Written by NutmegTrout21714Jun, 2021

Farmington River trip on June 26

 

Come fish the West Branch of the Farmington River with Nutmeg Trout Unlimited.  The Farmington is a world class trout stream just up the road in Litchfield County!!  It is a popular river that Connecticut DEEP does a great job stocking.  It is not unusual to see license plates from neighboring states in the parking lot or to have a few tubers float by when the weather is warm.  At 4 p.m., Nutmeg TU invites you to join us at Parrott Delaney Tavern to socialize and talk about the day, fishing, and conservation.  Appetizers are on us!!

When:  Saturday, June 26 at 9 AM.  Socializing at Parrott Delaney Tavern starts around 4 PM. NOTE: The restaurant is a change from the original time announced.

Where:  Ovation Pool in New Harford.  The parking lot is next to the Ovation Guitar Factory and Parrott Delaney Tavern.

Directions:  From Rt 8 North, follow to end of the two-lane highway section.  Make a left onto Rt 44 East and follow for about 5.5 miles into downtown New Hartford.  Make a left onto Reservoir Road (Duncan Donuts on your right), go over the river then make a left onto Greenwoods Road.  Follow Greenwoods Road past Hillside Ave (on right) then bear left down into the parking lot.  The river will be on your left.

Regulations:  You must have current CT Fishing License with a Trout/Salmon Stamp.  This section is part of the Farmington River TMA which allows year-round fishing and where catch-and-release only regulations apply.  Only barbless hooks are permitted in this section; fully pinching down the barb on a barbed hook is acceptable.

General Information:  The West Branch of the Farmington River is a beautiful world class trout fishery.  It is a tailwater which means the water flows are controlled and the river’s temperature stays cold even during hot summer days.  This along with the catch-and-release only regulations in this part of the river means it fishes well all year round and yields some nice sized fish.  Ovation Pool is large and provides a variety of water types which will allow anglers to spread out and find the type of water you like to fish.   

For up-to-date information on river conditions and hatches, check out UpCountry Sportfishing’s River Report at http://www.farmingtonriver.com/river-report.  BTW, when checking river flows for this section, you need to add the contribution from the Still River to the West Branch flows as the Still River enters the Farmington above Ovation Pool.  If you are looking to take a break from fishing, UpCountry Sportfishing is about 1.5 miles away.  It is well stocked with fishing equipment, books, and fly-tying supplies.   

Please join us at Parrott Delaney Tavern around 4 PM for a bite to eat, a refreshment or just talk with other anglers about fishing and conservation.  Appetizers are on Nutmeg TU!!  You can fuel up to fish the evening hatch for the hard core among us!!

You must click here to sign up.

Hope to see you there!!

Contact:  Alex Ziemkiewicz  agz3026@gmail.com or 203-209-6689.

Written by NutmegTrout21717May, 2021

‘Your Healthy Backyard Stream’ helps homeowners

 

Nutmeg TU has published and is distributing “Your Healthy Backyard Stream,” a guide to help homeowners use natural, native methods to protect streams that flow through their property and the wildlife the water supports.

The PDF can be downloaded at https://www.nutmegtrout.org/stream-buffers/

Click here for additional resources to help identify invasive plants and plant a backyard buffer using native species.

Written by NutmegTrout21710May, 2021

Elections, 50th anniversary on Nutmeg calendar

It’s been a beautiful spring and we are lucky we have been able to get outdoors and enjoy our sport. DEEP has done a fantastic job stocking fish this year. To learn more about the states stocking program, John Kovach, our Communications Chair, has invited DEEP to discuss the program and answer all your questions at our May 18 member meeting at 7:00.

Because of Covid, we have had to postpone our conservation efforts and we need your help. Rivers need trash removed; the knotweed along the Mill River on Congress Street is coming back with a vengeance; trees need to be planted; temperature loggers need to be placed in the rivers; and we need to complete the third phase of our revetment project. Our Conservation Chair, Gian Morresi, has created, with the help of Linder Elder and Lindy Hennessy a new handout for riverside property owners detailing best practices to protect their river. If you would like a copy, let Gian know.

Anyone who wants to get more involved, should let any of the board members know to discuss your areas of interest. You can donate a couple of hours, lead a project, lead a fishing trip or join the board. Speaking of the board, we need to elect officers. Voting will take place virtually at our May 18th Zoom meeting. The current officers are:

President – Rich Rosen

Vice President – Jerry Goldstein

Treasurer – Ed Grzeda

Secretary – Rich Rosen

Nominations for new board members and officers are welcome.

As you might remember, last year we won an Embrace a Stream grant from Trout Unlimited and Orvis to improve the fish habitat of the Mill River along Congress Street. We hired TroutScapes to put together a plan. So far, the plan calls for 19 new/enhanced pools and riffles and one handicapped accessible spot. Once the plan is finalized, permits will be secured. Then we will need to raise money to complete the work. If you are interested in helping on this subcommittee, let me know. And speaking of fund raising, board member David Ader has done an outstanding job selling donated gear on eBay. If you have gear you would like to donate to the chapter for resale on eBay or chapter auctions, please let me know and we’ll have someone pick it up.

And finally, did you know that 2021 is the 50th anniversary of the Nutmeg Chapter of Trout Unlimited? A subcommittee, led by John Kovach and Alex Ziemkiewicz, has been established to help us celebrate. Again, we could use help to make this happen.

We have a lot to look forward to. As the state reopens, we will resume in person activities. Starting with outdoor conservation activities this summer and probably resuming in person meetings in September.

Until we meet again on a river or at a meeting, continue to stay safe and healthy.

Rich

Written by NutmegTrout21706May, 2021

Fish Short Beach on May 22

 

Join Nutmeg TU to fish for spring Stripers and Blues at the mouth of the Housatonic River at Short Beach in Stratford Saturday, May 22. We will meet at 1 p.m. to fish the outgoing tide.

There is no cost for the outing, membership is not required, and both fly and spin anglers are welcome. Please click here to register.

This is a great spot for fly or spin fishers and a terrific opportunity to learn about the lower Housy (which is a Spring run hotspot).

We will meet in the parking area by the tennis courts and walk out to the river channel which is accessible from Stratford only around low tide (~12:35 PM on Oct. 24).  We will fish up to the first hour or so of the incoming tide. Much later and the walk back to shore can be problematic as the rising water can create deep channels to cross.

For fly fishing we recommend an 8-10 weight rod.  Most common is an intermediate or sink-tip line but if you tuned into our September Zoom meeting, guide Steve Culton described techniques that make floating lines very effective as well.  Standard Clousers, Deceivers and other baitfish patterns are ideal.

Spin fishers can use a variety of swimming plugs or soft plastics.  You will need full waders.  Ed Grzeda will lead the outing.

Directions to Short Beach can be found here (parking is free before Memorial Day. Meet near the tennis courts.

Email Ed at ctfishcrow@gmail.com or contact at (224) 234-3381 with any questions.

 

Nutmeg TU held its annual trip to the Limestone Club in Canaan, Conn., Wednesday, May 23.
Written by NutmegTrout21717Apr, 2021

Limestone fishing trip May 26

Alex Ziemkiewicz tests his skill in one of the ponds on the grounds of the Limestone Club in Canaan, CT.We are now taking reservations for the 6th annual Nutmeg Trout Unlimited trip to the Limestone Trout Club located in Canaan, Connecticut.

You must use this link, https://limestonetroutclub.com/nutmeg-tu/, to register. The trip is limited to 15 anglers.

The trip 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.

For more information about the club visit limestonetroutclub.com.

There are 3 deep (70-plus feet) quarry ponds and 3 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.

Fees:

The fee for TU members is $50 and includes lunch.

We welcome new TU members. To join TU, go to: Join Trout Unlimited Today | Trout Unlimited Donation Site

Payment is due upon arrival.

Lessons learned from previous years: bring some egg patterns, large flies, tiny flies and bug spray for the ticks.

Directions – Take route 8 north to Winsted and turn left onto Rte. 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 Rd. (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 Rd. about 100 yards. The unmarked driveway is on the left, across from a driving range.

The clubhouse phone is 860-249-9996.

Written by NutmegTrout21717Apr, 2021

Help teach children by raising trout

If you like to teach children and improve habitat for trout, please consider becoming the Trout in the Classroom coordinator for Nutmeg TU.

Trout in the Classroom, offered nationally by TU, teaches children how to monitor water quality, protect the ecosystem and instills conservationism as they raise trout in a tank from eggs to fingerlings, then release the young into a river near their homes and schools. Information on the program and requirements  an be found at troutintheclassroom.org.

Regarding the job, TIC State Coordinator Jim Woodworth wrote: “One thing that we do is to coordinate the delivery of the eggs and food to the schools. The experienced teachers will do most everything by themselves. I do bring replacement supplies to most of the schools and sometimes help with tank setups [with new teachers] and water quality issues. I also help some of the schools with their trout releases.”
The job also ideally entails promoting the program and getting more schools involved.
You get what you put in. The position is limited by the Coordinator’s passion and imagination. Having passion for conservation and for wanting to help future generations is a must; some basic prior aquarium-keeping experience is a plus, but I can always help. Plus there are many resources at one’s disposal: a very informative website – www.troutintheclassroom.org, a State Coordinator, a National Coordinator, and a TIC emailing list.
If interested, contact Gian Morresi at gmorresi@gmail.com.

Written by NutmegTrout21717Apr, 2021

Fish The Cascades Friday, April 23

Start off your weekend early by joining Nutmeg TU members for a little fishing after work on Friday, April 23.

We will start at 3 p.m. in The Cascades at Lake Mohegan, located north, or on the far end from the beach parking area. Drive to the bottom of the hill past the lake, park there. We will meet in the lot and walk upstream to the falls. Those who arrive late should walk upstream from the lake to meet us.

Fish from the shore, fish in the steam, fish in the pond or just render useless advice. It is all catch and release, so there are still plenty of fish to be caught. Click here to read regulations: Parts of the Mill River are trout management areas.

If you plan to join us, please RSVP to Rich Rosen at RHRosen@aol.com.

Written by NutmegTrout21717Apr, 2021

Hear how salter brookies were spared from development

A development proposed on habitat crucial to sea-run brook trout was recently rejected, despite government approvals, in Massachusetts. Learn how this victory was won, how the fight will continue and what can be done to restore these native fish when Geoffrey Day talks on Zoom at 7 p.m. Tuesday, April 20, on Zoom.

Click here for the Zoom link. The meeting, open to all, is hosted by the Nutmeg Chapter of Trout Unlimited.

Geoffrey is a co-founder and Executive Director at Sea Run Brook Trout Coalition.  He has a B.A. in Human Ecology from Connecticut College, and a background in aquaculture, recreational and commercial fisheries advocacy, fund-raising, management, technical and internet marketing consulting.

Geoffrey bought his first fly rod for five dollars from the bargain bin at LL Bean, and his first fly-caught striper was on an original streamer he created from a kit ordered from the Herter’s Catalog in the sixties.  He has been working with sea-run trout monitoring and restoration since the early 1980s.

Geoffrey can be reached at gday@searunbrookie.org

 

 

 

Written by NutmegTrout21706Apr, 2021

Hwang hosts online forum on Aquarion Diversion

State Senator Tony Hwang will moderate a forum on Aquarion’s proposal to divert water from the Bridgeport/Fairfield/Easton Reservoir system to meet needs in towns in southwestern Fairfield County.

The online forum will be held Thursday, April 8, at 7 p.m. on fb.com/senatorhwang.

Click here to read the proposal.

Hwang has invited representatives of the Mill River Wetlands Committee, Save the Sound, the Connecticut Public Utilities Regulatory Authority, the Rivers Alliance of Connecticut, the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, and Aquarion to serve as expert panelists.

Aquarion’s proposal would send 14.2 million gallons of water per day for the next 25 years to towns in lower Fairfield County.

Nutmeg TU and the Connecticut Council have already weighed in on the proposal and are prepared to do so again. Click here to read TU’s comments.

The Connecticut DEEP will hold a public hearing May 4.

Written by NutmegTrout21723Mar, 2021

Share your thoughts on trout regulations

The Fisheries Division of the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection is requesting your input for its latest five question survey. The purpose of this short survey is to get preference for several items related to trout season. Some context is provided below.
This survey will close on Monday, April 5, 2021.
The Fisheries Division recently published the Statewide Salmonid Action Plan, a plan dedicated to improving trout fishing in Connecticut. Considerations in the plan include whether to continue the historical practice of closing the fishing season on waterbodies stocked with trout; and, if the closed season were to be eliminated, determining how those fisheries should be managed. For reference, the current statewide regulations specify a 5 trout per person per day creel limit during the open season, with fishing closed on waterbodies stocked with trout from March 1st until the 2nd Saturday in April. With that backdrop, we’d like to gauge your support for following potential regulatory changes:

 
1.) Eliminating the closed season (NOTE: the legislature is currently considering a proposal to do just that).
2.) If the closed season is eliminated, replacing it with catch and release fishing throughout the traditional closed season or allowing harvest during the traditional closed season.
3.) Reducing the creel limit.

The five survey questions will offer a variety of options related to the above considerations. If you have other thoughts about how to manage these fisheries should the traditional closed season be eliminated, please share them directly with me via my email.