As of Wednesday, Dec. 5, the Naugatuck River TMA (Litchfield/Campville/
The daily creel limit is one (1) salmon per day. Salmon will be stocked into the lower Naugatuck River and Shetucket River as flows come down — stay tuned for updates from the DEEP.
Please note this area has specific regulations for this fishery. Most notably, fishing is limited to the use of a single fly or artificial lure with a single free swinging hook (no treble hooks). Details on page 28 of the 2018 Angler’s Guide. Also, a Trout and Salmon Stamp is required to Fish in this area.
Finally, please report any illegal fishing activity to our law enforcement immediately at 860-424-3333.
Alaska fishing guide and Nutmeg TU John Jinishian expressed concerns about the threats posed by Bristol Bay amid images of big fish and beautiful scenery when he visited the general meeting of Nutmeg TU Tuesday, Nov. 20.
Jinishian is general manager of Alaska’s Wild River Guides, a small, float-based fly fishing company. He talked of the adventures on the Kanektok, or Togiak or Goodnews rivers. The company operates seasonally in the Bristol Bay region of Alaska, specifically on the Togiak National Wildlife Refuge. More information can be found at wildriverfish.com.
Information on efforts by TU to protect Bristol Bay can be found at savebristolbay.org.
The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection is wrapping up its fall stocking program for 2018.
Trout have been stocked in major destination rivers such as the Housatonic and Farmington, as well as closer to home in the Saugatuck River.
Surplus broodstock salmon have been stocked in rivers including the Naugatuck, destination for a Nutmeg TU trip with Mianus TU on Nov. 17.
Click here to read the latest update from the DEEP.
Wanna go fishing? Nutmeg TU leads trips to spots near and far all year long, where you can learn spots and tactics from members and friends.
More details on additional trips will be posted soon.
Connecticut has begun its surplus broodstock Atlantic salmon stocking program for the fall.
To learn how to catch salmon locally, hear Ben Bilello speak at the Nutmeg TU general meeting Tuesday, Oct. 17, at 7 p.m. at Port 5, 69 Brewster St., Bridgeport. Click here for more details.
Trout are also being stocked around the state, according to the Oct. 12 fishing report from the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection.
Ben Bilello, who speaks around the Northeast on salmon fishing, will talk about opportunities to catch big salmon close to home at the next meeting of the Nutmeg Chapter of Trout Unlimited.
The meeting will take place at Port 5, 69 Brewster St. in the Black Rock section of Bridgeport, at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 17.
Pizza is available at the meeting, and beverages can be purchased from Port 5. You may RSVP here.
There will also be a presentation on the dangers presented when overheated runoff enters trout waters.
For Connecticut anglers, 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. 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.
Bilello is guiding Nutmeg members on two trips this fall, and information on scheduling a trip with him will be available at the meeting.
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 spent several seasons chasing sea-run Atlantic salmon in New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and Russia; landlocked Lake Ontario Atlantic salmon in New York and broodstock Atlantic salmon at home 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.” Ben’s work can be seen at his website benbilello.com/salmonflies.
With two salmon fishing trips slated for the fall, guide, fly tyer and salmon fishing expert Ben Bilello will speak to Nutmeg TU on Tuesday, Oct. 17, at Port 5. The meeting will also feature an update on conservation projects under way in the Nutmeg TU area.
Click here to RSVP.
The Nutmeg Chapter of Trout Unlimited is organizing a fall fishing outing for salmon on the Naugatuck River with Ben Bilello, a local fishing guide.
The trip is limited to four people. The cost is $100 per person, including tip. This is a fun, convenient trip located just 40 minutes from our territory.
Click here to RSVP. Once we have four reservations we’ll ask you to mail in your fee. All proceeds will be going to the guide.
The fall broodstock Atlantic salmon fishing season is a freshwater fly angler’s chance at catching his or her largest freshwater fish of the season. While most salmon caught are in the 3- to 6-pound range, fish exceeding 20 pounds are always a possibility.
On the surface, salmon and trout fishing have a lot in common. Knowing the subtle differences between the two will help an angler achieve consistent results while salmon fishing. This group trip will focus on identifying likely holding lies at various water levels, salmon behavior, fly selection, various methods of presentation, and effective fish fighting techniques.
What to bring: Rods and reel (6-8 wt), floating line, waders, boots, warm clothes, rain gear, wading staff, streamer and/or Atlantic salmon flies (sizes 2-12), drinks, and lunch. Please make sure you have a valid Connecticut fishing license.
For any questions, contact Ben at ben@benbilello.com. You can also purchase salmon flies from Ben, just email him what you are looking for. You can also visit his website, http://www.benbilello.com/salmonflies/Home.html.
The trout season has officially ended except for the designated TMAs. Opening day has been switched to the 2nd Saturday in April this year so mark your calendars. A few of the open areas on the Farmington have been producing some beautiful browns for those fishing nymphs in these very cold temperatures however most of the state’s streams remain icy or slushy.
The Kensington Hatchery is up on the block for the third time so write letters immediately. The comment period is nearly over. The Kensington Hatchery produces all of the eggs used in SIC and TIC and is the only hatchery in the state capable of raising Seeforellen brown trout and Atlantic salmon. The loss would be a travesty for Connecticut’s fisheries and would also set precedent for more cuts to the state fisheries rather than increasing monies allocated to DEEP.
While you are writing, you might consider writing the Connecticut Siting Council in opposition of an enormous power plant that is proposed very close to the Oxford Airport. This plant will save the average Connecticut customer within a 10 mile radius of the plant approximately $35 annually as most of the power will be sold to residents in R.I. and Mass. The cost of this plant will be six trout streams, the lower estuary of the Housatonic and Long Island Sound.
The proposed Towantic Power Plant will draw more than a million gallons of water annually from the Pomperaug River which is formed by the Nonewaug and Weekeepeemee Rivers as well as Sprain Brook. Currently, these streams run very low during summer months. The plant will be built right near the headwaters of the Little River which is right on the fringes of over development as it sits. All four of those streams contain wild and holdover trout. The grey water or outflow from the plant is proposed to release all of this very warm and not very clean water into the Naugatuck River upstream of where a 6.5 million dollar fish bypass was recently completed. The Naugatuck flows into the lower estuary of the Housatonic a relatively short distance downstream. The estuary contains the largest wintering over populations of striped bass in the northeast. This would be a huge step backward for Connecticut as the Naugatuck and Housatonic have come such a long way ecologically.
Remember, there has been nothing invented by humans since the dawn of time that does not break or fail. what will happen when this plant breaks or fails. Would the damage take decades to repair itself or will the damage be permanent?? Either way, this is not good for Connecticut.
– Ron Merly