OBSERVER Photo by Gene Pauszek Northern Chautauqua Conservation Club Vice President Don Merckel accepted an award on Monday, recognizing the club’s 100-year anniversary.

If you follow events daily in The OBSERVER, chances are that you read the superb article penned by OBSERVER Publisher John D’Agostino in regards to Jim Farrell. Farrell was honored at the 12th annual Harry Probst memorial Banquet held on Monday at the Lakewood Rod & Gun Club. “Big Daddy Duck,” as Farrell is affectionately called by his friends and mentors, is also being nominated into the NYS Outdoorsmen Hall of Fame, and deservedly so. Congratulations Jim! I have to wonder, who was it that gave Jim the nickname Big Daddy Duck?

The HPM Banquet also recognized a number of other guests, which I would like to point out. The winners of the Youth Lifetime Sporting Licenses were also singled out, including Dominic Begier, Daniel Cardinale, Gavin Dorler, Travis Drozdziel, Drake Joy, Elenor Meyer, Luke Schrantz and Nicholas Solares. Young Solares was sitting across from me at the event, when suddenly his eyes were as wide as saucers and he exclaimed that a man at the table behind us fell over. Several guests who were trained in CPR and First Aid rushed to the gentleman’s aide and assisted him until an ambulance was called. The man recovered and I am told he was discharged from the hospital on Thursday. A tip of the hat to all those volunteers who have taken the necessary courses to assist those in need.

The Northern Chautauqua Conservation Club Ladies Auxiliary presented Cindy Zolnoske an award for her many years of service and NCCC Vice President Don Merckel accepted an award for the club celebrating their 100-year Anniversary. Rich Zimar was acknowledged for his service with the NYS DEC Fisheries. Other awards were also presented by the Lakewood Rod & Gun Club, Falconer Rod & Gun, Westfield Fish & Game and the Jamestown Rifle Club. During the event the Chautauqua County Federation of Sportsmen also raised several thousand dollars, which will continue to be used to purchase Youth Lifetime Sporting Licenses.

The event was made possible by contributions from the five previously mentioned clubs as well as the Deer Search of WNY, Quality Deer Management Association, Cabela’s, Canadaway Creek Outfitters, Ellicott Associates, Jack Paluh Art, Infinity Charters/ Frank Schoenacker, Kirk’s Jewelers, NCC Community Foundation, The OBSERVER, OutCast Fishing Charters Capt. Jared Meyer, Zoar Valley Canoe & Rafting, D&F Wal-Mart, Zonker Factory (Monte Kennedy) and Copy Boy of Dunkirk. Apologies to anyone else I may have missed. A big tip of the hat goes to Zen Olow and his family along with the Chautauqua County Sportsmen Federation and the Lakewood Rod & Gun Club for another great event!

Calendar: The Ladies Auxiliary of the Northern Chautauqua Conservation Club will host a chicken barbecue today. Cost is $10.

Monday night will be the last fly tying instruction Class of the season 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! The event will include discussion for future events and snacks. OPEN to the public. 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.

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.

Walleye season opens statewide on the first Saturday of May. NYS fishing regulations used to have a lunker bass season that opened up on the first Saturday in May. That regulation has now changed and opens on Lake Erie and it’s tributaries on December 1 until the third Saturday in June and allows anglers to harvest one 20-inch minimum bass per day. (See page 46 of Rules and Regulations.)

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

There will be a Safe Boating Course offered by the NYS Sheriff Department held on Saturday May 18 at the Northern Chautauqua Conservation Club from 8 a.m. until 4 p.m. Attendees are advised to bring a lunch.

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

The Eastern Lake Erie Charter Boat Association will be meeting on Friday, May 17, at the Northern Chautauqua Conservation Club at 7 p.m. Agenda will include drug testing requirements, conservation issues, NYS non-resident Great Lakes charter boat decals, set-up standard first aid and CPR classes for those in need. VIP Day and WNY Heroes Day June 28.

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.

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.