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Written by NutmegTrout21701Mar, 2015

Next meeting to be held March 24

Due to the third Tuesday of this month falling on St. Patrick’s Day, March’s membership meeting will move to the fourth Tuesday of the month, March 24, 2015. This change only affects this March’s meeting.

Mike Humphreys DEEP Inland Fisheries Biologist for the western district, our district, will speak. Of most interest to our chapter, he will present findings from his 5 year study of the effects on trout survival in the Housatonic TMAs from run of the river and different stocking programs, and changes in wild trout management areas, which will include planned changes to the regulations governing sections of the Mill River. Mike will also discuss the Farmington River.

This should be a most informative meeting. Please update your calendars with the change to March 24, 2015 for this meeting. The meeting starts at 7 p.m. at Port 5 in Bridgeport

Written by NutmegTrout21701Mar, 2015

Working to save Kensington Hatchery

The Connecticut Council of Trout Unlimited is fighting to stop cuts in the budget proposed by Gov. Dannel P. Malloy that would eliminate Kensington Hatchery.

The following action alert was sent by the council:

This year’s proposed budget calls for the removal of $195,000 specified as the amount necessary to operate the Kensington Hatchery

The following are impacts of the loss of this hatchery:

Valuable genetic traits defining Connecticut River salmon will be lost forever.

Obtaining eggs for the Trout in the Classroom may be more difficult

The Salmon-in-Schools program, sponsored by the Connecticut River Salmon Association, would be terminated after this school year which would effect 60-70 schools.

Up to 7000 Atlantic Salmon fishing trips in Connecticut will be lost with the end of the brood stocking program.

The unique Seeforellen Brown trout will be lost to Connecticut anglers.

Click here for instructions on what you can tell your membership to do to help. You can copy and paste the information to your own website or in the body of an email (don’t forget the links!) or simply share the link on your Facebook Page, On Twitter, or in an email.

Also, Jim Glowienka will be at the Legislative Office Building in Hartford to testify at the public hearing on Monday, March 2nd at 6:30. We encourage anyone who can to come and stand with TU on this issue.

OTHER IMPORTANT INFORMATION: OPENING DAY OF TROUT SEASON WILL BE APRIL 11TH!

Alicea Charamut

Secretary, CT Council Trout Unlimited

President, Farmington Valley Trout Unlimited

Written by NutmegTrout21724Feb, 2015

Opening day moved to April 11

The Legislative Regulations Review Committee on Tuesday, Feb. 24, approved the Inland Fisheries regulations proposal that includes moving Opening Day one week earlier to the second Saturday in April (instead of its current third Saturday). This means that Opening Day 2015 will be April 11.

A summary of the regulation changes can be found here.

The new regulations are not yet effective. It typically takes a week or so following approval to finish up the legal process and get them over to the office of Secretary of State for official posting. DEEP will post again as soon as they are effective.

Written by NutmegTrout21719Feb, 2015

Nutmeg flea market March 14

Nutmeg TU will hold its second annual flea market Saturday, March 14, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Port 5 Naval Veterans, 69 Brewster St. Bridgeport.

There will be vendor tables, a member exchange, sales and trades of gear and knot tying demonstrations.

Registration must be done in advance. Tables must be reserved by March 7 by sending a form that can be downloaded here to Chuck MacMath by email, cmacmath59@yahoo.com, or postal service to 12 Shelborne Rd., Trumbull, CT 06611.

Contact Chuck at cmacmath59@yahoo.com with questions.

Donations are also welcome. Checks may be made payable to Nutmeg TU.

Written by NutmegTrout21718Feb, 2015

Hatchery, environmental group face axe

The budget proposed by Gov. Dannel P. Malloy would eliminate the Council for Environmental Quality, close the Kensington Hatchery and end the state’s pheasant stocking program.

The spending plan must still be approved by the state legislature.

Click here to read more.

Barry Culp, senior project manager for TRC showing First Selectman Mike Tetreau the clarifiers at the clean up site.

Written by NutmegTrout21716Feb, 2015

Update on Mill River cleanup Feb. 26

Fairfield First Selectman Mike Tetreau announced that the Town of Fairfield will host a public informational meeting regarding the Mill River Cleanup Thursday, Feb. 26, at 7:30 p.m., in the APR/Cafeteria at Mill Hill School, 635 Mill Hill Terrace. The snow date is March 2, at 7:30, at Mill Hill School. Any member of the public is encouraged to attend this meeting to hear an update on the cleanup efforts and to ask questions.

Click here to read more.

Written by NutmegTrout21716Feb, 2015

Prayer Center future debated

The future of the prayer center parcel on South Park Avenue in Easton, near the Mill River, will be the subject of multiple meetings this week.

Easton bought the former Running Brook Farm, a 29-acre property on South Park Avenue, in 2008 for $6.1 million.property after approval at referendum to protect it against dense housing development. It is zoned for three-acre single-family homes.

Click here to read more.

Written by NutmegTrout21709Feb, 2015

Fly tying moves to Tuesdays

The Nutmeg TU fly tying group has moved its meetings to the second and fourth Tuesdays of each month from 7-9 p.m. at Chuck MacMath’s home in Trumbull.

Upcoming gatherings are Feb. 10, Feb. 24 and March 10.

Contact Chuck at cmacmath59@yahoo.com for additional information.

The cost is $2 per session to cover the cost of materials.

All are welcome, beginners are encouraged to attend. Vises, tools and materials are available if needed.

The group resumed in January on the first and third Thursdays, but opted to move to second and fourth Tuesdays.

Written by NutmegTrout21708Feb, 2015

Fly Fishing Film Tour Feb. 26

Mianus TU and Candlewood Valley TU have partnered to present the Fly Fishing Film Tour on Thursday, Feb. 26 at 7 p.m. in at Bow Tie Cinema, 21 River Road,Wilton.

Get out of the house, meet anglers, and have a beer. See some of the best fly fishing films available and have a chance to win fabulous prizes.

Click here to view trailers of the featured films.

The event runs from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. and includes a raffle featuring a TFO fly rod, Patagonia gear, a guided fishing trip, fishing gear and more, as well as a cash bar. Everyone who attends the event will also receive a free ticket in the national drawing for a trip to Belize or Montana’s Missouri River.

Tickets are $20 if purchased by clicking here before the event, $25 at the door.

Written by NutmegTrout21708Feb, 2015

Open up to tube flies Feb. 17

Salmon fishing expert Ben Bilello will open our eyes to tube flies at the next Nutmeg TU meeting Tuesday, Feb. 17, from 7 to 9 p.m. at Port 5, 69 Brewster St, Bridgeport.

European anglers have used tube flies for decades. Despite their advantages, tubes are much less frequently used in North America. As time goes on, tube flies are becoming more popular in our fresh and saltwater fisheries. This presentation will outline when, where and how to use tube flies.

Topics include:

Tube fly advantages
Comparisons of tube/hook sizes and weights
Tube fly styles
Fishing surface and subsurface tubes
Hook selection
Rigging
Tube fly and hook storage
Tube fly tying tools and materials
Tying tips and techniques

When he’s not behind a set of drums in a concert hall, jazz club, or recording studio, Ben Bilello can be found either on the water or behind the vise. While he’s an avid trout fisherman and fly tyer, Ben’s true fly fishing and tying passion is the Atlantic salmon. Ben has pursued wild Atlantic salmon in New Brunswick, Quebec, Nova Scotia, and Russia; landlocked salmon in New York and Vermont, and broodstock Atlantic salmon in Connecticut.

A collection of Ben’s classic and artistic salmon flies are featured in Michael Radencich’s book “Classic Salmon Fly Patterns: Over 1700 Patterns From the Golden Age of Tying,” the largest illustrated compendium of Atlantic salmon flies published to date.

Ben’s work can be seen at his website www.benbilello.com/salmonflies and on his salmon fly blog www.theleaper.blogspot.com.