This small flock of Canada geese with their young were fuzzy and gray on June 2, but in 18 days will resemble their adult parents.

It’s almost officially Summer, and the weather is finally starting to resemble that fact. The fishing is slowly starting to improve after the lousy weekend weather.

With the strong winds that prevailed over the weekend it is likely that the Lake Erie waters have turned over, causing a lull in the action. Even our out of town bass fishermen have noticed a slow down in the bass action. No need for panic, those near shore bass have seen a lot of fishing pressure for almost two months now.

The water is slowly starting to warm up and the fish most likely are starting to move out toward deeper water. That may not hold true for Lake Erie walleye.

On Wednesday afternoon, I spoke with Department of Environmental Conservation Fisheries Unit leader Jason Robinson and learned that several anglers have found success wading offshore at low light and hooking up with some really nice sized walleye and catfish.

The bait is weight forward spinners like Erie Dearies with a trailing night crawler. Many of the fish have been over 26 inches in length, so hold on.

It’s that time of year when the “cotton is flying.” The old timers say that’s when the catfish start biting.

A check with Lee Weber in Derby revealed that a young lady stopped in his shop for some more “lucky worms.” She reported that she recently was using them off Bennett beach near Buffalo and hooked into a catfish that was estimated to be at least 35 pounds. She released the brute, but would not mind hooking up with it or its big brother again.

The yellow perch bite has been slow or at least sporadic, wherever you go. On the plus side, you may encounter a walleye or two while targeting perch. The walleye bite has also slowed down, at least earlier in the week after the inclement weather.

This columnist and crew boated eight walleye on Tuesday, fishing in the 50 to 60 foot zone out front. Skip Bianco reports that the fishing suffered a bit last weekend on Chautauqua Lake with the weather but the walleye and musky bite has since improved. Magnolia Bay and Mayville are hot spots for walleye, with anglers fishing the weedline with 3-D worm harnesses. Small world.

On Tuesday, we ran into three anglers on Lake Erie who reported doing very well on walleye on Chautauqua Lake on Monday. They caught one 8 pounder on Tuesday on Lake Erie and were headed back to Chautauqua Lake. Go Fish!

Calendar: The Lakeshore Longbeards will be holding their next meeting at Liberty Vineyards on Monday, June 24, starting at 4:30 p.m. On the agenda will be the upcoming JAKES Day which stands for Juniors Acquiring Knowledge and Ethics, in regards to hunting and the Outdoors. The date for this event is Aug. 17. All interested parties are invited to attend the meeting and the event. The Longbeards also have seed corn available for sale. Contact Bob Turk, Gary Burmaster or Scott Dibble.

There will be a pistol course at the Northern Chautauqua Conservation Club on Saturday, June 29 from 5:30 p.m.- 10:30 p.m. There is an $80 fee for attending this course. For details contact Gary Dudek at 366- 3397.

June 21-22 is Lake Erie Big Dawg Walleye Tournament, out of the Dunkirk Harbor. Contact Mark Mohr at 998-9871 or go to www.razorsbigdawg.com.

WNY Heroes Fishing Day is June 28. Open to all military veterans. Call 630-5020 to sign up. Charter Captains call Jim Steel at 983-7867.

June 29 Chautauqua Showdown Musky Tournament from 7 a.m. until 3 p.m. Catch & Release at the Mayville launch. There will also be a kids raffle table. Go to nymusky69@yahoo.com.

June 29 is Family Fishing Day at the foot of Ferry Street. Contact George Johnson at 818-3410.

June 29-30 are Free Fishing Days.

The Lew Mead annual Kids fishing contest on Cassadaga Lake is Saturday, June 29. The event is free and open to youths 15 years old and younger with prizes in four age groups. Sign up at the state boat launch located at Lilly Dale by 8 a.m. with the weigh in at 11 a.m. at the same place. Trophies and prizes awarded shortly afterwards.

June 29 – July 28 is the 10th annual Lake Ontario Counties (LOC) Summer derby. Go to www.loc.org.

July 19-20 is the Sunset Bay Shootout. Contact Captain Don Ruppert at 435-4137.

July 28 is the Chautauqua Lake Summer Bass Team OPEN. At Chautauqua Lake, Long Point State Park. Contact mike Russo at (716) 640-6915.

The Northern Chautauqua Conservation Club Walleye Tournament is August 2-4. Contact person is Zen Olow at 640-2776.

VIP Day is August 7. Contact Zen Olow at 640-2776.

August 11 is the Chautauqua Bassmasters Tournament No. 3 on Chautauqua Lake/Long Point State Park. Contact Mike Russo at 640-6915. Innovative Outdoors Walleye Challenge out of Dunkirk. Contact Jim Steel at 481-5348 or go to www.innovative-outdoors.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.