OBSERVER Photo by Gene Pauszek The Eastern Lake Erie Charter Association is in line to receive a state wide recognition award this weekend for their numerous contributions to our tremendous fishery and area out door promotions. Shown are two stalwarts in the organization, Zen Olow and Captain Lance Ehrhardt, busy cleaning fish.

It looks like the month of September will also have no shortage of strong wind. If you look at the horizon to the south, you can usually witness the windmills in Arkwright turning at a steady pace. That is especially true if you are offshore on Lake Erie, while in pursuit of walleye, perch, bass or trout.

Opinions about windmills vary, but I hope clear minds will prevail in regards to preventing windmills erected in Lake Erie. This proposal was crushed almost ten years ago, and hopefully it will be turned back again. Thanks to some of our local legislators, Chautauqua County went on record as opposing the construction of windmills IN Lake Erie. Thank you for voicing your opinion, which is, I believe, the opinion of the local majority.

Walleye anglers who were able to get out on the big lake reported finding success in deeper water locally. Wednesday afternoon there was a solid report of lots of walleye located west of Dunkirk, before Van Buren, in 90 to 105 feet of water. The fish responded favorably to deeper presentations reaching the 40 to 70 foot mark, utilizing dipsey divers, down riggers, and side planners with seven or more colors of lead core line.

Rick Miller in Irving reports that the walleye action in that area is still good but anglers have also found success in 65 feet of water. Yellow perch have gone back on the prowl, with Miller commenting that lately the anglers have had to search to get a dozen fish lately. No word locally. Fishing out of Barcelona has been postponed, lately due to a movie production. Anglers will be welcome in Dunkirk and Irving as well as North East and Buffalo.

Many local sportsmen rushed out to get their deer/hunting licenses last month. There should be no shortage of Deer Management Permits also called doe permits. A lot of hunters have been commenting about sighting numerous fawns still sporting their white spots. Probably a late or second rut last year. Here in town, readers have noticed some trees have already been dropping their foliage, and a recent trip to Jamestown revealed signs of leaves already turning color.

Speaking about Jamestown, Skip Bianco from Hogan’s Hut/Stow commented that the walleye action on Chautauqua Lake has slowed down a little along with the fishing effort, which is common after the Labor Day weekend. Anglers are still able to find action along the weedline edges and the muskie action is starting to improve. Same too for the yellow perch bite.

The Aug. 9 issue of the New York Outdoor News revealed a photo of the 2019-2020 Federal Duck Stamp depicting a drake wood duck on the water with a wooden wood duck decoy behind it. The art work was done by a Minnesota resident named Scott Storm. Storm’s painting was selected out of 168 entries to be the Federal Duck stamp and according to the report, will help raise millions of dollars to provide habitat conservation for wildlife and the American people. If you would also like to help raise money for NYS projects, consider purchasing a Habitat stamp for $5 wherever sporting licenses are sold.

Calendar: Children of the Stream will present weekly FREE fly tying classes every Tuesday from 7 p.m. until 8:30 p.m. in the Costello Room in the Rockefeller Art Center at the State University of New York Fredonia, starting Aug. 27. Children ages 12 and up, including adults are welcome and encouraged to attend. All tools and material will be provided FREE.

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.