The weather has been altering fishing plans for many anglers with wind and the threat of thunderstorms keeping small craft at bay, or shortening projected fishing adventures.
With several walleye tournaments on the horizon, anglers are itching to get their shake down cruise done and locating some active walleye. One report indicated walleye have been co-operating at Barcelona, but first light is the best activity. There were reports of anglers being unable to get their full compliment of fishing rods out because the early action can be that frantic.
Jim Steel and Jim Skoczylas from the Torpedo Diver Fishing Products team reported doing well on walleyes earlier in the week near the Canadian borderline with leadcore, torpedoes and occasionally jet divers presented off planner boards, all puting a limit of walleyes in the cooler. West might be best too, with another two-man limit report of walleyes coming from the Van Buren area on leadcore and worm harnesses presented off planner boards in the 60- to 70-foot range.
Looks like the AMARA-CAN walleye event should find the fish active and in good numbers for a two-day team event. Welcome back New York Walleye members. In case you are new to the area, the AMARA-CAN is a team tournament that allows a minimum of two anglers and a maximum of four to fish for walleye over a two-day period. The event is a timed event with designated departure from a single common area (Dunkirk Harbor) in two separate groups. Teams are allowed to weigh-in a maximum of five walleye per day. The start times and deadlines alter both days. The teams with the top 10 heaviest accumulative weight of walleyes will win cash awards for 10 places in descending order.
Perch fishing has been a struggle lately, but the Pauszek brothers found the evening bite was more productive than the day-time attempt. Holding anchor was also a struggle earlier in the week, but the brothers managed a couple dozen fish about 11 inches in length Monday night compared to barely a dozen during the day with four anglers on board. We are marking lots of fish moving under us, but sheephead, white perch and silver bass have also been in the area. Rick Miller in Irving reported two or three dozen perch is also the norm out of the "Cat" lately. Just an observation: On Monday evening, there was a full moon out and the perch continued to bite for about 40 minutes after sun down. Usually they diminish after 10 minutes. Putting on new hooks and switching to one pole with fire line and ultra light action improved our hook-up ratio some.
Calendar:
The New York walleye Association will present its two-day team walleye tournament the AMARA-CAN on Saturday and Sunday. Signups will be available Thursday and Friday at Chadwick Bay Marina facility, under the big top. Watch for additional features pertaining to this event in the OBSERVER on Saturday, Sunday and Monday.
National Wild Turkey Federation local chapter of the Lake Shore Long beards will host its annual Youth JAKES Day on July 21 at the Westfield Fish & Game Club.
The Southtowns Walleye Association of WNY will host its Catch & Release Kids Fishing Derby on July 21 at the Tift Nature Preserve, Fuhrman Boulevard, in Buffalo, for children aged 15 years and younger. Signups are at 7:30 a.m., with the last weigh-in at 11. Free hot dogs and goodies from 11 a.m. until noon will be available, and coffee juice, milk and donuts from 7:30 to 10 a.m. Awards will be presented at noon and all participants are asked to bring their own fishing gear. Call 861-5687 for details or call 649- 8202.
The Lake Erie Chapter of the Federation of Fly Fishers will be having a Kids Fly Fishing course Sunday, July 22, starting at 9 a.m., at the Commissioner Cabin at Chestnut Ridge, in Orchard Park. The event is for ages 8-15, who are accompanied by an adult. The event will include fly tying, casting, entomology, inspecting the lake for insect life and testing casting skills, as well as fly fishing on the lake during the day. The U.S. Fish & Wildlife will also host a seminar. The event charge is $10 for the parent and child participant. Each additional child is $5. To sign up, call 675-4766 or 549-1977. Picnic cuisine and soda will be provided.
There will be a yellow perch fishing tournament at the North East Marina on Saturday, July 28. For details, go to www.nechamber.org or call (814) 725-4262.
Gene Pauszek is an OBSERVER outdoors columnist. Send comments to sports@observertoday.com.
