Category: News

Written by NutmegTrout21710Mar, 2013

Banquet reservations must be in by Friday

Reservations for Nutmeg TU’s 36th annual banquet must be received by Friday, March 15.

The banquet will be held Saturday, March 23, at the Restaurant at Tashua Knolls Golf Course in Trumbull.

Doors open at 6:30 p.m., with an open bar till 7:30 p.m.

The evening will include a door prize, raffles, a silent auction and presentations on Nutmeg TU activities.

Information is available from Banquet Chairman Chuck MacMath at cmacmath59@yahoo.com.

Click to download a printable reservation form, to be printed and returned to the address on it by March 15.

Click here for directions to the restaurant.

Antoine Bissieux, “The French Flyfisherman”
Written by NutmegTrout21708Mar, 2013

Learn nymphing with ‘The French Flyfisherman’ March 19

 

Antoine Bissieux, “The French Flyfisherman”

Antoine Bissieux, “The French Flyfisherman” will discuss fising with nymphs at the next meeting of Nutmeg TU Chapter 217 Tuesday, March 19, at 7 p.m. at Port 5.

A 2012 Orvis-endorsed guide, Bissieux leads fly fishing trips on the Farmington River in Connecticut, the Battenkill River in Vermont, and other places where you can cast at a fish.

After teaching thousands of beginner anglers and guiding at the Orvis fly fishing flagship school in Manchester, Vt.,  he now focuses on the Farmington, offering guided trips, classes, instruction all catered to each fisherman’s expectations. All levels and abilities are welcome.

The French Fisherman can also be heard on National Public Radio.

More information can be found a bissieux.com.

Written by NutmegTrout21705Mar, 2013

Nutmeg TU reaching out to help veterans

Nutmeg TU is taking part in two opportunities to help those who have given so much for our nation.

The First Congregational Church in Branford will host Take a Vet Fishing Saturday, March 16, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the church, 1009 Main St., Branford.

Now in its seventh year, the Veterans Outreach Mission provides Christian outreach and fellowship to our Veterans in the CT VA Healthcare System and beyond. Information can be found at firstcongregationalbranford.org/Vets.html.

Volunteers may be asked to help a vet learn fly tying and casting, but may also be asked to help with food, camaraderie etc.; either way, you’ll be making a tremendous difference in a disabled veteran’s life.

Those who wish to help should RSVP to Edward Ochman, fatalbertandernie@yahoo.com.

Nutmeg members interested in carpooling can email John at gmorresi@gmail.com.

Trout Unlimited’s Veterans Service Program will meet Thursday, March 21, from 10 a.m. to noon at the Newington Health Center of the Veterans Affairs (VA), 555 Willard Ave., Newington, in the 3rd floor, Conference Room.

Nutmeg volunteers will join members of the Farmington Valley chapter of Trout Unlimited to teach disabled veterans fly tying (and, weather permitting, fly casting). Please bring spare fly tying materials.

Space is limited to five volunteers.

RSVP to James Iannone, Farmington Valley TU Program Lead, at 860-523-7545  or jdiannone@comcast.net.

Written by NutmegTrout21705Mar, 2013

Fears budget could kill hatchery

There are fears Gov. Dannel P. Malloy’s budget for 2013-15 could spell the end of the Kensington Hatchery.

The forums on flyaddict.com include a discussion and links to the page in the proposed budget that details the cuts, including savings $150,000 toward closing the massive deficit by closing a hatchery. The Office of Fiscal Analysis, a nonpartisan advisory group, projects the deficit at $138.6 million, twice the Malloy administration’s projection of $64.4 million, according to the CT Mirror.

Page 3 of the forum on flyaddict.com includes names and contact info for members of the committee involved in the decision so fishermen can speak out before it’s too late.

Written by NutmegTrout21704Mar, 2013

Angler’s Guides not printed

The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection reports that the full print version 2013 CT Angler’s Guide will be published and distributed in early April.

An electronic version of the 2012 Guide continues to be available online.

There are no new regulations in effect for the 2013 season at this time, according to the DEEP; all regulations found in the 2012 guide remain in effect.

Written by NutmegTrout21703Mar, 2013

Nutmeg TU banquet reservations due March 15

Reservations, and donations for prizes, are needed now for Nutmeg TU’s 36th annual banquet.

The banquet will be held Saturday, March 23, at the Restaurant at Tashua Knolls Golf Course in Trumbull.

Doors open at 6:30 p.m., with an open bar till 7:30 p.m.

The evening will include a door prize, raffles, a silent auction and presentations on Nutmeg TU activities.

Donations of prizes are still needed. To donate a prize or volunteer to help with the banquet, contact Banquet Chairman Chuck MacMath at cmacmath59@yahoo.com.

Click to download a printable reservation form, to be printed and returned to the address on it by March 15.

Click here for directions to the restaurant.

Written by NutmegTrout21702Mar, 2013

Housatonic Fly Fishermen’s expo March 9

The Housatonic Fly Fishermen’s Association  will hold its annual expo Saturday, March 9, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 65 N. Main St., Wallingford.

Directions can be found at hffa.net.

A $1 donation is requested.

Those who attend a Salt Water Tying Class at 10:30 a.m. will learn how to tie two salt water flies, Bear’s Bunker, & Paul’s Bucktail Bait Fish. The cost is $1; all materials and hooks provided. Seating is limited; reservations must be made with Paul Dinice at 203-305-3850  or pdinice@snet.net.

HFFA Members will be on-hand to tie many of the best patterns used on the upper and lower Housatonic. Those who attend may take a vise and join in tying (materials provided for free). There will also be casting demonstrations and lessons (weather permitting), a gear sale and swap, vendors, guides and fly fishing experts to answer questions.

Written by NutmegTrout21701Mar, 2013

Connecticut begins spring trout stocking

Connecticut DEEP Inland Fisheries staff began the 2013 spring trout stockings this week. Among the areas scheduled to be stocked sometime in the next two weeks are many of the  state’s Trout Management Areas (TMAs).

Early spring stockings are very dependent on weather and site conditions. (Click here for trout stocking maps.)

As of March 1, fishing season is closed on many rivers and streams, and at a number of lakes and ponds.

All 16 of the state’s Trout Management Areas remain open year-round, but all are catch-and-release only during winter and early spring.

Class I Wild Trout Management Areas are also open year-round for catch-and-release fishing.

Written by NutmegTrout21725Feb, 2013

Nutmeg TU explores veterans service project

Nutmeg TU is looking for volunteers to help take veterans fishing.

National is launching TU’s Veterans Service Program, involving those who have served the country in conservation projects and fly fishing instruction.

Currently there is a program called Take a Vet Fishing at First Branford Congregational (www.firstcongregationalbranford.org/vets.html), led primarily by Hammonasset TU volunteers. That meets quite a distance from Fairfield County; they have so many vets go there for winter fly tying and for warmer-season fishing that they have a constant need of volunteers.

On Thursday, Feb/ 21, from 10 a.m. to noon, voluuntters from the Farmington Valley Chapter of Trout Unlimited will be joined by volunteers from Candlewood Valley TU in the third floor conference room at the Newington Health Center of the Veterans Affairs, 555 Willard Ave.Newington, CT (860-666-6951). Anyone interested should contact Gian Morresi at 203-763-4015  or gmorresi@gmail.com.

Port 5 Naval Veterans, new home of Nutmeg TU meetings (see related story) takes blind veterans fishing once a year.