Getting back to the outdoors, today is the last day of the Southtowns Walleye Associations 35th Anniversary walleye derby. The event will conclude at 4 p.m. In the event you are a contestant, and have a walleye to weigh-in, you must be standing in line at a qualified weigh station by 4 p.m. sharp. The weather has not been kind to boaters over the last few days, but a number of anglers did make it out on Saturday. There were a number of qualifying 26 inch minimum length walleye entered at the Dunkirk site on Saturday afternoon. The winners will be announced in a few weeks.

Note that the Big Dawg walleye tournament takes place out of the Dunkirk harbor this coming Saturday with many of the contestants participating in an optional Big Fish Friday event on June 21. Look for the results of these events in the OBSERVER.

The article penned by OBSERVER columnist Jo Ward on Saturday, in regards to Congressman Tom Reed’s visit at the Northern Chautauqua Conservation Club, touched on a number of important concerns of sportsmen and women. The number one concern is the proposal to place windmills in Lake Erie. This has been a hot topic at a number of meetings lately. The proposed windmills would require a 125 foot base of concrete poured into the lake bottom. There are some valid concerns about stirring up decades of sediment that would contain toxic material. These structures would disturb the breeding areas of numerous sport fish, which is also the main source of drinking water for anyone along the Lake Erie shoreline and beyond. If the structure was completed, you can expect limited or no access to the areas surrounding these areas. Look at how the shoreline of Lake Erie and Lake Ontario were ravaged by last winters effects. Try to picture what the elements will do to these structures, and how will they be maintained if and when they break down.

Note how well the windmills stationed along the thruway are functioning, and they are inland structures. The risks are too high for this project. The idea was shot down a decade ago, and nothing has changed that would improve the out look.

Crossbow support is slowly gaining. In a recent survey sent out to 10,000 sportsmen, close to 50 % replied. Many of those that did were in favor of crossbow use during the archery season. A lot of the sportsmen replied that they would likely purchase a crossbow if the big game season use was expanded. The majority even approved of youths ages 12-15 being able to use crossbows. Why not? The facts show that our youth are the safest hunters in the field and NYS hunters continue to improve their safety records annually.

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.

See JOURNAL,

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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 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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