Prospects for offshore angling have been “gloomy” lately. OBSERVER Photo by Gene Pauszek.

The fall season is upon us and the weekend weather forecast predicts some seasonal cooler weather, along with precipitation and, of course, wind.

Archery season opened on Oct. 1, and my friend Skip Bianco at Hogan’s Hut/Stow said that he had already heard of one successful hunter tagging a nice 8-point buck. Maybe with the cold front moving in, the deer will also be on the move.

In the most recent issue of New York Outdoor News, Oak Duke, the deer guru, predicts a mid-October rut arrival, so look for some early season action. Bianco reports that the blue gill fishing has been on fire on Chautauqua Lake lately, south of Bemus Bay. Yellow perch action has improved under the bridge by Cheney’s Point and DeWittville for the bigger perch. Musky and walleye has been slow lately, but anglers are locating the fish moving into the deeper holes. Small mouth bass fishing has been good.

Rick Miller in Irving reports that the walleye bite offshore of the mouth of the “Cat” continues to be good. Yellow perch action has also improved, with the anglers commenting that the perch have moved in shallower. Hooking up with trout at the mouth of the “Cat” has been slow, but anglers are commenting that they have been occasionally hooking up past the Route 5 and Route 20 bridge, and towards Gowanda. The water temperatures have been warm lately, but some heavy rainfall and a lasting cold front moving in will change that in a hurry.

Locally, the fishing pressure has slowed down, as more and more fishermen are putting their boats away for the season and getting ready for hunting. Just a reminder that if you do head out, leave a game plan, like estimated time of return and general area you intend to fish/or hunt at, with friends and family, in case the unexpected happens.

Calendar: Oct. 1 – Nov. 15 is the Southern Zone Early Big Game Bowhunting Season. Oct. 12-14 is the New York State Youth Big Game Hunting Weekend. Nov. 11 is NYS Free Fishing Day to celebrate Veteran’s Day.

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 for 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.