Free fishing license day June 18

Those who want to learn to fish may try the sport without spending money on a license on the first of two free fishing license days on Fathers Day, Sunday, June 18.

As a result of legislation passed in 2014 (Public Act 14-201) DEEP can designate up to two dates per year as “Free Fishing License Days.” To fish on these days, anyone — resident or non-resident — can obtain a free one-day fishing license good for both the inland and marine districts, a perfect time to “try before you buy.”  DEEP encourages all anglers to “cast it forward,” by inviting someone who has never fished or someone who has not fished in a long time to accompany them on a fishing trip.
The free license to fish on this Sunday is now available through the mobile friendly DEEP online sportsmen licensing system (www.ct.gov/deep/sportsmenlicensing).
This day provides families the opportunity to plan a family outing focused around fishing together as each family member 16 years of age or older can obtain a free one-day fishing license.

Fish the Farmington June 11

Join Nutmeg TU for a morning of exciting fishing on one of the best rivers in Connecticut, the Farmington River, on Sunday, June 11, starting at 6 a.m.  You may come earlier if you wish, I will be there setting up and getting some quick fishing in.

We will be meeting up in the Church Pool parking lot – look for the Nutmeg TU banner and a silver Subaru Forester.  

Open to everyone, beginners and experienced anglers alike, this trip is a great way to learn the river. Spinning or fly fishing, all are welcome.   If you are new to the river or fishing, I will show you techniques and strategies that will have you catching trout in no time.  If you are more experienced, I will have maps of spots you can fish. 

Following fishing, everyone is welcome to join us for a Breakfast Buffet at the Log House Restaurant.   BYOB  (Buy Your Own Breakfast)

Please RSVP to Davide Edgeworth so we know who to expect.  Text or Email (203) 627-5817 or email – Eggsofan@hotmail.com. You can also RSVP by clicking here.

Harold MacMillan

Housatonic, youth fishing topics May 16

Harold MacMillanHarold MacMillan of Housatonic River Outfitters will discuss late spring and summer fishing on the river in northwestern Connecticut when he visits the Nutmeg Chapter of Trout Unlimited on Tuesday, May 16, at 7 p.m.

Teen Devin Brandes will also speak about his initiative, You Can Fly, which teaches youths from Bridgeport and other areas how to fly fish.

The meeting at Port 5 Naval Veterans, 69 Brewster St., Bridgeport, is open to the public free of charge; food and a cash bar are available. Tuesday night’s meeting will also include the election of officers for Nutmeg TU.

MacMillan has more than 30 years of fly fishing experience and has traveled to Russia and Belize, but his talk will focus on spots closer to Fairfield County. Cool water refuges make for strong trout fishing in late spring and early summer, and smallmouth bass are ready to put a bend in a rod when air temperatures make it too hot to target trout.

Housatonic River Outfitters Inc. is a full-service fly shop, outfitter, and lodging and guide service at 24 Kent Road in Cornwall Bridge, at the junction of routes 44 and 7. The shop is located on the Housatonic River, famous for some of the most prolific mayfly and caddis hatches in the East. More information may be found at dryflies.com.

The Mianus Chapter of Trout Unlimited is sponsoring a fishing trip and barbecue at Housatonic Meadows State Park in Cornwall Bridge on Saturday, May 20, from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Lunch will be served at 1 p.m. To register visit mianustu.org.

The Nutmeg Chapter of Trout Unlimited 217 encompasses Fairfield, Westport, Weston, Easton,  Redding, Trumbull, Monroe, Bridgeport, Stratford, Milford, and Shelton. Its mission is to conserve, protect and restore coldwater fisheries and their watersheds, particularly in local rivers such as the Saugatuck, Mill, Aspetuck, Pequonnock, and Farmill. More information may be found at nutmegtrout.org.

Pootatuck trip postponed

 

 

UPDATE: Due to forecasts for heavy rains and cold, the trip to the Pootatuck River scheduled for Saturday, May 13, has been postponed.

Watch this site for a new date.

ORIGINAL STORY: Nutmeg TU will lead a fishing trip, open to the public, to the Pootatuck River Class 1 Wild Trout Management Area in Newtown on Saturday, May 13, at 9 a.m.

Saturday, May 13, is Free Fishing Day in Connecticut. No license is required, but all other regulations remain in effect.

The trip is open to all. The group will gather just past the Post Office at 23 Commerce Road, at the Trout Management Area sign. Click here for a map on which you can get directions. The sign is near a parking area.

Fly fishing on the Pootatuck River in Sandy Hook lets you enjoy a less used waterway set in a gorgeous natural setting. Veterans and youth welcome. Take fly rods, waders and other gear. Anglers will meet for lunch after fishing.

David Ader will lead the trip.

Click here to RSVP https://www.meetup.com/EASTERN-FAIRFIELD-COUNTY-FISHING-CONSERVATION-Meetup/events/238967315/.

Election of officers May 16

Nutmeg Trout Unlimited Chapter 217 will hold its election of officers at its regular meeting Tuesday, May 16, at Port 5, 69 Brewster St. Bridgeport.

The following slate was approved by the Nutmeg TU Board of Directors at its meeting on April 4:

President – Rich Rosen

Vice President – Jerry Goldstein

Treasurer – open

Assistant Treasurer – open

Secretary – Rich Rosen

Communications – John Kovach, Jerry Goldstein

Conservation – Chuck Petruccelli

Membership – Ed Grzeda

TIC – Dave Edgeworth

Event/meeting planning – John Kovach

Fundraising – open

Anyone interested in serving may contact Rich Rosen.

Free fishing day May 13

Saturday, May 13, is Free Fishing Day in Connecticut.

Anyone can fish, inland or marine waters, without having to have a fishing license. According to the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, this is a great chance to share your passion for fishing with your whole family, your significant other, or your BFFs.

All size limits, harvest limits, and other regulations still apply.

Good luck!

Planting, fishing on the Mill April 29

The Nutmeg and Mianus chapters of Trout Unlimited will gather to celebrate Arbor Day by planting trees along the Mill River in Fairfield Saturday, April 29, from 9 a.m. to noon.

The project is the latest step in Trout Unlimited’s ongoing rehabilitation of the Mill River, a stream that is home to native brook trout and wild brown trout. Invasive flora has been removed, and native species are being planted along the banks.

Donuts and coffee will be provided.  Please bring a shovel.

Friends, kids and anyone who wants to help may attend.

Register below in “Leave A Reply” by sending us your Name & Email Address and stating April 29 Planting Volunteer in the Comments Box.  You can also register at mianustu.org. 

All Volunteers are asked to register to help with food counts and planning.  After registering watch your emails for any additional information and where to meet.

Feel free to take a fly rod to fish the Mill with us after planting is done. 

We look forward to seeing you there and come back to this site often for more of our fun events.

Wait list for Limestone trip

 

UPDATE: The Nutmeg TU trip to the Limestone Club is fully booked. Anyone interested may follow the steps outlined below to be put on a waiting list. The chapter will also look into the possibility of booking a second date.

ORIGINAL STORY: We are taking reservations for the 3rd annual Nutmeg Trout Unlimited trip to the Limestone Trout Club in Canaan on Thursday, May 11.

The private club is fly fishing only. This is primarily shore fishing, with a few boats available.

Please arrive by 9 a.m.  Fishing is permitted from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

There are three deep (70-plus feet) quarry ponds and three shallow ponds providing a variety of venues and conditions.

While most members practice catch and release, catch and kill is allowed for one fish 17 inches or smaller per person.

Information can be found at http://limestonetroutclub.com/Limestone%20Trout%20Club/Limestone%20Trout%20Club.html

Fees

The fee for TU members is $30 and includes lunch.

Non TU are welcome and the fee is $50, which includes a 1-year introductory membership to Trout Unlimited.

Payment is due by Monday May 8th.

Scott Simko will be available to guide, $50 for one hour for 2 people, $75 for two hours. Sign up for a time slot in advance by emailing Scott at sdshunter@hotmail.comPlease pay Scott directly for his guiding service when you arrive.

To reserve your spot, limited to 20 anglers:

Please RSVP to Rich Rosen rhrosen@aol.com. Include in your email the number of people and which TU chapter you belong to.

Checks should be made out to: Nutmeg Trout Unlimited, and mailed to:

Nutmeg Trout Unlimited

P.O. Box 1594

Fairfield, CT  06825

Lessons learned from last year

Bring some egg patterns, and bug spray for the ticks.

Directions to the Limestone Fishing Club:

Take Route 8 north to Winsted and turn left onto Route 44 west.

Drive through Norfolk and past the Blackberry River Inn and Freunds Farm Market in North Canaan.

After passing the marker for East Canaan turn right onto Casey Hill Road. (There is a sign on the right at the corner, set back from the road for O’Connor Sand & Gravel.)

Drive a short distance to a stop sign, where Casey Hill Rd. becomes Allyndale Rd.

Continue straight on Allyndale Road about 100 yards. The unmarked driveway is on the left, across from a driving range.

The clubhouse phone is 860-249-9996.

Small stream tactics taught April 22

Nutmeg TU will hold a clinic on tactics for small streams Saturday, April 22, at Lake Mohegan in Fairfield.

Participants should gather in the main parking lot at the beach at Lake Mohegan, located at the intersection of Morehouse Highway and Tahmore Drive in Fairfield.

Click here to RSVP.

Charles Petruccelli, past president of Nutmeg Trout Unlimited Chapter 217 and a certified casting instructor, will offers lessons in casts and tactics that can be used on smaller streams around Fairfield County and beyond.

Petruccelli demonstrated how to tie small, hackle-less flies that can attract the trout early in the spring at the March Nutmeg TU meeting. Click here to watch that demonstration as it appeared on Yankee Fisherman on the HAN Network. On the March 9 episode of Yankee Fisherman Petruccelli showed how to tie a blue winged olive, a tie he says you “don’t leave home without.”

Election of officers at May 16 meeting

Nutmeg Trout Unlimited Chapter 217 will hold its election of officers at its regular meeting Tuesday, May 16, at Port 5, 69 Brewster St. Bridgeport.

The following slate was approved by the Nutmeg TU Board of Directors at its meeting on April 4:

President – Rich Rosen

Vice President – Jerry Goldstein

Treasurer – Phil Jacques – to be replaced by open, Jerry to get signature authority

Assistant Treasurer – open

Secretary – Rich Rosen

Communications – John Kovach, Jerry Goldstein

Conservation – Chuck Petruccelli

Membership – Ed Grzeda

TIC – Dave Edgeworth

Event/meeting planning – John Kovach

Fundraising – open

Anyone interested in serving may contact Rich Rosen.

The next Nutmeg TU board meeting will be held Tuesday, May 2, at 7 p.m. at the Fairfield Public Library’s Main Branch. Board meetings are open to the public.