The weigh-in started at 4 p.m. sharp and the weigh station attendants operated like a well-oiled machine. Again, most of the teams reported with a fish close to the six-pound mark with several three-pounders, until Boat 62 opened up their cooler.

All the contestants are supplied with plastic zip ties to place in the jaws of the three fish they want to weigh-in. The head and zip tie stuck out of the cooler and you could easily tell this was a big one. The scales declared it weighed 9.38 pounds and young Dominick Begier of Bill’s Hook’s fame is currently in sixth place for the top 15 big walleye. The Begier fish lead was short lived as Captain Robert Spoon did it again — he came to the scales with another large walleye weighing 10.64 pounds, replacing yesterday’s leader Rob Oram’s fish at 10.59. Robert Spoon had a heavy three-fish box of fish on Friday that was tied for second place, with Steven Ball, at 20.97 pounds. On Saturday, their two-day total weight moved up to 38.57 pounds.

Then came Captain Jim Steel, “Steel and Company.” They had a 20.59 pound box on Friday, but Saturday was a good day for Boat 95, when they weighed in another 10-pounder at 10.37 pounds. Saturday gave them a two-day total weight of 46.87 pounds, which puts them in first place for now. Vince Costello, towards the end, brought in a 9.59 pound walleye, which combined with Friday’s box places him in second place with a 44.25 pound total. The G-man, Gregg Marzec, also moved up on Saturday with a 9.25 pound walleye and a two-day total weight of 37.53 pounds. Jim Bromstead weighed in a 9.56 walleye, which is the fifth heaviest fish of the tournament. Thomas Kolassa is at ninth place with a Saturday fish weighing in at 8.98. Colin Gawronski put another walleye in the top 15 with an 8.61 entry and Jim Opiel the big winner from a few years ago is holding on to the last “Big Fish” spot with an 8.35 pounder.

Today is the final day, and it’s a short one, ending at 1 p.m. Mark Mohr is currently in fourth place with a 38.62 two-day total, while Spoon is in fifth place with 38.57. Adam Zwack, Carlos Troche, Gregg Marzec, Robert Oram, Jim “Doc” Stoll, Colin Gawronski, Jim Skoczylas, Garry Olsen Jr. (another former winner), Jim Plinzke, Roy Tesch, Henry Smith, Herbert Schultz (who also won the very first Con Club tournament), Daryll MacNeil, Robert Rustowicz and Jim OPiel all have two day total weights over 30 pounds, and will be looking to improve that score with three big walleye today. It’s going to be close!

OBSERVER Photo by Gene Pauszek Jeff Castillo and James Costello are in second place for total weight with the third heaviest walleye caught on Saturday weighing 9.59 pounds.

The weigh-in starts at 11 a.m. and ends with all contestants being in line by 1 p.m. sharp. The winners will be announced on Sunday around 3 p.m. The public is invited to attend the festivities. Look for the results in Monday’s OBSERVER.

Calendar: Lakeshore Longbeards our local chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation will conduct JAKES Day Youth event on Saturday, Aug. 17 at the Westfield Fish & Game Club. Registration will start at 9 a.m. Fee is $10 per youth. Numerous hands-on learning stations and lunch will be provided for all. Open to the public. For more information contact Bob Turk at 673-6703. The Northern Chautauqua Conservation Club Walleye Tournament is Aug. 2-4. Contact person is Zen Olow at 640-2776. Daily coverage in the OBSERVER.

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

The Sportsmans Rendezvous at the Cattaraugus County County Fair Grounds in Little Valley will be from Aug. 8-10. Call 716-474-7251 or 244-2781 for details.

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 is August 23-24. Contact Jim Steel at 481-5348 or go to www.innovative-outdoors.com.

OBSERVER Photo by Gene Pauszek Mouse Kettermann, Shawn Hilton, Captain Robert Spoon and Pop Tart caught the heaviest walleye of the derby at 10.64 pounds and moved into the fifth place for total weight on Saturday.

There will be a Hunter Safety Training Course at the Northern Chautauqua Conservation Club on Aug. 21 and 22 from 5 p.m. until 10 p.m. Two day attendance is mandatory. There will be a bow course at the Con Club on Sept. 21 from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. The trapping course will be on Sept. 14 from 9 a.m. until 5:30 p.m.

The Bear Lake Rod & Gun Club will host: Bow Course on Aug. 14 and 15, from 6 p.m. – 9:30 p.m. The Hunter Education Course will be on Aug. 28 and 29, from 5:30 p.m. until 9:30 p.m.

There will be a bow Course at the Westfield Fish & Game Club on Sept. 11 and 12, from 6 p.m. until 9:30 p.m. There will be a Trapping Course at the Falconer Rod & Gun Club on Sept. 25 and 27, from 5:30 p.m. until 10. For more information Call Gary at 366-3397.

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.