OBSERVER Photo by Gene Pauszek Mathew Brown (left) receives instruction from Mike Greeley on fly tying. Greg Little and Greeley give free fly tying instruction all summer from 6-8 p.m. at the Sinclairville Library.

The waterways are going to be busy this Fourth of July weekend. Expect the unexpected, especially when driving around Memorial Park in Dunkirk, with lots of pedestrian and vehicle traffic for the fireworks.

There has been a lot of boat traffic on Chautauqua Lake, according to several reports. Boats trolling are being dodged by jet skis and water skiers. The decimation of the weed growth has piled up walleye and crappie wherever they can find cover. Crappie no longer have optimum weed beds after the algaecide spraying and anglers are reporting that the crappie are stacked up under any shoreline structure especially docks. The walleye fishing also has been good on Chautauqua Lake, especially at the northern end. Yellow perch has been hit and miss.

Lake Erie continues to be the hot spot for offshore walleye fishing. Anglers are reporting marking a lot of fish right out front of the Dunkirk harbor, but if you want optimum results, head west. Start setting up in 40 feet and work your way out to 60-65 feet. With the current warm spell, the fish will likely move even deeper. Local anglers have reported that the warm spell has resulted in a growth spurt for algae and weeds inside the Dunkirk harbor. If you are walking along the water front and notice a lot of disturbance on the surface of the water, it most likely is the result of carp spawning.

I received several phone calls about a lot of dead black bass in Memorial Park last week. After alerting the Department of Environmental Conservation, they replied that the fish kill — which was estimated at 100 fish — was the un-intentional result of catch and release. Many of the fish most likely were caught numerous times, or hooked too deeply to survive. Once the water temperature warms up, it also effects the fish’s chance of survival. Over-handling, removing the fish’s protective slime or waiting too long can be detrimental to the fish’s survival.

Rick Miller in Irving reports that the walleye fishing has been good also out of the “Cat.” One angler recently caught and released a 20-pound catfish while walleye fishing. The yellow perch continue to be elusive. Gary Burmaster sent this column a heads up that the ticks are very bad this year. Wear long pants and shirt sleeves, and use insect repellent with DEET. Check your person, the kids and the pets when spending time in high grass and brush. Have a safe and happy Fourth of July!

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

July 22 at 4:30 p.m. the Lakeshore Longbeards our local chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation will hold an organizational meeting, at Liberty Vineyards in Sheridan, for the JAKES Day Youth event. It will be held on Saturday, Aug. 17 at the Westfield Fish & Game Club. The meeting is open to the public. They need more volunteers for the Jakes Day event so please stop by.

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 Aug, 7. Contact Zen Olow at 640-2776.

Aug. 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.