Join us on Zoom Tuesday, Nov. 23, at 7 p.m. as Ben Bilello discusses traditional tactics for Broodstock salmon. The talk was postponed from Nov. 16 due to technical difficulties.

Click here to register for the free event. Do not attempt to use the Zoom link from the prior meeting.

The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection recently stocked the fish in the state.

For anglers in and around Connecticut, broodstock Atlantic salmon fishing is one most reliable ways to catch a large fish in fresh water. For anglers who fish for sea-run Atlantic salmon in Canada or Europe, the broodstock fishery is a good way to practice presentation close to home and for a minimal investment. For anglers new to Atlantic salmon fishing, this fishery is a great way to learn the techniques used to catch Atlantic salmon around the world.

Topics include:

Locations of the fishery (Shetucket and Naugatuck Rivers)

Regulations

Equipment: fishing with one and two handed rods

Identifying salmon lies and typical holding water

Salmon behavior

Fishing strategies: wet fly, dry fly, tube flies and the riffling hitch

Fishing in a rotation

Fly selection

Fighting, landing and the safe release of salmon

UPDATE: Saturday’s salmon fishing trip to the Campville stretch of the Naugatuck River has been postponed due to Friday’s rains, with more precipitation scheduled for Saturday.

Watch for a new date.

Mianus TU is sponsoring a cleanup and fishing trip at the same area on Saturday, Nov. 20.

POSTPONED: Come fish the Campville section of the Naugatuck River with Nutmeg Trout Unlimited.  The Naugatuck River, Campville section is one of the places CT DEEP stocks bloodstock Atlantic Salmon in the fall; there have been two stockings already this fall.  The upper Naugatuck River winds its way through heavily wooded portions of the Mattatuck State Forest and other public lands. In the Campville section, the river is smallish with some deeper runs and pools as well as plunge pools and waterfalls below which the Atlantic Salmon tend to hold up.  This area is also stocked with Trout, so Salmon are not the only game in town.

When:  Saturday, November 13 at 10 AM.

Where:  Campville Section of the Naugatuck River off Exit 41 of Route 8.

Click here to register.

Directions:  From Route 8 North, take Exit 41.  Turn right onto Campville Road which becomes Northfield Road then goes over the river.  At the T intersection, turn left onto Valley Road and park at the numerous spots along the road before Campville Hill Road.  River will be on your left.

Regulations:  Must have current CT Fishing License with a Trout/Salmon Stamp.

Must use a single fly or lure with a single free-swinging hook only; no treble hooks.  Additional weight may not be added to the line.  Fishing is catch and release at this time; DEEP has set the catch and release date for Salmon to December 15 this year.

General Information:  Salmon, particularly larger fish, are very powerful so you may want to consider scaling up your tackle.  For fly anglers:  a heavier rod, like a 7 or 8 wt. and a reel with a strong drag.  For spin/casting anglers:  a medium action rod in the 8 – 10 lb. class.  Or you can do what I do and fish a standard 5-weight trout set-up and hope for the best if you hook a Salmon!!  As there are plenty of deep spots in this section, a sink tip line can come in handy to get your fly down, particularly if the river is running high.

Water (and possibly weather) may be cold so please dress accordingly.

Hope to see you there!!

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

If you’ve heard the saying, “Many men go fishing all of their lives without knowing that it is not fish they are after”. Paul Dinice will examine the idiom during a Zoom meeting Tuesday, Oct. 19, at 7 p.m., hosted by Nutmeg Trout Unlimited. The talk is open to all, free of charge.

Click here to join the Zoom Tuesday, Oct. 19. at 7 p.m.

“By far this is my favorite presentation,” Paul, 67, of Derby, said. “This is a very different program.  Instead of a program on catching more fish, or a fly fishing destination, the primary focus is on the fly fisherman.   What is it that drives us to be so passionate about the ‘Quiet Sport’?'”

The program examines the various ‘stages’ in a fly fishers life, including the initial ‘discovery’ of the sport, the need to learn and educate ourselves more about it, it’s addictive powers, the friendships it has helped us form, the spirituality it has given us, and how it has provided us with a better understanding about where we fit in the world and universe.

Paul began spin fishing and fly fishing at a very early age, all thanks to an uncle who took all the family kids fishing on his one day off a week.  In 1980 his fishing focus turned exclusively to fly fishing.  In 1985 I made my first foray into salt water fly fishing.

He lives a stone’s throw from the Housatonic and Naugatuck rivers. Paul is a member of virtually every fly fishing club and organization in CT.  He is also very much involved in numerous environmentally based organizations such as Trout Unlimited, Connecticut Audubon Society, and the Coastal Conservation Association.

For the past 36 years Paul has written “Fly of the Month” section of the HFFA news letter and website. He has also done the “Fly of the Month” for a host of other Fly Fishing organizations in CT.  He contributed to a book entitled “Over-Winter Striper Secrets” by Captain Al Anderson.   The contributions included photographs and writings which were incorporated in the section on fishing the Housatonic.  His ‘closer crab” pattern appeared in the 2012 Winter edition Fly Tyer Magazine.

Join Trout Unlimited and Flylords for a week of celebrating our favorite fish and our work to keep their waters healthy. Check out TU.org and Flylords from September 25 through October 2 for virtual and in-person events, engaging interviews about trout conservation and fishing, new online stories, contests, and more!

Click here for more information.

Ron Merly’s talk scheduled for Sept. 21 has been postponed to Tuesday, Oct. 19, at 7 p.m., due to technical difficulties.

Ron will share more secrets about fishing area waters when he speaks on Zoom about fall trout fishing around Connecticut,

The talk, open to all, is hosted by the Nutmeg Chapter of Trout Unlimited. It is open to fly and spin fishermen. TU membership is not required to join.

The owner of Ron Merly’s Fishing Guide Service has more than 45 years of experience fishing the trout streams of Connecticut. He has been fly fishing since age 5, possesses excellent teaching skills and is an award winning outdoor writer whose credits include On The Water, Eastern Fly fishing, Trout and American Angler magazines.

He is the author of The Fly Fisher’s Guide to Connecticut, which gives tips on how to find water to fish.