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Southtowns Walleye Tournament is up and running

Sportsman’s Journal

Submitted Photo Landon J. Frank landed a nice small mouth bass Saturday morning at the Great Lakes Experience at Memorial Park.

The 35th annual Southtowns Walleye Tournament is up and running, and there are some mighty respectable fish in the lead. As of Tuesday evening, a 12 pound-plus walleye was holding the top spot, with at least four 11 pounders right behind it. With the tournament going on until Sunday at 4 p.m., you can’t expect precise information on where those fish were caught, or what the fisherman was using — at least until after Sunday. All the local harbors are reporting good numbers of average size walleye ranging from 17 to 25 inches and an occasional bigger fish. Productive presentations include trolling with dipsey divers, bottom bouncing, lead core line, side planners and long lining. You get the picture. Same thing with color or lure preference.

The Department of Environmental Conservation estimated that there are close to 50 million walleye in Lake Erie, so the odds on getting at least a few of these tasty fish, are in your favor, once you get offshore. If you don’t have a boat, ask a friend, or get a couple of friends and hire a charter. The walleye fishing is great.

Bass anglers are also aware that the statewide season opener for large and small-mouth bass is the third Saturday of June, which is this Saturday, June 15, this year. Keeper size is 12 inches and the creel limit is 5 per day. If you don’t have a ruler handy, when you are at home, measure your fishing rod from the butt-end to 12 inches and put on a piece of tape. Easy-peesy. Chautauqua Lake has a good walleye bite going on this year also. Skip Bianco at Hogan’s Hut/Stow reports that most of the action is centered towards the north end of the lake, but yellow perch in a variety of sizes are all over. Crappie have been occasionaly biting in the weedbeds off Mayville, as well as sunfish and white bass.

Rick Miller in Irving reports that the walleye fishing off the “Cat” has been decent as well as the yellow perch. Occasional limits of perch are reported but most times the anglers settle for a couple dozen. Target the 52 foot mark for a starting point. Dunkirk has seen some success with perch, including an occasional walleye in the bag. Take dad fishing on Sunday. In case you forgot, it’s Father’s Day.

Calendar: 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.

OBSERVER Photo by Gene Pauszek Mark Schosek (left) and Clark Gatehouse of Marilla show some of their walleye caught on Wednesday.

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 3p.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 4 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.

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