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Written by NutmegTrout21712Apr, 2017

Kayak fishing for trout topic April 18

Every angler has seen that trout that’s on the far side of water that’s just too deep to wade, and just out of reach of the longest cast.

Kayaks have brought those trout, usually big ones, into reach for anglers who choose to use them, and members of the Nutmeg Chapter of Trout Unlimited will learn how at their next meeting Tuesday, April 18, at Port 5, 69 Brewster St., Bridgeport.

Guest speaker Jesse Roche will teach us how to get started in kayaking and how to use that to reach places we need to get to catch elusive trout.

Roche brings with him eight years of kayaking, as well as a lifetime on the water and outdoors. He comes from a nature -oriented family. From his grandfather, a forrester, and grandmother an Audubon Society member, to his parents, both always outdoors, and father, who worked for years in marine sciences. Instead of Disneyworld, Jesse’s family spent summers in the wilderness of the Minnesota, on boundary waters in an Old Town canoe, and the White Mountains of New Hampshire. He wouldn’t trade it for anything.

After 10 years as a radio personality on 97.7 WCTY FM, he now produces and hosts Fishing Today a weekly radio program on 1310 WICH AM in Norwich as well as a podcast on wich.com.

“It’s basically NPR for fishing,” Roche said. “I try to be information and news-oriented. It’s a lot of fun because both myself and the listener can learn new things about fishing every week.”
Jesse is also involved with the New England Fishery Management Council, serving his first term as a recreational fishing panelist. There he and other representatives from our New England states set up the framework for new fishery regulations.

“I am very conservation oriented. Preserving our fishery means a lot to me,” Roche said. “I look forward to spreading that philosophy as a member of the Black Hall Outfitters Fishing team”

The meeting will also feature a look at opening day weekend and Nutmeg’s Trumbull stream cleanup, and plans for an April 29 planting along the Mill River at the Fairfield-Easton border on Congress Street.

Written by NutmegTrout21703Apr, 2017

Pequonnock cleanup Sunday

What: Fishing and Pequonnock River Cleanup

The Nutmeg Chapter of Trout Unlimited has selected the Pequonnock River in Trumbull for its annual spring river cleanup.

When: Sunday April 9^th from 9-12

Where: Quarry Road in Trumbull, Follow directions for the Bow Tie Theaters. When you are on Quarry Road there will be parking on your right. If you pass the movie theater, you have gone too far. From the parking lot we will split into groups to cover multiple areas along the river.

Timing: The cleanup will begin at 9:00 and end around 10:00 or 10:30. At which point we can go out and enjoy the river and catch some trout.

Trout Unlimited will provide trash bags and water. Please bring your own gloves and wear good shoes.

Click here if you plan to attend.

The fish and our community thank you in advance.

Written by NutmegTrout21724Mar, 2017

Weather moves small stream clinic again

Another weekend, another forecast for foul weather, and another postponement for Nutmeg TU’s small stream tactics clinic.

The clinic is now scheduled for Saturday, April 22. The location remains 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.

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 most recent 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.”

Written by NutmegTrout21724Mar, 2017

Pequonnock cleanup, fishing April 9

Start fishing season off by helping to clean up the Pequonnock before wetting some flies on Sunday, April 9.

First we will meet at 9 a.m. in the parking lot at the start of Quarry Road in Trumbull with bags, gloves, and garbage claws (extendable grabbers) to pick up and bag the debris that has collected along the river.

We follow that with fishing with friends on an often overlooked stretch of the Pequonnock River that teems with fish. The Pequonnock River alternately picks up speed and slows in pools and it makes it final run into Bunnells Pond in Beardsley Park and then on to the Sound. Great fishing can be had on this stretch of the Pequonnock especially this early in the season.

f you choose later to fish Bunnells Pond (the pond at the bottom half of Beardsley Park across from the zoo) itself know that it drops off suddenly and has many hazardous underwater currents. It is prohibited to wade or swim into Bunnells Pond itself. Fishing from the shore of Bunnells Pond is allowed.

Dave Edgeworth will lead the outing.

Click here to RSVP.

Written by NutmegTrout21717Mar, 2017

Fairfield fishing Derby April 1

The Fairfield Police Athletic League will hold its annual fishing trout derby Saturday, April 1, from 9 to 11 a.m., at Gould Manor Park 740 Holland Hill Road.

Registration begins at 7:30 a.m.

The event is free for children ages 3 to 15.

Prizes will be awarded for the largest and smallest fish.

A registration form may be found at fairfieldpal.org/activities/fishing-pal-trout-derby.html

Anglers should take their own tackle; a limited amount of bait will be made available from Jimmy O’s, 3295 Fairfield Ave., Bridgeport.

Written by NutmegTrout21717Mar, 2017

Snow again moves small stream clinic

A forecast for snow and wind on Saturday, March 18, has postponed Nutmeg TU’s small stream tips event again. The next scheduled date is Saturday, March 25, at 10 a.m.

The location remains 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.

The event had been postponed to Saturday, March 18, due to forecasts for cold, windy weather on Saturday, March 11.

Written by NutmegTrout21710Mar, 2017

Biologist shares info on big fish

Mike Humphreys, the DEEP Inland Fisheries Biologist for the western district, will speak at the next meeting of Nutmeg TU, set for Tuesday, March 21, at 7 p.m. at Port 5, 69 Brewster St., Bridgeport.

Mike is a longtime fish biologist, holding a master’s degree from the University of Tennessee with more than 30 years in his profession.

His topics will include updates on the Housatonic River, focusing on trout in the Cornwall TMA, and an assessment on wild trout in Connecticut streams, as well as the latest information about the effects of the recent drought on fish in the state.

In past 25 years with the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, his work has focused on Statewide Stream Electrofishing Surveys, a Statewide Wild Trout Research and Management Project, and Housatonic River Research and Management.

During previous, well attended visits, Humphreys spoke to Nutmeg TU about his findings on trout survival with run of river in the Housatonic TMAs, various fish stocking programs, and regulation changes for some sections of the Mill River.

Written by NutmegTrout21710Mar, 2017

Small stream clinic moved to March 18

UPDATE: A forecast for snow and wind on Saturday, March 28, has postponed this event again. The next scheduled date is Saturday, March 25, at 10 a.m.

A clinic on how to fish small streams around Fairfield County has been postponed to Saturday, March 18, due to forecasts for cold, windy weather on Saturday, March 11.

The venue remains 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.

Written by NutmegTrout21705Mar, 2017

Where do your license fees go?

Those who plan to fish TMAs while special regulation areas are the only water open to fishing will need a 2017 license. Click here to purchase directly from the state.

Bill Hyatt, director of the Bureau of Natural Resources, and Peter Aarrestad, director of Fisheries after the Inland and Marine divisions were merged, recently visited the Connecticut Council of Trout Unlimited with an update on the finances of fishing in Connecticut. Click here to watch an edited version as broadcast on Yankee Fisherman on the HAN Network. Click here to watch an unedited version of the hour-long presentation.

In addition to clearing up a common myth about license fees (they are not being “raided” by the state), topics include:

Budget cuts;

Steps taken to provide services with less;

Where does the money that supports DEEP programs comes from?

How many anglers are buying fishing licenses?

Will anglers soon need to buy trout and salmon stamps?

What is the status of regulation changes affecting the Mill River in Fairfield?

The DEEP is stocking local waters. (DEEP Photo)

Written by NutmegTrout21705Mar, 2017

Mill and Saugatuck stocked

New trout have been placed in local as the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection has begun stockingTrout Management Areas.

The Mill and Mianus rivers were stocked March 7. On March 3the fly fishing only area on the Saugatuck River in Westport

“While this weekend is looking pretty cold, plan to have “trout fever” at least one day next week when temperatures rebound a bit,” the DEEP posted on the Connecticut Fish and Wildlife feed on Facebook, where stocking updates are posted daily.

Waters other than Trout Management Areas are closed to fishing until opening day on Saturday, April 8.

Anglers will require a 2017 fishing license. Click here for information.