The shallow-water walleye bite kicked in just in time for the Southtowns Walleye Association's annual tournament that starts Saturday.

Trollers set up as shallow as 40 feet and rarely move beyond 60-foot depths off Barcelona Harbor for the relatively shallow, near-shore bite. Every expert has his or her pet lure presentation.

Worm harnesses get major mention, but well chosen "stickbaits," minnow-type lures, have seen some successes from Barcelona to shoals off Buffalo. Smaller sizes ("junior" versions of Thundersticks, Rapalas, etc.) that measure less than 3 inches, have been doing well this season. Add an assortment of smaller spoons, and 'eye trollers are really giving the fish something to see in waters thick with baitfish.

Anglers can register for the Southtowns Tournament Thursday night at the new clubhouse, S-5895 Southwestern Blvd. in Hamburg and as late as Friday evening. For details, call 649-8202 or go to southtownswalleye.org.

Perch prospects are wide-ranging. Boaters out of Cattaraugus Creek and Sturgeon Point go to 60-foot depths to find schooling. But shore casters at Dunkirk Harbor were pulling sizes and numbers of ringbacks from the city pier during east winds. Rick Miller speculates the bait moved in with adverse winds and moved perch schools.