May 2022 - Hungry Crappie, Gritty Walleye, Sociable Turkey

Chautauqua, New York – May 2, 2022: It’s been a late spring in Chautauqua, NY.  No matter, the fish and turkey are ready for action right now. From shore or boat, spring fishing at Chautauqua Lake offers an exciting time for all ages. Near-shore access for plentiful crappie and walleye offers fish-catching fun for anglers. Boats, kayaks, canoes, car-toppers, and anglers in waders fishing from the shore - all are a common site at Chautauqua Lake during the month of May.

Many anglers focus on the bourgeoning walleye population to be found in the weed flats that follow the shorelines and dock areas all around the lake perimeter. Healthy walleye from 3 -5 pounds are common, but rod-bending monster ‘eyes also reside. There are favored techniques based on light periods of the day. Daytime walleye anglers flip lightweight jigs (1/8-1/4 oz.) with a half-nightcrawler, anchoring their boat, then fan-casting to find a productive spot. Then keep moving to find active fish. Also, savvy anglers drift over the emerging weedbeds looking for an open “hole in the weeds” to drop a jig head with a live leech straight down into the weed cavity in 4 - 6 feet of water.

At nighttime, stick baits become the favored bait. Boat anglers use an electric motor to finesse-troll their way along the weedline. From shore, anglers in chest-high waders, use open-face spinning gear and light braid (8-10 lb) with an abrasion-resistant fluorocarbon leader (10 lb) to cast floating stickbaits. They target the walleye moving along the weedline edges and into the shoreline (Rapala F9 to F13) areas, especially at sunset and the first two hours after that. Preferred colors vary from season to season, but black/silver or blue/silver has been productive for local and visiting anglers alike. The daily walleye limit is 5/day, 15-inch minimum.

With the late spring this year, black and white crappie schools also incurred a later than usual spawning movement, but the crappie bite is going strong along the inside and outside weed edges. Anglers focused on crappie often cast tiny plastic tail jigs (1/32-1/8 oz.) with some anglers using a bobber to allow their jig to suspend. Colors vary from day to day, but dark colors on dark days and bright colors on bright days are among the old rules that still work for fishing success. To assure crappie success, live emerald shiner minnows are presented with a long-shank, thin-wire hook (size 4), and a split-shot under the bobber. Hang on. The daily crappie limit is 25/day, 10-inch minimum. Visit https://www.facebook.com/Hookedon_Fishing-101338224962696 for recent fishing videos

Located in the southwest corner of the Empire State, the Chautauqua turkey woods offer an overwhelming topography of tall roosting trees and rolling hills, perfect for eastern wild turkey hunters to find birds in the evening and identify a location for a sunrise harvest. Public hunting areas abound here, as do private areas - just ask for landowner permission on private lands. Top State Forest Lands that allow turkey hunting include Mt. Pleasant State Forest (1,522 acres), Boutwell Hill (2,944 acres), North Harmony State Forest (2,561 acres), Panama State Forest (1,224 acres), and many other areas. Turkey hunting is permitted from a half-hour before sunrise through 12-noon, from May 1 - May 31, with a season bag limit of two bearded turkeys (one per day). For more than 10 years, Chautauqua County has been in the top three counties of New York State for turkey harvest, that’s quite a record. For licenses and rules, visit https://decals.licensing.east.kalkomey.com/.