OBSERVER Photo by Gene Pauszek Sue Buck, the President of the Northern Chautauqua Conservation Club Ladies Auxiliary (left) presented Cindy Zolnoske an award for her dedication on Monday at the Sportsmens Federation Banquet in Lakewood.

The Earth Week Celebration is this week, from April 20-27. If you haven’t already, purchase a fishing license and enjoy the outdoors with some great fishing opportunities that New York State has to offer.

The recent cold snap has put some fishing on hold lately. Skip Bianco at Hogan’s Hut/Stow said that the perch and calico bite has stalled after that area’s recent snow fall. Bullheads and white perch have been active after dark, with most action located on the wind blown shoreline. The Chautauqua Lake walleye spawning run is dwindling down, with most of the walleye already gone from the feeder creeks and streams. Anglers have noticed shad and suckers have been in the streams now that the water has started to warm up.

Rick Miller in Irving offered that black bass have also entered the streams around Silver and Walnut Creeks, but anglers still catch an occasional trout, too. The good news is that Lake Erie Yellow Perch have started to bite off shore by Evangola State Park. Focus your attention at the 50 to 60 foot mark. Traditionally, this is one of the first places to find Lake Erie Perch, but often times, the fish are in pods. You usually have to be right on top of them to get action.

Miller said that it was hit or miss for many anglers earlier in the week, but those that got into the fish did well. Miller also offered he has a good supply of live emerald shiners. The State Boat Launch at Sunset has the docks in and Hanover should be putting the docks in at their site by this weekend. The boat launch at the Dunkirk Pier is a “Construction Zone.” A steel container is blocking the handicapped and additional parking spots, and the docks are at least partially underwater. The City Pier is under renovation and could be off limits until sometime in July or August. If you are looking for other options for boat launching, be advised that Bart’s Cove and the Northern Chautauqua Conservation Club facilities are privately owned and not open to the public. Our visitors from out of state who come annually for the bass fishing are in for a surprise.

In tune with the Earth Week celebration, a reminder that when purchasing lawn fertilizer, be aware that it is against the law to use phosphorus on lawns that don’t need it. When purchasing lawn fertilizer, check the bag for a set of three numbers showing the percentage of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. Buy a bag with a “0” in the middle. Example: 32-0-4.

Also, a reminder that the statewide burn ban is in effect through May 14 to help prevent forest fires.

Calendar: The Ladies Auxiliary of the Northern Chautauqua Conservation Club will host a chicken barbecue on Sunday, April 28. Cost is $10.

Our local chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation, the Lakeshore Longbeards will be having a meeting on Monday, April 29 at Liberty Vineyards Winery, located on Route 20 in Sheridan. The meeting is open to the public and will start at 7 p.m. Agenda will include the seed corn dispersal for NWTF members, and selecting a date for the Jakes Day event and the annual banquet.

The Greater Lewiston Smelt Festival will be held on May 3, at the Lewiston Landing starting at 5 p.m. Go to www.niagarariverregion.com for details.

On May 5, The Chautauqua Lake Walleye OPEN Tournament, Chautauqua Bassmasters at Long Point Park. Contact Mike Russo at (716) 640-6915 for details.

On May 11, Bison City Tackle Swap-flea Market from 8 a.m. – 1 p.m. Contact Willie Sieber at 626-0660 for details.

May 18 is The Southtowns Walleye Association Perch Tournament from 7 a.m. – 2 p.m. Must be a member. Call 649-8202 for details.

May 19 is the Crappie Team OPEN at Chautauqua Lake. Contact Mike Russo at 640-6915 for info.

From May 10-19, Lake Ontario Counties (LOC) Spring Trout and Salmon Derby. Info call 1-888-REEL-2-IN. or www.loc.org.

Free Monday night fly tying instruction is held at the Northern Chautauqua Conservation Club, located at Mullet Street in Dunkirk. Classes are for all levels of fly tying, but especially for beginners. No equipment is necessary. All participants get to keep their productions. Classes are from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m. The classes are open to the public. Sometimes they even have homemade cookies! Note that The Children of the Stream Youth Fly Fishing Program have changed the dates to their program to Mondays from 7 p.m. until 8 p.m. at the Costello Community Room (P84) in the new addition to the Rockefeller Arts Center at SUNY Fredonia. This program is in its 18th year of providing weekly free fly tying and fly fishing classes to both youths and adults in our area. 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.