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Great Lakes will receive unexpected trout stocking

Sportsman’s Journal

Trout stocking in area waterways will be impacted by an incident at the Rome Fish Hatchery. OBSERVER Photo by Gene Pauszek.

It’s a good thing that hunting and fishing are for the most part, solitary sports, enjoyed by individuals one-on-one with Mother Nature. That is unless the trout start biting on the Dunkirk City Pier.

It was last year, I believe, when we had a great run of trout and observers counted about 200 anglers shoulder-to-shoulder on the pier. Naples is another crowed congregation on the April 1 inland trout opener. Individuals will just have to use common sense to avoid crowds and possible contamination, even with the outdoor sports.

Speaking of trout, there is some good news/bad news in regards to trout stocking. The Department of Environmental Conservation annually stocks trout in area inland streams prior to and during the annual April 1 inland state-wide trout season opener. The DEC recently found out that at the Rome fish hatchery, zebra mussels were able to gain entry via the outdoor water system, reportedly from Delta Lake. Because of this, trout raised at this facility will only be released in waters where zebra mussels are already found.

Steve Hurst of the DEC Fisheries Bureau reported that all of the non-zebra mussel waters will take a stocking hit to some extent. The Randolph fish hatchery in Cattaraugus County may be able to supply limited amounts of trout for some areas. On the plus side, the Finger Lakes, Lake Ontario, and even Lake Erie will receive unexpected stockings of trout that were scheduled for elsewhere. Cattaraugus Creek reportedly was stocked recently, with Rick Miller commenting that anglers reported encountering some of these smaller-sized fish. Many of these fish are undersized, and if you find your bait offering being nibbled on without catching anything, it most likely is the result of these stockings. Try some place else.

The “Cat” recently has settled down to conditions favoring the angler. Skip Bianco at Hogan’s Hut/Stow reports that anglers have been checking out the channels lately with a few calicos and a lot of small yellow perch for their effort. Friday is supposed to be warm, but colder weather will be following.

The phone number of the Randolph hatchery is 358-4755 and Caledonia Hatchery is (585) 538-6300. The Region 9 Fisheries Unit at 182 E. Union Allegheny, NY is 372-0645. The Randolph Hatchery Stocking Hotline, which is updated weekly, is 358-2050.

Calendar: Anglers note that walleye season closed on Sunday and will re-open on the first Saturday of May (May 2).

The Lakeshore Longbeards our local chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation will be having their next meeting on Monday, March 23 starting at 6 p.m. at Liberty Vineyards located on Route 20 in Sheridan. They will announce the winner of the annual scholarship award and will pick a date for the 2020 JAKES day event. Anyone who has any ideas for the day or who would like to volunteer, are encouraged to attend.

On Monday evenings the “Con Club” is looking for people interested in learning “how to tie their own fishing flies.” Several advanced fly-tiers will be on hand to give individual attention to persons who would like to learn this hobby. All materials and equipment are provided free. The learning area is secure and a controlled environment from 6 until 8 p.m. You get to keep what you make. Refreshments are usually provided and always free. No experience necessary, no sign up required. Just show up and have fun. This would be a great opportunity for scout leaders to bring their young charges in for a great learning experience. Call 366-1772 days if you need more information or a contact number.

Children in 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, The group has resumed activities on Jan. 27 after a short recess over the Christmas Holidays. Children ages 12 and up, including adults are welcome and encouraged to attend. All tools and material will be provided for free. Contact Alberto Rey for more information at 410-7003 or go to Alberto@albertorey.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.

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