Phil Jacques (center), with is the winner of the sweepstakes for an 8-foot, 6-inch 4-weight Winston Kairos donated by Compleat Angler. Nutmeg TU Prizes Chairman Alex Zimkiewicz, Treasurer Ed Grzeda and President Rich Rosen presented the road.
In addition to the brochure “Your Healthy Backyard Stream” prepared by Nutmeg TU, there are numerous other resources for homeowners with property that abuts a river.
The “Invasive Plants in Your Backyard” from the Connecticut River Coastal Conservation District includes photos and descriptions to help identify non-native plants prevalent in Connecticut. The District also produced the “Backyard Water Resources Guide.”
“Riparian Buffers: A Guide to Planting Your Own Riparian Buffer System,” compiled by Highstead and the Hudson to Housatonic Initiative, outlines steps homeowners can take to protect adjacent waterways.
On Tuesday, May 17, 2016, Nutmeg TU will hold its monthly meeting at 7 PM at Marissa’s Ristorante, 6540 Main St, Trumbull, CT, just South of where I-25 crosses Route 111.
The Farmington River, located Northern Connecticut is largely regarded as one of the state’s premier trout fisheries. This tail water holds an impressive number of fish. Recent estimates by the CTDEEP put the number of fish in the Trout Management Area at 1000 + per mile. This coupled with an annual stocking of up to 45,000 Brook, Brown, Rainbow, and Tiger trout results in an incredible fishery. The Farmington River is a tail water running from under the Colebrook River dam in Riverton and the Saville Dam in New Hartford, to the town of Windsor in upper Connecticut River, and is fed by the Barkhamstead Reservoir. This reservoir releases cold water year round and even in the summer months the water temperature rarely will rise above 70 degrees. This translates into an incredible survival rate of stocked fish and conditions that accommodate natural reproduction as well.
The ecosystem in and around the Farmington river is healthy. The aquatic insect biomass caters to very healthy population of fish and incredible hatches. The abundant food sources allow the fish to grow on average 6 ½ inches per year. Trout of 20 inches are common and fish up to 30 inches are caught every year. Size and number of big fish provides numerous angling opportunities not commonly available on other streams in the state such as “mousing.” However, as in many trout streams around the world nymphing is often the most productive way to fish and the Farmington is no exception. Tail waters such as the Farmington offer phenomenal nymphing opportunities.
Torrey Collins has been fly fishing for 37 years and has fished the Farmington River extensively. Former Great Lakes Steelhead and salmon guide, Torrey has also guided on the Housatonic as well as the Farmington. He has worked for the Orvis flagship store in Manchester, tied flies commercially, and been a casting instructor. Torrey is well known as an incredible fly angler, specializing in nymphing tactics. His presentation will cover seasonal nymphing tactics and strategies. The focus will be on seasonal approaches for the Farmington river and cover fly selection, rigging, presentation, and technique. Come in and learn how to improve your sub-surface fishing and apply that to the Farmington as well as other streams in the state.
Our September 2012 meeting will feature a presentation by TU member Frank Plona, “How to Catch the Big Survivor Trout and Natives in the Farmington River and Other Places.”
Monthly meetings are held at 7:30 p.m. the third Tuesday of each moth at the Fayerweather Yacht Club, 51 Brewster St. in the Black Rock section of Bridgeport. Free pizza.
Frank, the information machine from the Farmington Valley, has agreed to drive down from Collinsville to give his take on situations that can put the fly angler in position to hook a real quality trout, the kind of trout can define your year on the water.
“The survivor brown trout in the Farmington are hard to catch, really hard,” Frank said. “My presentation gives a focus on situations where you can actually tie into that big one on the Farmington and other places as well.”
Beginners and intermediates may want to bring a note pad to the show. Expert anglers do not have to be embarrassed by the information they may not be taking advantage of.
Frank stressed, “I don’t represent any outfitter or guide service and I will not be selling anything at the meeting. This will be straight up info from one angler to the other. I will be bringing a fly donation for your raffle table. See you on the 18th.”
Bob Wesolowski will discuss “Fishing the Croton Watershed at the next regular meeting of Trout Unlimited Nutmeg Chapter 217 Tuesday, May 15, 2012, at 7:30 p.m. at the Fayerweather Yacht Club, 51 Brewster St. in the Black Rock section of Bridgeport
Compared with some members of his chapter, Bob is a relative newcomer to fly fishing. He only started 15 years ago. For the past 5 years he has been president of this 600+ member chapter. He’s now ending his third and final term.
As chapter president, Bob has seen Croton Watershed go through significant changes. The age of a typical board member has dropped from the low 70’s to the mid-50’s. Trout in the Classroom is now the largest program in New York with 24 schools. The Chapter’s fly fishing and fly tying schools have been updated. Every year 15-20 students graduate from the fly fishing school and 5-10 students graduate from the tying school. Bob runs the fly tying school.
Bob is often asked to do presentations. Over the past few years he has done the Croton presentation for the Candlewood Valley, Mid-Hudson and New York City chapters and for the new Orvis, Ridge Hill store. He is also a frequent presenter at the local fly shop, The Bedford Sportsman in Bedford Hills, N.Y.
Guide, author and Trout Unlimited leader Jeff Yates will lead a talk on “Fly Fishing on Opening Day” at the next regular meeting of the Nutmeg Chapter of Trout Unlimited.
The meeting will be held at the Fayerweather Yacht Club, 51 Brewster St. in the Black Rock section of Bridgeport, at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 17,2012, just four days before the start of trout season in Connecticut.
Yates has been fishing the waters of Fairfield County for 20 years. A fourth generation Wilton resident, his intimate knowledge of the Norwalk, Mianus, Saugatuck and Mill rivers in lower Fairfield County provide productive outings on local waters. He has also discovered the secret streams throughout the region for targeting native brook trout, and can guide clients to a successful day of fishing for these native New England gems.
His book, “Fly Fishing Fairfield County: Secrets of Suburban Streams,” contains 200 pages of photographs, detailed maps complete with local roads and parking directions, and descriptions of every trout stream in southwestern Connecticut.
Yates also leads trips to the Farmington River.
Summers spent fishing the streams of Vermont, hundreds of hours on the waters of Long Island Sound and years of angling for Atlantic Salmon in the Naugatuck River mean clients have a range of options to choose from.
A master guide and fly tyer, Yates said his goal is for clients to learn the access points and techniques that will make them successful anglers on their own future outings.
Guiding sessions are catch-and-release only and include lessons on insect entomology, stream flows and conditions, reading the water, improving casting skills and conservation and history.
President of the Mianus Chapter of Trout Unlimited, board member of Friends of Mianus River Park, life member of Trout Unlimited and the Housatonic Fly Fishers Association, Jeff is also a member of the American Museum of Fly Fishing and the Catskills Fly Fishing Center and Museum. When he’s not guiding or fishing, Yates is leading river restoration projects or planning fishing and conservation events and clinics.
Information can be found at http://www.flyfishingct.com, or on Twitter and Facebook.
Antoine Bissieux, “The French Flyfisherman” will discuss “Fish on the Fly” at the March 20, 2012, meeting of Nutmeg TU Chapter 217.
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.
More information can be found a bissieux.com.
Regular meetings are held the third Tuesday of each month (in season) at 7:30 p.m. at the Fayerweather Yacht Club in the historic Black Rock section of Bridgeport., 51 Brewster St. Free pizza precedes meetings.