This weekend, members of the Northern Chautauqua Conservation Club (NCCC) will gather on Sunday, Feb. 1, for their annual election of officers. Recording secretary Zen Olow reports that the “Con Club” folks contribute to many youth-oriented activities all year long at Valley Outdoors in Cassadaga. The club supports the Fredonia and Forestville High School trap team activities, where ECO Jerry Kinney is the coach and mentor. The trap teams compete in state competitions each spring and fall. Safety awareness training and active shooting activities with adult mentor supervision occur at the gracious Hanover Rod and Gun Club. The NCCC, Valley Outdoors, and Hanover Rod and Gun ensure that safety is always a top priority, making these activities not only enjoyable for the kids, but also secure. As a staple of the local community, hats off to the currently elected NCCC board members and officers who are instrumental in promoting the goodness of the outdoors for area youth.

Similarly, hats-off accolades to the Lakeshore Longbeards Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation (NWTF), who also support area youth outdoor events and activities. Their 26th annual Conservation and Hunting Heritage banquet was held last weekend at Blessed Mary Angela Parish Center. Longbeard members thank all who attended and supported the fundraiser, which was primarily designated to gather funding for the upcoming annual Jake’s Day event for youth held at the Westfield Fish and Game Club each year.

A recent drive-by Dunkirk Harbor showed what appears to be good ice. Clear blue ice is the best for ice fishing as it indicates strong, dense ice, while milky or dark ice can be weak and unsafe. Ice anglers beware, though; the Lake Erie winds can shift water levels quickly, allowing under-ice water level changes and pressure cracks to develop, creating potential for unsafe conditions. So please be aware if you decide to ice fish in the harbor. Related, I noticed that weather forecaster Andy Parker recently posted online that Lake Erie’s ice is thick enough to create issues for lake freighters. The Manitoulin freighter has been stuck in the ice near Buffalo Harbor since Wednesday morning. Looks like the ice boom is working! Reports are that an icebreaker is headed over to help. It could be the first time since 2018 that Lake Erie ice fishing could happen.

On that note, anglers maintaining their awareness for personal safety and fishing on Dunkirk Harbor ice are catching occasional steelhead and yellow perch. The same is true for anglers fishing at the Buffalo Small Boat Harbor, where Steve Hawkins at Captain Bob’s Bait Shop on the harbor reports that about 100 ice anglers occupy spots on weekends near the newly constructed permanent boat docks. The docks provide attractive structure for crappie, perch, small walleye and northern pike. Pike to 35 inches have been taken there. In ANY Lake Erie-related embayment that is frozen right now, including Barcelona Harbor, ice anglers please stay aware for your safety.

Photo courtesy of Hogan’s Hut Hand-made spud bars crafted by John Stow at ironwood Artworks are colorful and are a mandatory safety tool for ice anglers. They are on sale at Hogan’s Hut on Route 394. Hogan’s Hut photo.

Chautauqua Lake ice is more certain and safer, with the entire lake frozen end to end. Mike Sperry reports that anglers report the ice is four to seven inches thick in most places. Catches of crappie, bluegills, sunfish and walleye are coming in from anglers. The highest angler occupancy is at the Mayville end, where the perch bite has been very good for young and old. Success across the lake is a testament to the thrill and joy of ice fishing, motivating anglers to head out and experience the same.

At his Chautauqua Reel Outdoors Bait and Tackle Shop on Ashville Bay on Route 394, Sperry offers complete ice fishing rigs with a sensitive fishing rod with reel and line — complete rigs under $30. Sperry also provides friendly and accurate fishing advice on where, when and how to catch winter fish under the ice layer. His friendly guidance is always as accurate as can be. Just down the road in Stow, also on Route 394, but near the I-86 bridge, John Stow is offering hand-forged spud bars in Hogan’s Hut bait store section. Made by Ironwood Artworks, the business end of the spud bars end is painted brightly with fluorescent orange or fluorescent green color options and a wrist strap at one end. The cost varies from $55 to $65. Everyone that goes ice fishing should carry a spud bar.

The Chautauqua County Federation of Sportsmen monthly meeting for January was postponed from the usual fourth Wednesday of the month this week and will move to next week Wednesday, Feb. 5, at 7 p.m. Monthly federation meetings are held at the Lakewood Rod and Gun Club, located at 431 E. Terrace Ave., in Lakewood. President Zen Olow wanted everyone to be safe during the recent ice, snow and extreme cold these past few days. Among other items, Olow said the agenda will include a discussion of youth lifetime license awards and the details of the annual banquet planned for April. Member club participation in this meeting is important, as results will shape the future of our outdoor community and the activities.

Gotta love the outdoors!

CALENDAR

Feb. 1: Northern Chautauqua Conservation Club, annual elections day, 1 N. Mullet St., Dunkirk. 716-366-8836.

Feb. 1: Kinzua Dam 16th annual eagle watch, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., visitors center, Warren County, Pennsylvania.; free entry all ages.

Feb. 1-2: NY Musky EXPO, Chautauqua Harbor Hotel, 10 Dunham Ave., Celoron. More than 70 booths, live lure demos, lure swap night, more. Children 12 and under are free. Info: 716-489-2800.

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NOTE: Send Calendar info or related outdoor news to forrestfisher35@yahoo.com.