In its most recent fishing report, the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection announced that temperatures have cooled enough to allow fall trout stocking to being.
Click here to read the latest fishing report.
Stay up to date with daily stocking posts on Facebook, the DEEP’s interactive trout stocking map, and its stocking report.
The state DEEP, in this week’s fishing report, says that fall stocking remains on hold due to the record warm temperatures early this week.
The DEEP is monitoring the conditions and as soon as possible, trucks will be stocking.
Stay up to date with daily stocking posts on Facebook, the DEEP’s interactive trout stocking map, and its stocking report.
Requiring the purchase of trout and salmon stamps and changing making a longer section of the Mill River in Easton and Fairfield catch and release are among the proposed regulation changes up for hearing Wednesday, Aug. 9.
The hearing will begin at 6:30 p.m. Aug. 9 at the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection Headquarters. The deadline is Aug. 25 to submit comment to the DEEP. Click here to read more about the hearing.
The purchase of a $5 trout stamp and $10 broodstock Atlantic salmon stamp ($12 for a combination stamp) to fish for trout and Atlantic Salmon would generate an estimated $300,000 that would go directly to fisheries and recreation programs, by law, according to the DEEP. Federal law requires that license revenue and money raised by fees and taxes on hunting and fishing equipment be dedicated to those purposes.
If passed, all anglers 16 and older fishing for any species in Trout Management Areas, Wild Trout Management Areas and Trout Parks, as well as any anglers 16 years of age and older wishing to keep trout they’ve caught in state waters, would be required to purchase a trout stamp. All anglers 16 years of age and older fishing for any species in the designated Broodstock Areas of the Shetucket and Naugatuck rivers from September 1 through March 31, and any anglers 16 years of age and older wishing to keep broodstock Atlantic Salmon they’ve caught anywhere (where fishing for Atlantic salmon is allowed) throughout the state would be required to purchase a salmon stamp. A combination stamp, less expensive than purchasing both separately, would cover both waters.
Mill River
Another proposal would extend the Mill River Wild Trout Management Area to stretch from the first bridge crossing below the Easton Reservoir to the Merritt Parkway. Currently the catch-and-release-only WTMA extends from South Park Avenue to [downstream of the third bridge crossing. Signs would indicate the WTMA.
DEEP officials said the changes would better protect the populations of naturally reproducing trout and stocked trout from undue depletion by eliminating harvest throughout this stretch of river. The “catch-and-release only” Class I Mill River Wild Trout Management Area would be expanded downstream to the Mill River Trout Management Area and fishing in the Mill River Trout Management Area would be limited to “catch-and-release only” year-round; currently some harvest is allowed from Opening Day through Aug. 30.
A short closed season would be placed on a small portion of the Farmington River TMA in the Riverton area, intended to restore a traditional Opening Day atmosphere to the upper West Branch Farmington River. As many anglers view the traditional Opening Day when the fishing season first opens for the spring as a longstanding rite of spring passage, DEEP officials expressed hope the change would increase the number of anglers fishing this section of river on Opening Day, and also enhance participation in a traditional Opening Day fishing derby held in Riverton since 1949. Participation has declined since this section of river became open to fishing year-round in 2012.
Language changes would define Tenkara, fishing with a fly on a fixed line, fly fishing. stablish definition for maximum length. Bubble floats are also addressed. Click here to read a PDF of all the proposed changes.
The proposed regulations, statement of purpose, a small business impact statement and a fiscal note indicating no additional expense to the state or municipal governments to implement these proposed regulations are posted and available for download (pdf) on the eRegulations system (https://eregulations.ct.gov).
Copies of the proposed regulations, statement of purpose, small business impact statement and fiscal note are also available for public inspection during normal business hours at the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection’s Bureau of Natural Resources, Fisheries Division, 6th Floor, 79 Elm Street, Hartford, CT, 06106-5127. These documents can also be obtained by contacting Bill Foreman at the above address, by phone at (860) 424-3474, or by email (deep.inland.fisheries@ct.gov).
Interested persons may also choose to present their views regarding the proposed regulations in writing during the public comment period. Written comments should be submitted no later than 4:30 p.m. Aug. 25, 2017. Based on public comment, the proposed regulations may be adjusted to meet the objective of the proposal. Comments may be submitted using one of the following methods:
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.
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?
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.
Meeting at Port 5, 69 Brewster St, Bridgeport CT, 7 PM, and the pizza will be hot.
Our speaker for January will be Tom Bourret, a Sr Fisheries Biologist at CT DEEP. Tom is going to share lots of information on Ice Fishing, a program that he has helped to coordinate for the last 25 years in the C.A.R.E. Family Workshops (CT Aquatic Resources Education). He will cover ice fishing safety techniques, proper clothing and the gear that you will need. And his tips will get you ready to set up on the ice. There are 2 ice fishing events approaching: CARE Family Ice Fishing Derby, January 30th, on Coventry Lake; and No Child Left Inside Winter Festival, February 6, on Black Rock Pond.
Tom is a native of CT and has worked for DEEP since 1984. He has been involved in many of the projects such as Bantam Lake pike capture and spawning, Kokanee Salmon capture and spawning, electrofishing on the rivers, streams and in lakes, creel surveys on the Farmington, Housatonic, and 4 Northwestern lakes to name a few of his many projects.
Bring your questions on gear and techniques! Bring the kids too, if you want them to learn the right way to think about Ice Fishing!
From Ron Merly’s desk, May 24th
As I write this report, the state as well as all of New England, could use a few good rain storms. The rain deficit is currently more than 2″ and all of the smaller streams are very low. The Housatonic has just been re-stocked for the Memorial Day weekend but there is a heavy algae bloom occurring due to the water levels dropping so quickly at this time of the year. The upper Naugatuck was recently re-stocked as well but is running extremely low. The Farmington has been consistently stocked and is loaded with trout but the water is very clear and flows are down, making it difficult to catch fish during the day. Mornings and evenings are your best bet but if you are there during the day, fish nymphs unless you see fish rising.
I spent some time up in Vermont this past week and had all intentions of fishing the lower Black River in Cavendish. It was literally puddles so I did not fish. There were some very nice fish in some of the holes, and yet, if I hooked them, the fish would not have any water for them to run, which is why I decided not fish.
I also fished the Pomperaug River recently which is prone to low flows but the river is extremely low at present (I urge all of you to go and see it). The Connecticut Siting Council recently approved the construction of the Towantic Power Plant in Oxford. I can’t begin to imagine how they will be drawing more than 1 million gallons of water out of that river system annually and what condition it will be in during a drought such as this. But it now makes perfect sense to me as to why Governor Malloy merged the Department of Energy with the Department of Environmental Protection a few years back. DEEP’s hands were completely tied on this issue. I suggest writing the legislature on the subject of conflict of interest within these departments being merged as one, using the construction of a Power plant that we do not need as a perfect example. Remember, this affects the Pomperaug River, Sprain Brook, the Weekeepeemee River, the Nonewaug River, the Little River, and the Naugatuck River, the entire Housatonic River estuary as well as Long Island Sound. Power plants are notorious for attracting invasive species due to the warm water outflow.
Newtown recently appealed to Aquarion to pipe water from the Easton Reservoir over to Newtown obviously because they are aware that the power plant will make water scarce in that area. Luckily, it was denied by DEEP but watch out for more of these requests. Meanwhile, the future of the Mill in Easton (Running Brook Farm) hangs in the balance.
Poaching also remains rampant this year. If you witness poachers, call the state hotline, 800-842-4357. I know we’ve all done it with little results but if they receive hundreds of calls, maybe something might change.
Wishing I had better news for the report,
Ron Merly
Trout in the Classroom Programs Liberate Their Fish
Statewide schools participating in Trout Unlimited’s Trout in the Classroom program are releasing the trout they have raised in their classroom since the eggs hatched. The Brown Trout (eggs provided by the Kensington State Fish Hatchery) are being released to local rivers and streams. Students have spent many hours caring for and learning about the needs of Brown Trout. Good luck to all of the fry raised and released by these students. Contact CT Trout Unlimited for more information about the Trout in the Classroom program. Ed Albrecht is our state wide coordinator. And Dave Edgeworth is our Nutmeg TIC coordinator.
Fly Tying at Chuck’s, Tues evening, May 28, 2015, 7 PM Trumbull. Contact Chuck MacMath at cmacmath59@yahoo.com.
Fishing Meetup Weekend, Fri-Sat-Sunday, June 12-14, 2015, Chuck MacMath to lead, cmacmath59@yahoo.com or text to 203-260-1829 for details and RSVP. Place: Peoples State Forest, you have to make your arrangements for a camping spot to stay over. RSVP to Chuck MacMath no later than May 22nd. Let him know if you are going to join for a day or the weekend. There will be no formal plans unless he receives 5 or 6 RSVP’s by May 22.
Fly Tying at Chuck’s, Tues evening, June 9, 2015, 7 PM Trumbull. Contact Chuck MacMath at cmacmath59@yahoo.com. The fly tying group will meet on the second and fourth Tuesday of every month from 7-9 pm. The cost is $2.00 per session to cover the cost of materials. Email cmacmath59@yahoo.com with questions or additional information. All are welcome, beginners are encouraged to attend. Vises, tools and materials are available if needed.
Fishing Meetup: Member news.
Members, if you have a favorite fishing spot that you would like to share with the Nutmeg TU Group, please contact Rich Rosen, rhrosen@aol.com , to set up a date for your event.