OBSERVER Photo by Gene Pauszek Ed Hausenbauer displays a nice rainbow trout he caught on the Dunkirk Pier on Wednesday.

Skip Bianco at Hogan’s Hut/Stow reports that over 90 percent of the ice cover on Chautauqua Lake is gone. Depending on the weather and wind direction, anglers can expect calico and panfish action to start up along the shoreline. The weather forecast predicts a warming trend, so expect the panfish to start moving into the canals any day now.

A few fish have been caught at Smith Boy’s and Tri-James in the evening, but like the temperature, the bite has been inconsistent. A few bullheads have been caught recently too. Skip did say that Chautauqua Creek and Goose Creek had a lot of action since the season Opener on April 1. Skip said that one of his customers had been fishing Barcelona on a regular basis and had been hooking up with a lot of smaller-sized perch and walleye. Depending on the wind direction, there has been more open water closer to Barcelona lately.

Closer to home, the Dunkirk Pier continues to be one of the hot spots for trout action. Ed Hausenbauer reported that anglers did well on trout on Wednesday morning fishing on the east side of the pier. Along with trout, a few northern pike had also been caught. Hausenbauer connected with a nice rainbow trout, using a jig tipped with a wax worm under a slip bobber. A few perch and an occasional bullhead have also been caught off the pier earlier in the week. Look for the action to continue to improve with the weather.

In order for spring to officially start up, we have to go through a procession of outdoor-themed shows. Our local show will be held TODAY from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. at the Clarion Hotel in Dunkirk. Last year’s event exceeded expectations for a one-day event and this year could be even better. There is something for everyone and the admission price is easy on the wallet. For information contact the OBSERVER at 366-3000 extension 420. We hope to see you there!

Calendar: The Ellery Rod & Gun Club located on Pancake Hill Road, Bemus Point will host their Spring Shoot this Sunday, starting at 9 a.m., which will include Lucky Shot and Slug. Bring your own size 7 1/2 or size 8 shot shells. Breakfast will be served from 8 a.m. until 11 for $6. Raffles too! Open to the public.

The Sportsmen’s Show sponsored by the Little Valley Volunteer Fire Department will be today and Sunday at the Cattaraugus County Fair Grounds located off Route 353, Little Valley NY. Show times are 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. today and 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. Sunday. $5 admission. Call Jim Miller at 938-6928 for information.

The Department of Environmental Conservation in co-operation with NYS Assemblyman Sean Ryan and The Southtowns Walleye Association, will be presenting the New York Sea Grants State of Lake Erie Meeting on Thursday, April 11 from 7 p.m. until 9 a.m. Topics covered will include the status of cold water communities by DEC biologist Jim Markham, warm water fish communities by NYSDEC Unit leader Jason Robinson, an update on Barotrauma in Lake Erie Perch by Jesse Lepak of Sea Grant, and Inspiring Environmental Leadership and Stewardship by Sandy Smith from Nichols School Faculty. The presentation is free, open to the public, and will be held at the Southtowns Walleye club located at 5895 Southwestern Blvd, Hamburg.

On April 13-14, there will be a gun show at Ashtabula County Fairgrounds (Ashtabula County Expo Center Building), 127 North Elm Street, Jefferson, Ohio. Show hours are from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sunday. Call Larry at 792-9972 for information or go to LRsportingEvents.com.

The Bear Lake Rod & Gun Club will host a hunter safety training course on Saturday, April 13 from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. To register for this one day course you must register online at NYS DEC Hunter Bowhunter-Trapper Ed Course Sign Up Link. For questions go to vince@villageofwestfield.org or call 753-6347.

The NYS Youth Wild Turkey Hunting weekend is April 20-21.

Free Monday night fly tying instruction has resumed 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 has changed the dates of 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.