Hunters are all dressed in camo outfits, making themselves hard to see by other hunters. Please remember that safety is paramount. Stay aware of other hunters and movements and look beyond your aim to ensure a safe shot.

The New York State Freshwater Fishing Season starts for several species, including walleye, northern pike, pickerel and tiger musky. Except locally, note that tiger musky in Chautauqua County opens June 1 and runs through Nov. 30 with a daily bag limit of one and a minimum size of 40 inches. The open fishing season for these fish species runs from May 1 through March 15 of the following year. There is no closed season for yellow perch, white perch, sunfish, crappie, lake whitefish and bullheads, but there are daily bag limits and minimum size restrictions to keep in mind.

The yellow perch fishing in Lake Erie has been impressive, with a 50-fish-per-day per angler bag limit. Lake Erie anglers are fishing at depths of 50-60 feet between Cattaraugus Creek and Sturgeon Point (Sturgeon Point marina and boat launch remain closed). Live minnows fished at the bottom work great for perch. The crappie fishing in Chautauqua Lake has been very good, and while the Ashville Bay Marina fishing has slowed just a bit, the crappies are just getting into their spawning phase up and down the lake, and some good fish still frequent the canals. Right now, at the north end of the lake near Mayville, action is picking up for crappies. DEC reports that crappies are available in many canals, near stream inlets, and in sheltered bays under 8 feet deep around weedbeds or other structures.

Small jigs tipped with a small minnow, 1-inch tube, or other small plastics are good crappie offerings. At Chautauqua Lake, like other waterways in New York, when the walleye season opens tomorrow, the near-shore shallows are a good bet for shore casters at night. Public parking and shore access are available at several WMU sites along Chautauqua Lake. Tom’s Point is popular. Boaters typically do well with electric motor trolling and casting stickbaits. The shore anglers connect by casting stickbaits like the F9 and F11 Rapala and similar lures. Newbies can learn more about Chautauqua Lake shore and boat access by visiting https://dec.ny.gov/places/chautauqua-lake.

The Ashville Bay marina canals have yielded some large crappies this year, like this 16 ½-inch crappie caught by Tanner Ramsey. Photo courtesy of Chautauqua Reel Outdoors Guide and Tackle Shop

The Lake Erie walleye season also kicks off on May 1 with night fishing along the near-shore reefs and shoals, the best place to start. But remember, safety is paramount. The shallower reefs and bars are typically the most productive for the chilly waters of the early season. Popular methods include shore-casting stickbaits with chest-high waders or trolling stickbaits at around 1.5 mph over rocky areas in 6-15 feet of water. The most popular areas for this type of fishing are the shoreline between Dunkirk and Barcelona Harbors and between Sturgeon Point and Woodlawn, where shoals and other rocky-gravel bottom areas are located. On calm nights in May and early June, these areas can easily be found by the number of boats trolling or casting. Look for the running lights. Remember, under Brianna’s Law in New York state, all motorboat operators must complete a boating safety course and obtain a certificate from the NYS Office of Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation when boating after Jan. 1, 2025. Colder than usual Lake Erie water temperatures could impact early walleye fishing, so it might pay to focus on catching jumbo yellow perch for a week or two.

Speaking of yellow perch, the Southtowns Walleye Association of Western New York is holding their very popular one-day Lake Erie yellow perch derby this weekend, May 3. Entry fee is $40 per person. This event, which has become an early Lake Erie fishing season staple, is a great opportunity to join a community of fellow anglers. Fishing is allowed from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m., and the weigh-in is at the SWA clubhouse at 5895 Southwestern Blvd., in Hamburg, with an “All-You-Can-Eat-Perch-Fish-Fry” for every entrant. To learn more or enter, visit https://southtownswalleye.com/pdf/Perch_Tournament_25.pdf or call Paul Sanchez at 716-228-6520. If the event is canceled due to lake or weather conditions, all the prize money will be raffled off at the clubhouse. The payout for the contest or the raffle is based on 100-boat participation and starts at $599 for first place, $500 for second place, and down to 10th place for $100. This club has been active and functional among 100s anglers of WNY for the last 42 years. I was among the 17 founding members, and astonishingly, the SWA club is still the one place where newbies can learn how to catch walleye today.

So, there you have it, a glimpse of why May 1 significantly expands outdoor recreational opportunities for women and sportsmen across New York. But the calendar holds so much more excitement. Be sure to review the kid’s events, learn-to-fish events, the Tri-County trout contest, and more below. With such a diverse range of activities, there’s something for everyone to look forward to this season.

Gotta love the outdoors.

CALENDAR

May 3: SWA 1-Day Perch Derby, Lake Erie, $40 entry, Southtowns Walleye, Info: Paul Sanchez, 716-228-6520

May 3: Kids & Adults Fishing Clinic, Free, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Gowanda Volunteer Fire Dept., 230 Aldrich St., Gowanda; Register: https://www.register-ed.com/events/view/225644; Info: gowandafirerescue@gmail.com.

May 3: Backcountry Hunters/Anglers, NYS spring turkey kickoff seminar, 2-4 p.m., w/Brad Cimino, Rusty Nickel Brewing, 4350 Seneca St., $20, W. Seneca, Tickets: https://www.backcountryhunters.org.

May 3-4: Tri-County Trout Derby, $30 registration fee for kids or adults, 400 tagged trout, cash prizes $25-$1,000, visit www.arcadeareachamber.org for details and registration.

May 3-4: NY ASA Archery Federation multi-state qualifier, Bear Lake Rod/Gun, registration starts 7:30 a.m., breakfast available, 4391 Stockton-Cassadaga Road, County Road 58, Stockton; Info: Rudy Abersold, 716-397-9717.