishing results on Lake Erie, or so it may seem. Judging by the results of the Rayzor’s Big Dawg Walleye Classic last weekend, the offshore fishery was setting up for a good bite. The fish were staged up in 60 to 70 feet of water, all the way from in front of the “Cat” all the way west. The results of the Classic indicated that the heavier walleye were across on the Canadian side, and west of Van Buren, but by Saturday evening the Northeasterly winds turned the lake over and resulted in cold water moving to the top. Walleye — by many reports — were scattered and the yellow perch bite also cooled down. Choppy water has kept smaller boats off the lake by late morning lately, but walleye catching reports indicate that fishing west from Van Buren towards the Portland water tower and sticking to 60 to 70 feet of water is a good starting point.

Many anglers are reporting marking solid lines of suspected walleye in the 30-foot mark in 60 feet of water. A common mistake is to start fishing too deep, and fishing under the fish. Savvy anglers have reported using two or three colors of lead core line, up to and including five colors, to get their offerings into the strike zone. Ask five different anglers what works the best and your answer will most likely be worm harnesses, stick baits or small spoons. Some color patterns that have been mentioned most often are: Wonder Bread, which is a white stick bait with red, blue and other colored dots. Black & Purple has a place in your tackle box, as well as red-ish/brown colors resembling round gobys. Red headed/gold body stick baits also are noteworthy. Start off with a variety, and let the fish tell you what they want and double up. If you mark fish, keep changing until you get results. Check often for small fish “hanging on.” As the day gets warmer, you may have to adjust and fish deeper with added weight. Yellow perch were showing up in Dunkirk in the old perch grounds in water as shallow as 26 feet. They appear as black clouds from the bottom up to 10 feet from the surface. Watch and you will also occasionally see numerous small upside down hooks which are probably schools of walleye, also in shallower water. Minnows are usually the ticket, either live or salted. The bite can be subtle, hard or almost impossible to detect at times, so lift and drop your rod /tip slowly and check your bait often.

Chautauqua Lake catching is slowly coming around, after the weed spraying, according to Skip Bianco at Hogan’s Hut/Stow. Walleye fishing appears better towards the center of the lake and along the weed edges at the northern end. White perch and silver bass are aggressive and the yellow perch bite is improving.

Calendar:

The Southtowns Walleye Assoc. will be holding their free Catch & Release Kid’s Fishing derby on July 14 at the Chestnut Ridge Park, Orchard Park, at Shelter No. 10. Open to kids 15 years of age and younger. Bring your own tackle. Sign in starts at 7 a.m. Fish from 8-11 a.m. with continuous weigh-in. At noon, there will be a Sahlens hot dog lunch with free soda anytime. Coffee, milk, donuts or juice from 7:30-10 a.m. Presentation of awards and prizes and drawings start at noon. All kids will receive a free gift grab bag. For information contact the SWA office at 649-8202, Dennis at 861-5687, or Doug at 930-5858. Southtowns Walleye Association will be holding their monthly meeting on Thursday, July 19 staring at 7:30 p.m. at their club in Hamburg. Open to the public.

July 21 is the eighth annual Sunset Bay Shoot Out. This event is full. Contact Captain Don Ruppert at 435-4137 or go to walleyeshootout.com. The weigh-in is on the beach and is a festive occasion worth attending.

August 3, 4, and 5 are the dates for the Northern Chautauqua Conservation Club walleye derby. A three day tourney, with three walleye per day allowed entry. Two to four anglers per boat.

August 25 is the Innovative Outdoors walleye Challenge out of Dunkirk. A one day tournament with optional Big Fish Friday on August 24. Limited to 65 boats with the registration deadline on August 1. Contact Jim Steel at 481-5348 or go to lakeeriewalleyetournament.com.

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.

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.