Well, maybe.  This summer’s drought was so bad that it was compared with the one that occurred in the Berkshires in 1955. For a while this year, there was concern that the State would perhaps temporarily close down the woods to hunting. They sometimes do that.

I remember that bad drought of 1955 when my dear life-long friend, Jerry Zink and I were only 12 years old.  We used to fish all of the little brooks in and around Lenox with great success.  Heck, all the brooks in those days contained wild brook trout, commonly referred to as “speckled trout”.

But that year, most of the brooks dried up or nearly so, and we were forced to fish the lakes instead.  One day that summer, we decided to fish Laurel Lake in Lee/Lenox.  What we saw there when we arrived was unbelievable.  It seemed like one third of the lake was dry.  From the shore of the south west side of the lake near the old “White Bridge” there was no water.  The channel which crossed under the bridge was there, but it contained no water.

We were able to walk across parts of the lake from the Highlawn Farm side to a point on the west shore, now known as Edith Wharton Park, and then across the dry cove to where Sargent Brook entered from the northeast.  Only a couple of large puddles or pools which contained a few trapped sunfish were there.

We then walked along the water east toward the dam outlet near Rte. 20.  For sure, there was water in the middle of the lake, for it normally is over 50 feet deep there, but it was considerably smaller.  When we got to a point which is now close to the boat ramp on Rte. 20, we were able to walk across to a point of land on the other side, not too far from Lee Beach.  The outlet channel was there, but there was little if any water in it.  The dry lake bottom actually went uphill to reach the dam.

We surmised that the drought along with the withdrawal of water from the lake by a paper making mill in Lee caused the excessive condition.

It was an eerie sight and every time there has been a drought around here in the Berkshires, my thoughts immediately return to that time, that place

I wonder if any other old timers (er…seniors) remember that sight.

Fall trout stocking

MassWildlife reports that over 63,000 trout will be stocked across Massachusetts starting around mid-September. Summer may be winding down, but the fishing opportunities are still going strong and fall is a great time to fish.

Trout stocking will begin when water temperatures start to cool down, around the middle of September. When stocking begins, locations will be updated daily on the MassWildlife trout stocking map page. You can click any point on the map for more information.

The breakdown of the 63,000 trout is as follows:

• about 33,000 rainbow trout over 12 inches
• about 26,100 rainbow trout over 14 inches

• about 4,000 brown trout over 9 inches

The Western District will probably receive 20% of them.

Local waters typically stocked in the fall include:  Ashfield Pond, Deerfield River, Littleville Dam, East Branch of the Westfield River, Upper Highland Lake, Pontoosuc Lake, Laurel Lake, Lake Buel, Windsor Lake, Windsor Pond, Goose Pond, Otis Reservoir, Onota Lake and Stockbridge Bowl.

 

Incidentally, with the drought hopefully over and our streams coming back to normal fall levels, the native brook trout will start their migrations upstream to conduct their fall spawning.

Watch for them and expect them to be in their full fall colors.

Grandmas/grandpas like to fish, too!

As readers are aware, I often feature pictures of young boys, girls, moms and dads who have had great days out fishing, including pictures of their big fish.  But, for some reason I rarely, if ever, have shown or written about grandmas or grandpas, especially fishing together.

Well, this past week I received correspondence from my buddy Jerry Zink now residing in Berlin, NY (yes, the same Jerry previously mentioned) telling of the great days he and his wife Gloria have been having fishing Ashmere Lake in Hinsdale this summer. They oftentimes fish with grandsons Kyle and Kaleb who catch whoppers, too.

They always let the bass and pickerel go but now and then keep a few perch, panfish and crappie for fish fries.

The picture of Gloria holding that 4 lbs. bass was taken a few years ago, but rest assured she has often caught similar bass this year.  She also recently caught a 24 inch, 4lbs pickerel just last week.

Live on the Lake

Too bad Jerry and Gloria weren’t fishing up there last Sunday evening, because for a while the air was filled with fireworks and later with lovely music. The 3^rd Annual Live on the Lake was taking place.  Around 6:15 pm, after the fireworks had subsided, local musicians Melissa Brinton and her violinist set up their loud speaker on a cottage dock across the cove from us and began to play music and sing.

The soft music drifted across the cove during twilight so that boaters and other nearby cottage owners could sit on their decks, docks and lawns and hear the lovely music.  With a voice similar to Joan Collins, Melissa started off by singing a couple of old Irish favorites (Oh Danny Boy and Bonnie Banks of Loch Lomond.)   I have to admit what little Irish DNA remaining in this old heart still reacts to those songs.

It was a wonderful way to spend part of the Labor Day weekend.

Bass Fishing Derby

On the first Sunday in October, the Cheshire Fire Department will be holding its Bill Lewis Memorial Bass Fishing Derby.  It will run from 7:00 am to 1:00 pm with registration costing $20.00.

Following that, there will be an award ceremony and picnic on the Causeway at 1:30 pm to benefit the Bill Lewis Scholarship Fund.

Just think, bass fishing on that beautiful lake surrounded by mountains displaying their lovely fall colors.  It doesn’t get any better.   Who knows, this may be your last bass fishing outing of the year, so you might want to participate.

Many thanks BNRC

 

In the latest Berkshire Natural Resources Council Landscaper News, there was this nice article regarding hunting seasons and conservation.

 

“All Berkshire Natural Resources Council reserves, except for Parsons Marsh (in Lenox) and Roosevelt Trail (in Washington), are open to hunting subject to Massachusetts state regulations. Sunday hunting is prohibited in Massachusetts.

 

During hunting seasons BNRC recommends (to its non- hunter users):

• Wear blaze orange outerwear
• Stay on existing trails
• Keep dogs under your immediate control (consider blaze orange outerwear for your dog)

In 2021, Massachusetts anglers, hunters, and others contributed over $7.5 million to land conservation, land stewardship, wildlife management and research, outdoor skills programs, and education via the sale of fishing, hunting, and related licenses and fees.

 

BNRC wishes all hunters a safe, enjoyable, and fruitful hunt this autumn.”

 

Nice article, ey?  BNRC has always been a friend to area sportsmen, so if you or your club happen to have a couple extra bucks, you might want to send them their way.