Marty Klemann, owner of Canadaway Creek Outfitters, displays a nice trout. This weekend, trout should be plentiful in our area tributaries. Submitted Photo.

Hunting has grabbed the interest of the outdoors minded as the temperature continues to drop. The Fall foliage also continues to descend, and according to most bow hunters the whitetail rut is in full swing. This past week has seen a lot of wind and precipitation, which has stripped a lot of the foliage away. Likewise, most of the boats have been pulled from their summer time slips and stored for the upcoming winter. If you are hunting white tail deer, there should be no shortage of opportunity, with many veteran hunters reporting a nice ratio of bucks to doe and if you are willing to wait, you could get a chance at a real wall hanger.

With all the rainfall we have had recently, a number of the streams and water-ways have finally opened up. Jason Robinson at the Dunkirk based Department of Environmental Conservation Fisheries Station reports that there has been trout action reported in most every local tributary and this weekend should be ideal for trout fishing. Even the smaller streams have seen action. Keep your presentations on the smaller side and slow if the temperature is cold. Chautauqua Creek has been productive but has also attracted a lot of fishing pressure.

Skip Bianco at Hogan’s Hut/Stow reports that on Chautauqua Lake the channels are loaded with panfish including yellow perch and crappie. Musky fishing has picked up at the southern end of the lake, and there has been some nocturnal walleye action along the shore line for anglers casting stick baits. Offshore fishing on Chautauqua Lake has walleye anglers targeting fish in the 30 to 50 foot mark, probing the deeper holes. Anglers are connecting with walleye in a variety of sizes. Bianco also commented that when the weather allowed, some anglers did well offshore on Lake Erie at the mouths of Chautauqua Creek catching steelhead and one 36 inch lake trout. Keep those fishing and hunting stories coming, and always be safe!

Calendar: The Northern Chautauqua Conservation Club will once again be hosting a Hunters helping the Hungry Program. Members of the “Con Club” are asked to bring non-perishable food items to the club on Tuesdays during the hunting season. All food and monetary donations will then be turned over to our local charities for distribution to the needy prior to Christmas. Help make someone’s holiday a little happier. Please!

The Lakeshore Longbeards, our local chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation will be meeting at Liberty Vineyards located on Route 20 in Sheridan. The meeting will be on Monday Nov. 18 at 7p.m. Agenda will include the upcoming membership fundraiser/banquet, and hunting stories. Open to the public.

The Western New York Safari Club Will host their 25th annual Game dinner on Friday Dec. 13 at Michael’s Banquet Facility located at 4885 Southwestern Boulevard, Hamburg. The doors open at 5 p.m. with dinner at 7 p.m. There is a $45 donation. For information call Terry at 472-2380.

Duck Season in our area (Western Zone) is a split season, from Oct. 19 – Nov. 10, then re-opening Nov. 30 until Jan. 5. Canada Goose season for our area, which is considered the South, is from Oct. 26 to Jan. 13, with a daily bag limit of five geese per day.

Nov. 11 is NYS Free Fishing Day to celebrate Veteran’s Day.

Upcoming gun shows include: Nov. 16-17 Hickory Post VFW 5550 East State Street US Route 62, East of PA. 18 – West of Mercer on 62, Hermitage PA, 16148; and Dec. 14-15 at the Harbor Creek Fire Dept Social Hall located at 7275 Buffalo Road – US Route 20 (located between North East, PA and Harborcreek, PA. All three shows are from 9 a.m.- 4 p.m. on Saturdays and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sundays. Adults are $5 and children under the age of 12 are free. For more information contact Larry Spicer at (716) 792-9972 or go to LRgunshows@gmail.com or website LRsportingevents.com.

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.

On Jan. 4, 2020, the Lakewood Rod & Gun Club will be sponsoring free fly tying classes for youths and adults. Theses courses will be absolutely FREE. All materials and equipment will be provided. These FREE classes will continue for the next three Saturdays at the Lakewood Club from 9 a.m. until noon. Free pizzas and beverages will also be provided. Instruction will be provided by the mentors from Kids On the Fly. You are invited.

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.