Category Archives: Fly Fishing

1991 deer hunt, Part II

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Readers may recall that last week I wrote about a deer hunt in 1991.  I ended Part I of that story by writing that I had just dropped a nice buck on one side of Beartown Mountain, but my truck was parked on the other side.  I had to decide how to get the deer out of the woods and to it. My options were: drag it up over the mountain to Beartown Mountain Road on the other side, which was utterly impossible, drag it across a large posted field and risk being arrested, or just leave it there, climb over the mountain, and go home.

I decided to take my chances and drag the deer across the large field that lay ahead of me, in spite of the ‘No Trespassing’ signs posted there.  I knew that this would be a long, difficult drag being loaded down with heavy boots, heavy clothes, a heavy backpack (filled with a big thermos, a couple of sandwiches, a couple of boxes of shotgun slugs, zip lock bags holding about 10 lbs of deer heart and liver), and my shotgun. Add to that the fact that I wasn’t a spring chicken (49 years old).  This could bring on “The Big One” as Fred G.  Sanford of the TV comedy Sanford & Son used to say.

It really hit home when I first started to drag the deer.  OMG, it was so heavy.  My plan to drag it across the snowless field was as follows:  carry my coat, backpack and shogun about 50 feet, put them on the ground, go back to the deer and drag it to the gear and then another 50 feet past it, leave the deer there, go back to get the gear and bring it past the deer 50 feet, etc.  No question, it would take a while.

With the sun now shining brightly, I must have stood out like a beacon in that open field, being dressed from head to toe in blaze orange. The adrenalin and my heart rate were really pumping from the stress, heat and physical activity.

A couple of times, I heard police car sirens approaching, and thought, “This is it, someone reported me and the police are coming to arrest me.  Oh no, another unwelcomed encounter with a game warden.  They’ll probably confiscate the deer, shotgun, impose a fine, and lord knows what else.  Why did I ever shoot that deer?”  Did I mention that earlier that year I had been awarded the 1990 Silvio O. Conte Sportsman of the Year Award at a banquet put on by the Berkshire County League of Sportsmen?  Oh, the embarrassment of it all!   I was already rehearsing excuses for my being there in that posted lot dragging a deer.

Fortunately, the police cars weren’t after me and kept heading south on Route 7.

In the middle of the field, I came across a drainage ditch with about a foot of water in it.  Down over my boots I went and back up the other side dragging the deer.  After what seemed like an hour, I could see a road ahead with houses on it.  Just before climbing onto the road, I had to cross another ditch, but at that point I didn’t care.  I was only a couple of feet from the road and safety.

I left the deer lying beside the road and went to the nearest house to see if they would let me use their phone to call my brother-in-law Cecil Taylor.  Hopefully, he could come down from Lenox, pick me and the deer up and drive us to Beartown Mountain Road where my truck was parked.

A fellow with a New York or New Jersey accent answered the door and told me I could not use his phone, to drag the bleeping deer into Stockbridge and to get the bleep off of his property.

I then went to the second house where two guilty looking teenagers (boy and girl) answered the door.  Hmm, this was a school day.  They let me use their phone and a little while later, Cecil showed up.  We loaded the deer onto his truck and he brought us back to my truck.

The deer weighed in at 165 lbs. dressed (208 lbs. estimated live weight).  When the deer was processed, I asked the butcher to save the head and shoulder hide for mounting. The venison was to be shared with friends and family.

Back then, on the wall of our inside glassed porch in Lenox, was another mounted deer head.  My father, also named Gene Chague, had taken that deer sometime in the 1920’s and had it mounted with the four hooves surrounding a mirror.  After nearly 70 years, the head was becoming ragged and was falling apart.

I had it removed by a young taxidermist from Clarksburg (whose name unfortunately I cannot recall) and replaced it with my new one, leaving the original mirror and 4 hooves intact.  The result was a deer mount which contained parts of two separate bucks taken by two Gene Chagues some 70 years apart.  Pretty cool, eh?

The taxidermist was just starting out and was trying to get his name out in the community.  He donated a deer mount to be raffled at the Silvio O. Conte Sportsmen’s Banquet, the one mentioned previously. A close friend, Ed Bertelli, attended that banquet along with his son young Eddie. Young Eddie won the deer mount and because he didn’t get a deer that year, and could use some extra money he decided to sell it.  I bought it from him.

It probably wasn’t an easy job for the new taxidermist, what with fitting that deer mount to the old framework, etc., but the result was quite satisfactory and it has held up nicely over the last 33 years. No, it did not end up back in our Lenox porch, but rather it hangs on a living room wall at our cottage. Oh the memories conjured up every time I look at it..

Fly tying at the hatchery

 

The Friends of the Berkshire National Fish Hatchery in Hartsville/New Marlborough has begun its winter fly tying sessions at the Hatchery.  The free sessions will be held on the third Saturdays of the month, beginning at 10:00 a.m.  The next class is January 18, 2025.  Instructors are Board member Dean Hutson and Taconic TU member Peter Paulson.  All fly tying accessories and materials will be provided.

 

Last month, the folks tied up some nice looking black Woolly Buggers guaranteed to catch trout, smallmouth bass and other fish. It imitates a variety of aquatic and land creatures, making it an extremely versatile fly. Its marabou tail gives the impression of a baitfish or leech, while its hackle and body can mimic the movement of a swimming crayfish or even a struggling insect. Its versatile design means that it can be used in a wide range of fishing scenarios, from still water lakes to fast-moving streams and rivers.

That fly is very effective.

 

Lawmakers request support for priority conservation projects at the Conte Refuge

In a letter to the U.S. Department of Interior, Senators from MA, NH, VT, and CT requested that the President’s Fiscal Year 2026 Budget include funding from the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) to support conservation projects within the Conte Refuge.

The Conte Refuge which spans over 50,000 acres across those states is a vital ecological resource and includes critical lands within the Connecticut River Watershed.

The senators highlighted that over 24,000 acres of priority conservation lands, valued at more than $51 million, have been identified for protection in fiscal years 2025 and 2026.

“This funding is essential to address the unmet needs for land conservation in this region,” the lawmakers wrote. “The refuge not only supports the quality of natural resources but also provides recreational opportunities for millions of people in the surrounding communities.”

They also highlighted the broader economic benefits of wildlife refuges, citing data showing that every $1 invested in federal funding for national wildlife refuges generates nearly $5 in local economic returns. In total, the outdoor recreation economy supports 4.9 million American jobs and generates over $564 billion in consumer spending.

By securing additional funding for the Conte Refuge, the senators believe the region can continue to preserve critical lands while supporting economic growth and job creation.

Shotgun Deer hunting season opens Monday

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Shotgun deer hunting season starts on Monday December 1 and it runs until Saturday, December 14, (excluding Sundays).  Two bucks can be harvested and if hunters have valid antlerless deer permits (doe permits) they can also take a doe.

During the first week of the shotgun deer season, all harvested deer must be brought to a physical check station within 48 hours so MassWildlife biologists can collect biological data. Online harvest reporting is NOT available during this time.  The Western District Check Stations are as follows:

  • MassWildlife Headquarters – Dalton
  • Lee Sportsman’s Club – Lee
  • Mill River General Store – Mill River/New Marlborough
  • Papa’s Food & Fuel – Otis
  • Ernie’s Auto Sales – North Adams
  • B&D Variety – Huntington
  • Goshen General Store – Goshen

 

Avid Sports, Daves Sporting Goods and Cheshire Sporting Goods will be able to check in deer for the second week of shotgun through the rest of the year but it is not mandatory in person.  Hunters can check in online as well.

 

As usual, on the night before opening day, thoughts of previous deer hunts will undoubtedly cross my mind, one after another.

How well I remember a deer hunt in 1991. While hunting alone, I entered a part of Beartown Mountain off of Beartown Mountain Road in South Lee, near the Wildcat Trail. Following an old logging trail, I had just ascended a steep part of Beartown Mountain and heard a shot off in the distance which sounded like it came from a swamp below me.  I stopped moving for a while to see if a deer might head my way. Sure enough, a few moments later, I saw a buck downhill from me.  He had come out from some small pines and brush from my right, was in a small opening and was heading for more thick vegetation to my left.  He was not heading in my direction.

Being quite a distance away, I pondered whether to take such a long shot.  I didn’t have a scope on my shotgun and was guessing how high I should aim.  Pretty soon, he would be out of sight and I wouldn’t be able to take a shot. What the heck, I thought, and let the slug fly.

The buck made a quick movement and then walked into the small pines.  Not knowing if I hit him or not, I didn’t move for about 15 minutes just to see if it would emerge somewhere to my left and I possibly allow another shot.  Finally, I descended the hill to see if I had hit him, hoping that I would find him dead in the small pines.  When I got to the spot, I could see a small tuft of hair, but no deer nor signs of blood.  There were intermittent spots of snow and frozen ground and tracking was going to be difficult.  Darn, I thought, that buck circled to my left and probably headed for the saddle between two ridges and is going down the other side of the mountain toward Ice Glen in Stockbridge.  If he did that, I probably wouldn’t be able to recover him.

Following a route which I guessed he would take, I began seeing tracks and tiny drops of blood.  I followed the trail until it came to the saddle and sure enough, he headed down the other side of the mountain.  Darn!  I wondered if I should follow him and if I found him down there, how would I be able to drag him back up the mountain and then down to my truck.

A short distance below I saw signs that the buck had slipped on the ice and fallen.  That was seconds before I took a step, slipped and fell, too.  On the east side of the mountain there were patches of snow, whereas on the southwest side there was ice.  And, don’t you know, the deer chose to travel the steepest part of that side of the mountain.  Much too slippery to stand, I had to sit on my rear and slide down the steep slope, sometimes 15-20 feet at a time until I could grab onto a small tree, rock or something to slow down or stop my slide.  Nevertheless, I stayed within sight of the buck’s tracks.   I was beginning to wonder why I was trailing the him, for if I found him, there was no way I could drag him back up the mountain.  But, I could see more frequent blood signs and knew the deer would eventually die from the wound.  I just couldn’t leave that nice buck there to be devoured by coyotes.

After crossing a little gully, the terrain became less steep and because of the lower elevation and warming weather, the ice was becoming softer and I was able walk easier.  The trail led to some briars and brambles and while my arms and legs were tangled up trying to get through them, up jumped the buck and off he ran.  I took a quick shot but I missed him.  I resumed trailing him and about 15 minutes later in more briars and brambles, don’t you know, he did exactly the same thing….. and so did I.  Darn! I thought, I’m not going to get this deer!

Thinking that he would circle to my left and head for a large field at the bottom of the mountain, I hurriedly dropped down to the edge of the field to try to cut him off.  Not seeing him, I started walking in his direction along the edge of the field, making sure to stay in the woods because there were” No Trespassing” signs all along the edge of the field. When I came to a wood road leading back up the mountain, I could see tracks of several deer that ran into the open field, but I couldn’t see the deer nor spots of blood left by the injured one.    I knew it, I thought, he got away.  I started walking up the wood road which I think was the Burgoyne Pass (old road) which went up over the mountain and down onto Beartown Mountain Road.  It would be a long trek up and over, but less steep than the way I came down.

I wondered, what if that deer didn’t join the others and was somewhere between where I had taken the last shot and where I was currently standing.  So once again into the briars and brambles I went.  The second I spotted his antlers, he jumped up and bounded away drawing yet another missed shot from me.  He was heading for that field right where I had walked a little while earlier.  Just before he got to the field, I fired once more and this time the slug found its mark, not 15 feet from the edge of the field. He was a decent sized 9-point buck.

After 3 hours of tracking and finally getting him, the celebratory cup of coffee from my thermos tasted especially good. I field dressed him, making sure to keep the heart and liver.

Now, how do I get him to my truck?   I didn’t have a cell phone to call anyone for help.  There were only 3 options – drag him up over the mountain and down to the Beartown Mountain Road on the other side, (utterly impossible), drag him across the large posted field and risk being arrested, or just leave him there, climb back over the mountain and go home.

Find out what I did in next week’s column.

Taconic Chapter of Trout Unlimited celebrates its 50th anniversary

You are invited to celebrate Taconic TU’s 50th Anniversary Holiday Party on December 13 at 6:30 p.m. at Zucchini’s Restaurant, 1331 North Street, Pittsfield. The price is $55 pp which includes appetizer, a full buffet and dessert. You are advised to buy your ticket by 12/1/24.

 

There will be auctions and raffles which include rods, reels, guided trips, flies tied by local fly tyers, and more.  Some fortunate person will be leaving that party carrying a vintage Hardy bamboo rod.

 

This year they will also host their annual meeting as a brief interlude at the banquet. Chapter President Justin Adkins promises to make it as short and fun as possible. It might be a good time for non-members to find out what Trout Unlimited is all about.  For more information, click onto taconictu@gmail.com.

 

 

 

 

Missions Accomplished on recent Catskill Fly Fishing Trip

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Last month, Paul Knauth of Hinsdale and I went to the Catskills for four days.  The purpose of the trip was 3-fold: to meet up with fishing friends that we met last year, to enable Paul to pick up a new bamboo flyrod that he ordered last September which was built specifically for him by excellent bamboo (cane) rod maker Brian Greer of Missouri and, oh yes, to do some flyfishing for trout in the Beaverkill and Willowemoc Rivers in and around Roscoe, NY.

 

Within moments after arriving at the Roscoe Motel in Roscoe, NY we were feasting on a piece of delicious homemade apple/walnut pie.  While good friend Dwight Atkinson was driving up from Virginia, he stopped at a roadside pie shop run by Amish folks and ordered some pies, just like he did last June.

 

Shortly thereafter, Brian Greer presented Paul his new cane rod.  It’s an 8’ 4wt bamboo rod made specifically to Paul’s specifications. Paul ordered it during our September 2023 trip to the Catskills. (See Berkshire Eagle Woods and Waters Column of February 23/24, 2024 entitled You meet the most interesting people while fly fishing in the Catskills.

 

It was made from a bamboo grown only on approximately 48,000 acres up the Sui River in the Guangdong Province in China. The culm was split into strips, measured, planed, and glued to form a hexagonal shaped rod. (Kind of like if you look down at a pie that is cut into 6 even pieces).  The size of the rod at the butt is the approximate width of a pencil and it is tapered down to roughly the size of a toothpick at the tip.  The 6 strips that went into the tip section were comparable to the size of lead in a mechanical pencil.  The cork grip or handle of the rod had a reel seat of maple burl dyed red. The metal piece at the end of the reel seat was made by a friend of Brian’s who specializes in making them. It is a two-piece rod with a third (extra) tip.  Ferrules separate the two tips which had special line guides. Special glues were used and the fit was so precise that you couldn’t even see the glue lines.  There was a special procedure to varnish it too. Additionally, per Paul’s request, there were six discreet red silk rod wraps representing his two sons and 4 grandchildren.

Brian Greer on the left and Paul Knauth on the right holding his new rod.

It was truly a work of art.  Brian, in my opinion, is one great rod maker and you can tell that he puts his heart and soul into making his rods. The rod took him around 60 hours to build.  As mentioned in the previous article, close to 400 steps are required to build such a rod. After explaining all of the particulars of the rod and how to maintain it, Brian presented Paul with a piece of the bamboo culm and some bamboo strips.

Then he presented us a bottle of 7-year old Jim Beam bourbon with two glasses etched with our names on them. Along with Paul’s caprese hors d’oeuvres (skewered mozzarella cheese balls, cherry tomatoes, basil and drizzled with balsamic glaze) and pieces of Dwight’s peach melba pie, that bottle was emptied that evening when 8 of us sat around the campfire).

Paul’s caprese hors d’oeuvres

A beautiful bamboo rod is made to fish with, not to just cherish.  And Paul did just that the following day by catching 6 nice trout in a couple of hours.

On subsequent nights, due to chilliness in the air, Brian, Dwight and his fishing buddy Eric congregated in our motel room to talk trout, watch a ball game and munch on my wife Jan’s delicious chocolate chip squares and another one of Dwight’s peach pies.  It was at that time that we discovered that we had a celebrity amongst us. We learned that Dwight owned land in Scotland and that he was a Laird (Lord) there.  His estate lies in the western Highlands, near the Hebrides. (Actually, his daughter bought a one square foot plot of land there and gave the title to him for his birthday). We had fun kidding him as to whether he was going to plant potatoes on that plot next year.

 

Readers may remember Dwight from that February column where I described him as being “retired and seems to fish whenever and wherever he wants, places like the Balkans, Iceland, Scotland and Ireland.” After commissioning Brian to make another bamboo rod for himself (an 8’6”, two-piece 4/5 wt. in his Squire taper), he will be off to Oregon to fish the Owyhee River.  He has already booked a fishing trip to Wales for March, 2025, and then to Ireland and Iceland in May.  Being a laird, I guess he can afford such trips.

 

We also learned that he had the distinct honor of introducing a new word to the Oxford English Dictionary. He didn’t create the word, but he presented it to the OED, the definitive record of the English language. The word is exceedance, which means – an act or instance of exceeding, especially a limit or amount.  Hey! You never know who you’ll meet on these fishing trips, sipping a little bourbon and munching on goodies.

 

We accomplished two of our goals (Paul’s fly rod and meeting friends), and had wonderful culinary experiences, but what about the fishing?

 

We did well.  Both of us caught a dozen or more trout each, some of them quite large. Not bad fishing when you consider that we barely fished before 10:00 am in the mornings, fished until 2:00 p.m. or so, ate early dinners of overstuffed sandwiches (Dagwood Bumstead style) and went back fishing from 6:00 p.m. until dark.  On this trip, we enjoyed leisure breakfasts, chatted with our friends, visited fly fishing shops, and slowed the pace down a bit.  One morning, Paul and I didn’t even get fishing as we watched a MA Fish & Wildlife Board meeting by Zoom.  No, I didn’t see Iron Mike the fabled big brown trout that cleaned my clock a couple of times last year, but I caught a respectable rainbow trout in the area where he once resided.

 

We learned about some new places to fish in the Beaverkill River.  One place yielded one of the largest brown trout I have caught in many years. You should have been there to see that.

 

Picture if you will, this old angler out in the river with a wading staff in one hand (due to neuropathy in both feet and a serious balance problem, especially in moving water) and a flyrod in the other.  A large brown trout hammered my fly so I had to let go of the staff which was tethered to my vest, in order to fight the fish.  After finally getting it close, while keeping pressure on it with the fly rod in one hand I had to grab the tethered net which was attached to the back of my vest with the other. The interesting part was bending down to net that fish while maintaining my balance.  For a while it looked like I was doing the Watusi, with steps and antics that I had never done on the dance floor.

 

Normally, I release the fish in the water without using the net, thanks to the barbless hooks, but this was big and I wanted to show it off to my buddies who were fishing a little ways downstream.  Forget about trying to measure it or taking a photo with the cell phone which was buried somewhere under my chest waders. The trout just barely fit into the net when he spit the fly out.

 

I must have been quite a sight with the fly rod in one hand, showing off a big squiggly trout in the other hand and the attached wading staff and net hanging down in the water by my feet while struggling to maintain my balance.  The fish was released unharmed, but not too happy.

 

The size 12 AuSable Wulff and Usual dry flies, both created by the late Francis Betters up on the Ausable River near Lake Placid, NY, proved to be my most effective flies.   Paul had good luck with size 16 Pheasant Tail Nymphs and Parachute Adams dry flies.

 

What a great time we had.  We already reserved a room in the Roscoe Motel for next June, Good Lord willing and the creek doesn’t rise…..too much.

Flyfishing in Iceland

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In July, a group of my fishing buddies flew to Iceland to do some Atlantic Salmon, Brown Trout and perhaps Arctic Char fishing.  Included in the group were Mike Shepard of Dalton, Mike Miller and Carlton Racie from Athol, MA, Darren Miller from Bedford, MA, Brandon Jones of Leominster, MA, Gary Hebert of Richmond, NH, Tim Racie from Acton, MA and Ken Griffin from Boston.

 

Their trip to Iceland started on July 21, flying out of Boston to Reykjavik, the largest city and capitol of Iceland.  Following an overnight stay there, they flew to Akureyri, a fishing village in northern Iceland.  There they were picked up by their outfitter, Iceland Fishing Guide, and drove to Myrarkvisl Lodge.

 

Before fishing Iceland’s waters, all of their fishing equipment including rods, reels, flies, fly lines, waders and boots had to be disinfected in order to protect the pristine Icelandic rivers from any risk of infection from bacteria or disease from foreign rivers that may be present on waders or other equipment.

 

The Mýrarkvísl River is one of the tributaries of Laxá River in Aðaldal, which flows north into the Atlantic Ocean near the Arctic Circle.  It is a relatively small river that holds a great stock of brown trout along with good runs of Atlantic Salmon throughout the summer. The river runs through plains on the Reykjaheiði plateau making it perfect for fly fishing. All of their fishing was done on private land owned by farmers which the guide rented for fishing beats.  They fished on this river for three days.

 

On the second day, Mike Shepard caught an 8 lbs female (hen) Atlantic salmon that was fresh from the ocean and “as silver as it could be.”  It took him about 30 minutes fighting it in heavy water.  As soon as he could get her to shore for the guide to net, she would line him. (make another powerful run).  She did this 4 – 5 times.  In the process, she jumped 5 times, straight out of the water.  Mike’s biggest issue was if she chose to leave the pool, there was no way he could follow her down the river for it was really rough walking.  However; he was using an Orvis Helos III  9 weight (heavy, strong rod) a Mirage Reel and 20 lbs test straight leader, and was able to turn her back to the pool easily.

Mike Shepard with 8 lbs Atlantic Salmon

 

For salmon, they normally use heavy tube flies or classic Atlantic salmon flies, size 10 with double hooks.  But Mike caught her on a dark colored dry fly.

 

They then switched to the Reykjadalsa Lodge, in a small village of Laugar in northern Iceland. There they fished the balance of the days in the Reykjadalsa River, a typical freestone river, renowned for salmon fishing and a wet fly angler’s paradise. It’s known as one of Iceland’s best wild Trout rivers, with high volumes of fish landed every season. In the morning, four of their group fished for Atlantic Salmon, and in the afternoon, they switched and fished for big Brown Trout in the Laxa River. They split the trip into two different lodges for the logistics of fishing different rivers and streams.

 

The Laxa River is about 3/4 of a mile wide and never deeper than one’s knees, so one could wade straight across it.  The river bottom was black, from volcanic ash and it is full of big Brown Trout. (Iceland is basically a volcanic island.  All the volcanic activity that is in the news these days is in the south about 200 miles from where they currently were staying).

 

The smallest Brown Trout caught on the trip was probably 3lbs and the largest 7lbs.  There is not an abundance of aquatic insects so a dry-fly fisherman had to work hard to catch them.  On the other hand, a wet-fly fisherman or person fishing with nymphs could kill them.  (Actually, everything was “catch & release).

 

According to Mike Shepard, they got their share of rainy, windy weather.  He wore Under Armour, a flannel shirt, and a wool sweater each day, and a raincoat, too, if needed.

 

They never got to see the Northern Lights and because of the long days up there, they fished until 10:00 pm, had an hour’s drive back to the lodge and didn’t eat until 11:30 pm.

 

According to Mike, all in all, the group caught a lot of big brown trout.  They caught 13 Atlantic Salmon   Most of the guys caught one or two, but Carl’s son Tim Racie is an accomplished wet-fly fisherman, and caught 4, one of which was a brute of probably 20 lbs. The guide said it was the biggest one caught in the river in the last 4-5 years. Gary Hebert managed to hit the mother lode on Browns and caught one of the largest Browns of the week.

Gary Hebert with a large Brown Trout

 

According to Gary, they have a tradition up there when you catch your first Atlantic Salmon of the season, you have to indulge in the curse of the fermented shark (a tradition of having to eat fermented shark (Hakari).  He described it as the nastiest rotten smelliest vile food in the world.

 

(Readers may remember Gary.  I mentioned him in an article that I did about fishing the Minipi River/Lake in Labrador some years back.  He and I were the early risers each morning and he would make our coffee, which was arguably the strongest cup of coffee in North America.  We called it napalm.  Both being vets, we got a chuckle out of that.)

 

They were in a small village of Laugar in northern Iceland.  The country is essentially run on geothermal power. According to Gary, a few of them indulged in one of the local geothermal pools while enjoying their favorite libations.

 

Mike Shepard feels that it is clearly a “bucket list” trip – the opportunity to catch an Atlantic Salmon is once in a lifetime.  Although he only caught one, he did have ten come after his fly – three with the intention of hitting it.  One, estimated to be 15 pounds came right out of the river and jumped over his fly.  Another big one hit it with his nose and knocked it straight up in the air.  The other salmon flashed at his fly, not making any effort to take the fly.  Atlantic Salmon don’t eat once they hit fresh water, so you are left to making them mad.

 

“The country is essentially treeless, mountains with enormous valleys of grass fields and outcropping of volcanic rock”, said Mike, “unique but beautiful in its own pristine way.  The Icelandic people are very friendly and helpful, the guides were excellent.  The food was traditional Icelandic meals focusing on lamb and fish. One of the cooks was a trained chef so dinner was gourmet.”

 

The trip took 10 days including travel days and an overnight stay in Reykjavik. The price was $6,400 USD per person for 6 1/2 days of fishing, which included meals, fishing license, guiding (1 guide for two anglers), accommodations, full catering, taxes and tips. Airfare was $860 with another approximately $650 for hotel, meals, libations, taxes and tips.

 

Incidentally, of the 8 anglers who went on that trip, 5 came back with Covid.  Fortunately for Mike Shepard, he was not one of them.

In case you are wondering why I didn’t join the guys on this trip, its because my wife Jan and I were in other waters – the Mediterranean Sea on a cruise ship.  While there, I was hoping to do a little trolling off of our stateroom balcony (on the 14th deck), but it just didn’t work out.  The handle of my net was a tad too short.

Fishing Derby

 

The Friends of the Berkshire Hatchery in Hartsville-New Marlborough is scheduled to have its last Youth Fishing Derby of this year next Saturday, September 14 from 9:00 to 10:30 am at its Lower Pond at the Berkshire National Fish Hatchery, 240 Hatchery Road, Hartsville, MA.  Children aged 13 and under must be accompanied by an adult.  No child goes away empty handed.

Wear your life jackets, it’s the law

 

MassWildlife cautions us that all canoe or kayak occupants must wear a U.S. Coast Guard approved PFD from September 15 to May 15, and that includes waterfowl hunters.

Nice day spent on the banks of the Hoosic River

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On Saturday, August 17, Riverfest took place at the Spruces Park along the Hoosic river in Williamstown.  It was an opportunity to learn about and celebrate the Hoosic River watershed.

Various organizations were represented there.  We had a chance to meet Audrey Werner, Hoffmann Bird Club Communications Officer, and club member Katharine Weinke.  They provided information on the Club’s exciting event summary for 2024-2025.   Sighted on their Guided Bird Walk along the river, were the following: osprey carrying a fish, cormorant, mourning dove, American robin, eastern bluebirds, American goldfinch, chipping sparrow, song sparrow, tufted titmouse, black capped chickadee, white breasted nuthatch, flickers and a phoebe.

Taconic Chapter of Trout Unlimited representatives were there.  TU Board member Marc Hoechstetter taught fly casting while Dr Charles Wohl taught fly tying.  Board member Rosanne Mistretta and Betsy Clark conducted the Kid-friendly Macroinvertebrate Workshop.  In the river they found Mayfly larvae, Crayfish, Stonefly Larvae, several types of Caddisfly larvae, Water Penny beetles, Midge larvae and Damselfly larvae.

Representatives of The Hoosic River Watershed Association (HooRWA) were there.  It is their citizens’ group that looks after the river.  It is dedicated to the restoration, conservation and enjoyment of the Hoosic River and its watershed, through education, research and advocacy.  It envisions a watershed that is ecologically sound and adds to the quality of life of its residents.  Board members explained the water quality monitoring work in which they are involved.

Judy Grinnell and representatives of the Hoosic River Revival (HRR) were there.  HRR is a volunteer organization dedicated to transforming the aging Hoosic River flood chutes using leading-edge engineering and naturalization measures to reduce flood risk and enhance climate resilience. It envisions an attractive, accessible, healthy, flood-controlled river, which will enhance downtown North Adams and the quality of life for all residents, businesses, and visitors. HRR will accomplish this through advocacy, education, and action in partnership with the City and other stakeholders.

Arriana Collins from HooRWA led the Wild Edibles walk.

A MCLA student and HooRWA intern showed how the water quality testing is performed

There was a River-Inspired Group Sing-Along with Singer/Songwriter Deborah Burns. According to TU President Justin Adkins, there were roughly 20 people singing their hearts out in celebration to the river.

All in all, it was a very pleasant day.

Zebra Mussels found in Onota Lake

In case you missed the article in the Berkshire Eagle on Monday, August 19 entitled “Zebra mussels found in Onota Lake” here is the following:  “The Department of Conservation and Recreation spotted the invasive freshwater mollusks during one of its routine checks of the lake for invasive species, according to a press release issued by Catherine Van-Bramer, the city’s administrative services director.  “This detection only impacts boating operations at the lake and has no impact to other recreational uses of the lake.” according to the release.

 

“In an effort to stop the spread of zebra mussels to other bodies of water, boaters are asked to inspect their boats, trailers and other recreational equipment. They should also decontaminate all parts of their boat, paddles, and other equipment that have been in contact with water. When doing so, they should not allow wash water to flow in any water body or storm sewer.”

 

Surely in the upcoming days, more information will be provided about what part of the lake they were located, the probable causes of their spread, various methods to control or eliminate their spread, possibly a boat cleaning station, etc.

 

Incidentally, water outflow from Onota Lake begins the western branch of the Housatonic River in Pittsfield.  I guess one can expect to see Zebra Mussels show up in Woods Pond in Lenox any time now, if not already.

 

 Surplus Antlerless Deer Permits for sale in September

By now Massachusetts deer hunters should know if they were selected to receive an antlerless deer permit (ADP), also known as a doe permit.  If not, they can simply click onto the MassFishHunt web page to find out.  If selected, Massachusetts residents must pay a $10.00 fee (non-resident pay $20.00) to purchase the permit.

It’s a lottery system, and not every hunter who wanted one in the wildlife management zone of their choice got one.  The difference between allocation and demand determines the odds of winning an ADP. The exceptions are those who applied for permits in Zones 10, 11, 13, and 14 where everyone who applied got one.  There are too many deer in those zones and MassWildlife is trying to reduce the herd to desirable numbers where there is sufficient food and habitat to sustain them.

There still is a chance to get a permit.  Surplus Antlerless Deer Permits (ADP) will go on sale in late September.

On September 24 at 9:00 a.m. surplus ADPs in zones 9, 10, 11, 13, and 14 go on sale. Zone 9 are first-come, first-served and limited to 1 permit per day.  Zones 10, 11, 13, and 14 have no daily or season purchase limit and are available for purchase throughout the entire 2024 season.

On Wednesday, September 25 at 9:00 a.m. surplus ADPs in zones 3, 7, 8, and 12 go on sale. Zones 3, 7, 8, and 12 are first-come, first-served and limited to 1 permit per zone per day.
The following is a list of surplus ADP’s by Zones:  Zone 3 – 567, Zone 7 – 1,331, Zone 8 – 547, Zone 9 – 4,503, and Zone 12 – 446.  There are unlimited surpluses for Zones 10, 11, 13 and 14.

Reimbursement for free licenses

By State mandatory, resident sporting licenses (age 70 and older) and resident and non-resident sporting license for paraplegics are free.  The cost of this freebie is about $1 million which the Division of Fisheries & Wildlife must bear annually.  They recently received some good news.  The Budget Conference Committee included language to reimburse its Inland Fisheries and Game Fund this year, and the Governor retained it when she signed the budget into law. This marks the fourth year they have been successful in getting this language included. They hope to make the statutory fix so they do not need to do this each budget cycle.

 

Stepping down

 

I will be stepping down from writing this column at the end of this year.    Simply put, I am not as sharp as I used to be and am slowing down.  Because of that, much more time is required to research, compose, and proofread the proposed articles.  It is also getting to be more difficult attending meetings where useful information is gathered for this column.

 

I’m amazed how President Joe Biden, who is 12 days younger than me, can lead the free world, while I have problems meeting the weekly deadlines for this column.  It is what it is.

 

For some time, I have been planning on stepping down and brought this subject up with Berkshire Eagle Executive Editor Kevin Moran last summer.  I originally thought about retiring after my 1,000th column, but here I am writing this 1,071st column.  Then I planned on retiring on my 80th birthday which was in November 2022, but I’m still here. Then I set the drop-dead retirement date on my 20th anniversary of writing this column. That was last February.  Its time for me to stop procrastinating.

 

In another meeting with Kevin this summer, he suggested that I mention retiring around this time.  In that way, it would give the folks at the Eagle time to seek out another columnist and thus avoid a gap.  That made sense.  Older readers may recall, when my predecessor Ted Giddings retired at the end of 2003, there wasn’t a replacement until February 2004.  It was an excruciating time for us who had become accustomed to reading Ted’s weekly column with our Sunday morning cup of coffee.  That cup of coffee just didn’t taste as good without reading the words of that magnificent scribbler.  Little did I know at the time that his replacement would be me.

 

Kevin’s suggestion appealed to me in another way, too.  It implied that there would continue to be a Berkshire Eagle outdoor sports column in the future.

 

Hopefully, the Eagle is successful in finding someone to continue writing about our beautiful woods and waters.

 

 

 

 

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An Act Modernizing Firearm Laws

In announcing the passage of the above Act, Governor Healey wrote that this legislation updates our firearms laws in response to the Supreme Court’s misguided Bruen decision, that it cracks down on ghost guns and 3-D printed weapons, bans firearms in additional public spaces like schools, polling places and government buildings. It expands the 2018 “red flag” law to allow school administrators and licensed health care providers to petition a court to temporarily take firearms away from someone deemed a threat to themselves or others.  It also includes new penalties for possession, creation and transfer of untraceable guns. Some of those components of the law are things that hunters and target shooters could support, but, unfortunately, it doesn’t stop there.

 

The following is based upon interpretations by the Gun Owner’s Action League (GOAL), the Massachusetts Conservation Alliance, the Sportsmen’s Alliance and others.  Please bear in mind new interpretations are coming in daily.

 

There will be a complete prohibition for MA Firearms ID (FID) card holders, regardless of age, from owning, possessing, purchasing or transferring rifles and shotguns that are large capacity or semi-automatic (even rimfire) firearms. Hunters will be allowed to hunt with semi-automatic shotguns if they have a valid License-to-Carry (LTC) and the firearm is on the approved roster. Youth hunters can hunt with a semi-automatic shotgun, under the supervision of an adult that has a valid LTC.

As for holders, the new semi-automatic laws are very expansive and there are several sections that must be referenced in order to determine what is banned and who is banned from possessing them.

The new law  appears to give full authority to the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security  to amend the rosters for any and all firearms including semi-automatics. We won’t know what will be approved or banned for some time

There are no exemptions for rimfire in the assault weapon law. (Rimfire cartridges are typically low-powered and small-caliber, traditionally .22 rifles. Large capacity feeding devices do not include .22 rimfire tubular magazines.)

 

There has been no information yet regarding buy backs or confiscation.

 

Under the new laws, any muzzleloader that utilizes modern ammunition components and/or can be readily converted to accept a modern cartridge or barrel (for example) will now require a LTC or FID.

 

Non residents are no longer exempt from possessing handguns and/or semi-automatic firearms for competitions or hunting. It bans youth non-resident hunting (under 18).  All firearms entering the Commonwealth for any purpose other than traveling through must be registered prior to them entering. For people who have moved into Massachusetts, it is possible that they will have to report all transfers since they have been living in Massachusetts.

 

UPS, FedEx, etc. must comply with storage and transportation laws.  Trigger locks and other devices do not appear to have been changed.

 

There are new training requirements which were projected to take effect on August 1, 2024.  There appears to be some training that was grandfathered which includes any license issued on or before August 1, 2024 and for all renewals. Only new applicants must do disengagement training and live fire training.  There are many new requirements for the new training curriculum.  The Colonel of the State Police, in consultation with the Municipal Police Training Committee, shall create a new training curriculum. It must include:  injury prevention, suicide prevention, disengagement tactics, live fire and completion of a written exam.

 

Is there any doubt as to why GOAL announced a referendum effort to repeal this gun law? A referendum petition is used to have a law that was recently enacted by the legislature to be repealed by the voters.  You can find out more about that on the GOAL website.

 

The new law is 116 pages long and there may be other aspects of it which could be mentioned in future columns.  But for the next two weeks, this column will cover a different subject matter.

 

Berkshire National Fish Hatchery events

 

On Saturday, August 10, two events will be taking place at the Berkshire National Fish Hatchery in Monterey/Hartsville.

 

Running from 9:00 to 10:30 a.m. the Friends of the Berkshire National Fish Hatchery will be having their monthly kids fishing derby.  Bring your children ages 13 and under so that they can learn to fish and compete for prizes. No child goes away empty handed.  Its free and there will be free derby shirts for the kids.

Following that, from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. they will have an Open House where visitors have an opportunity to explore the fascinating facility, take guided tours and learn about the amazing work they do to support local fish populations and their habitats.

Enjoy complimentary hotdogs, chips, and watermelon during the Open House. T-shirts, hats, and sweatshirts will be for sale under the tent and a raffle drawing for a Traeger grill smoker.  There will be fly casting for adults with a chance to win a bottle of gin from Berkshire Distillery with the hatchery logo on it

Fly Fishing Clinic

On August 9, Jim Lagacy, Aquatic Resource Education Coordinator, invites you to join MassWildlife’s ‘Fly Fishing 101’ clinic to learn how to get started in this wonderful pastime.  They will take the romance and mystery out of this age-old technique and show you that fly fishing is just another tool in your fishing arsenal. From the necessary equipment needs, essential knots, how to rig up your fly rod and reel outfit, and how to cast, as well as some commonsense tips and techniques to get you started.

Kendelll Wojtkonski with a nice brown trout out of the Housatonic River in Lee., MA Picture taken by her fdad, Craig Smith.

After an introductory lesson, participants will be able to fly fish on Reynolds Pond (45 Fred Mason Rd, Cheshire) with help from local fly anglers and MassWildlife staff.

The free clinic is designed for beginner fly anglers (age 15+). Bring your own fly-fishing gear or borrow theirs.  Space is limited, so pre-register at HTTPS://massfishhuntevents , # 4331, ASAP.

Family Fishing Clinic

 

On August 10, Lagacy invites you to join them for a free, family friendly, learn to fish clinic at Upper Highland Lake in the DAR State Forest, in Goshen, from 9:00 a.m. to noon. Bring your fishing equipment or borrow theirs; limited equipment and bait will be provided.

When you arrive, instructors will cover the fishing basics with the balance of the time spent fishing.  This class is designed for adults and families; participants ages 14 and younger must be accompanied by an adult.

Free and open to the public, pre-registration is required. HTTPS://massfishhuntevents 4332, ASAP.

American Museum of Fly Fishing Festival

On Saturday, August 10 from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm, the AMFF’s 16th annual free Fly-Fishing Festival will take place rain or shine on the museum grounds in Manchester, Vermont. This is its signature event of the summer, featuring a unique collection of vendors, including painters, appraisers, industry artisans and professionals, and other angling-related nonprofits. You are invited to enjoy fly tying and casting demonstrations, try your hand at casting vintage rods, learn how to tie a fly, and mingle with like-minded people as you share the joy of the great outdoors.

Join them throughout the day for a wide array of activities, including presentations, competitions, and demonstrations. The schedule of events is as follows:

11:00 am: Casting competition
12:00 pm: Saltwater Casting Seminar with AMFF Ambassador Kyle Schaefer
1:00 pm: Meet the Artist: C.D. Clarke
2:00 pm: Art Workshop with AMFF Ambassador Rachel Finn
3:00 pm: Raffle drawing at admissions tent

Happening all day: Tackle appraisals with Bob Selb, Fred Kretchman, and Carmine Lisella,
casting lessons with AMFF Ambassador Kyle Schaefer, vendors and non-profits, fly tying demonstrations, casting the classics, local food and beverage trucks, children’s activities
explore multiple exhibitions in the museum galleries, music by Shannon Roy, free museum admission all day.

 

Hoosic Riverfest

 

You are invited to join the Hoosic River Watershed Association (HooRWA) and the Taconic Chapter of Trout Unlimited on Saturday, August 17, from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. for RiverFest.

 

Attend a workshop on fly tying, fly casting, macroinvertebrates and/or wild edible plants. Listen to river-inspired music and poetry, see demos on water quality monitoring, get to know the species that live in the river, and even participate in a river clean-up which runs from 2:00 to 3:00 p.m.

 

This event is free and open to the public. The rain date is Saturday, August 24.

Catskill fishing trip – Part 2

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Last week’s narrative of our flyfishing trip to the Catskills ended at the Covered Bridge Pool on the Beaverkill River where Paul Knauth and I stopped on Day 3 of our trip for lunch at a picnic area.  You may recall that there we told an old timer where we thought the Rhododendron Pool was located.  He had been searching for that pool for years.

From there, we went back to fish Ferdon’s Pool on the Beaverkill River where we had pretty good luck the night before.

This time Paul fished the tail end of the 200 yard pool and I returned to the rapids entering it.  I brought two fly rods to the waters, my trusty L.L.Bean graphite and an old bamboo rod named the Scotty, which was made by Sharpe Co. of England.  I have no idea how old that rod is. The plan was to catch one trout with that rod, put it down and continue fishing with the L.L. Beaner.  I didn’t want to risk breaking that old classic bamboo rod like I did last year with an old Orvis bamboo rod.  Well, I ended up fishing all evening with that rod because I never caught a fish.  Paul managed to catch only 1 trout.  The fish just weren’t biting.

After returning to the motel, we joined the other anglers around a campfire.  Two young German fellows who were in the US on a business trip and who were staying at the motel joined us and brought along some beer.  (What else?) Paul and I opted for a splash of bourbon in his fancy glasses which he always brings on our trips.  The German fellas had never fly fished before and on that day hired a fishing guide to take them out.  One of them caught a trout and he was elated and is probably now hooked on fly fishing.

Feeling better from his bout with vertigo, Dwight Atkinson showed up and he brought a peach pie which we all shared.  It was a wonderful evening of comradery.   Later, when we returned to our room, Paul suggested that I look at the bottom of his empty glass.  Standing there with wings upright and happy as a lark was a live blue winged olive mayfly.   We had a good laugh over that.

On Day 4, (Wednesday), we had breakfast at a local diner and just as we were leaving, Paul struck up a conversation with an old gent who knew the area quite well and he gave us some advice as to where to fish on the Willowemoc River.

We checked out one area which wasn’t to our liking as it was not a large area and would probably be crowded if another angler showed up.  We checked out the second area mentioned, Dettes Pool and Roscoe Riverside Park, and we found a good looking pool to fish.  We decided to fish it that evening after having another lunch of overstuffed sandwiches with a hint of yellow pepper juice followed by my wife Jan’s delicious chocolate chip squares.

It was at the park that we saw the famous 2-Headed Trout sign. (See footnotes below about the Dettes and the 2-Headed Trout.)

When we arrived at the pool, we were disappointed to see that two anglers were there already.  So, we found another decent looking spot further downstream and began fishing there.  Paul fished downstream toward Junction Pool while I fished the bumpy pocket water upstream with my trusty AuSable Wulff dry fly.  The fishing was incredible! It seemed like every piece of pocket water contained a trout.  When I worked up near the pool where the two fishermen previously had been, I saw that they had left. Moving right in, I proceeded to have the best fishing in many years.

Around 8:00 p.m., I started fishing back downstream toward Paul and the fishing was even better than when I fished upstream – the fish were larger. I won’t mention how many trout I caught, for readers probably wouldn’t believe me.  It was one fish after another, almost every cast for 3 hours.  Nice sized trout too, with the largest being 15 inches – all on the same fly, the AuSable Wulff dry fly.

The fishing was so good that I practically had to hide behind bushes and trees in order to apply floatant and refresh the fly, lest a trout would jump and try to take it right out of my hand and perhaps bite me in the process.

Just before dark, while fighting a 15-inch brown trout, I saw another even larger trout jump nearby.  After landing the 15 incher, the fly was all beat up, bent and starting to unravel. But I tossed it out near the big fish anyway.  Bam! Did it hammer it! When it realized it had been hooked, it immediately shot straight across the river to where there were some submerged slate rocks, swam around one and cut my leader. I had the distinct feeling that fish had used that tactic before.

By then it was too dark to tie on another fly so I watched Paul fish for a little while before total darkness set in.  No problem for I had never caught and released that many trout in a day, much less three hours.  Retired Dr. Charles Wohl of Lenox has an apt description for fishing times such as these….. “obscene.”

Paul also had a good night of fishing with his old Orvis bamboo rod and using Copper Johns and Gold Ribbed Hares Ear nymphs

That was a lucky evening for me in another way, too.  One time I slipped and went down falling on my L.L. Bean flyrod.  Fortunately, it didn’t break. But if I had been using that old bamboo Sharpe rod that I used the night before, it would surely have been shattered and it would have tainted an otherwise perfect evening.

When we returned to the motel, it wasn’t long before word got out about my unusual success.  I was treated like a celebrity that night with people stopping by to offer congratulations and asking what fly I had used. For a while, I considered charging a consultant fee.

Mike Mcgowan, an angler from Idaho, was very interested in the fly and was going to purchase one the following day, as was Dwight, who was feeling even better and was able to start fishing.

Paul and I headed home that Thursday morning and while on the road, Mike texted telling us he purchased an AuSable Wulff dry fly and proceeded to catch a 20-inch brown trout that morning. Dwight stayed on and fished until Saturday.  He fished the Dette Pool and one day he netted 7 trout with the same fly.

No, we never met up with Iron Mike, the big brown trout, on this trip.  Instead of returning time after time to the same spot where we last saw him, we opted to fish new places such as the Rhododendron Pool, Covered Bridge Pool and the Roscoe Riverside Park and I’m glad we did.  How could I be disappointed after having one of the finest days of fly fishing in my entire life amid such beautiful surroundings?  Paul and I look forward to another flyfishing trip to the Catskills this fall, a little more knowledgeable about its wonderful rivers than we were before.

*Walt and Winnie Dette, along with their daughter Mary, tied flies from their home along the banks of the Willowemoc River for almost three-quarters of a century.  They had been part of the tradition of Roscoe, a center of fly-fishing, and were the last of the renowned school of the Catskill FlyTiers. Walt was one of the major links in a chain that reaches back to Theodore Gordon, long considered by many as the father of dry-fly fishing in this country.  Established in 1928, it is claimed that Dette Flies is the oldest family run fly fishing shop in the world.

** The 2-headed trout sign reads as following:  “Legend holds that a trout swam to Juncture Pool where the Beaverkill and Willowemoc meet.  Unsure of which way to go, it started left and right.  Remaining in one spot so long, the trout grew a second head.  To this day, people say they have seen it, but no one has caught it.”

Exciting times fly fishing in the Catskills

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As noted in last week’s column, this and next week’s columns will be devoted to Paul Knauth’s and my June flyfishing trip to the Catskills in NY.   I was hoping to have another chance at catching a large brown trout in the Beaverkill River that I missed several times last year.

We arrived at the Roscoe Motel in Roscoe, NY around 3:00 pm on Sunday, June 2 and there to greet us was Dwight Atkinson of Virginia who we first met last fall and have since developed a close friendship.  He’s the guy described in my February 24, 2024 column entitled “You meet the most interesting people while fly fishing in the Catskills” as a person who fishes anywhere and anytime he wants.  He made it a point to be in Roscoe for the rematch with that fabled big brown trout known as Iron Mike.   On his way to the Catskills, Dwight stopped at a roadside pie store and purchased 4 homemade pies for the fishermen staying at the motel, which included people from MA, NY, NJ, VA, PA, Washington DC, MI, ID, Canada and Germany. Hey, the Catskills is the place for fly fishermen to be in early June.

 

Also there to greet us was motel owner, Rachael Yeager and her dog named Chuck.  He is a very friendly old Yellow Lab who keeps an eye on the anglers and if someone should perchance leave their motel room door open, Chuck just goes in and helps himself to whatever food is on the table.

Incidentally, the motel is not more than 30 feet from the Beaverkill River.  One can simply look out one’s motel room window and determine the river condition, flies that are hatching, whether fish are rising, etc.

After settling into our room, Paul and I headed for Iron Mike’s last known location on the Beaverkill River, the place where he cleaned my clock last fall.  Luckily, no one was fishing that spot.  Try as I might to entice Iron Mike to make an appearance and grab my fly, I wasn’t able to do so. The only fish in that stretch of water were 5-6 inch trout.  If Iron Mike was around, those fish would surely not be there for he would have munched them up like potato chips.

In the 3 hours we were there, Paul caught a couple of nice sized brown trout downstream from me, but there was no sign of Iron Mike.  Perhaps someone caught him since we were last there, or maybe he simply died of old age. We did manage to catch 4 trout each that evening.  When we got back to the motel the usual group of flyfishermen was not there outside their rooms, gabbing, drinking, etc.  We thought for sure Dwight would be there with some pie but he wasn’t. So we turned in early.

The next morning around 7:00 a.m. we chatted with Nick Cobler from PA who was already sitting outside his motel room tying flies.  He is one superb fly tyer and we marveled at his work.

After breakfast on Day 2 (Monday) we visited a local fly shop to pick up some stuff and then headed out onto a Willowemoc River pool behind a rest stop on Rte. 17 near Roscoe.  Not knowing the name of that pool, we simply called it the Rest Stop Pool.  It was getting hot, so instead of wearing chest waders, Paul opted to go wet wading.  (No chest waders, just shorts, wading shoes and wading socks).  He fished upstream from me.

When we concluded fishing and met up, Paul commented that on the other side of the river from where he was fishing, the whole bank was covered with Rhododendrons and that when they bloom, that place must be absolutely gorgeous.

While eating lunch, we discovered that the lid on a jar of yellow peppers was loose and the pepper juice leaked into Paul’s cooler affecting the taste and texture of our sandwichs and everything else in it.  We could smell it every time we opened the cooler.

After lunch and resting, we headed for Ferdon’s Pool on the Beaverkill, a place we fished last year and had good luck. Paul fished upstream with tandem nymphs near the bottom while I fished the bumpy head waters leading into the large pool using my favorite fly, the AuSable Wulff dry fly.  We both ended up catching and releasing 8 trout that evening.  When we returned to the motel, once again Dwight was nowhere to be seen.  We learned that some sort of vertigo or dizziness had overtaken him and it was so bad that he was bed-ridden Sunday afternoon and Monday.  What a shame, for he planned the trip for months only to have that happen.

On Day 3 (Tuesday) we fished upstream of the Covered Bridge Pool on the Beaverkill River. That part of the river was too rapid, rocky and slippery for me.  I couldn’t stand in it even while using my wading staff. Walking the path alongside it wasn’t much better.  (I should mention here that in addition to having neuropathy in both feet, I also have balance issues going on these days.)  Despite Paul’s offer to help me cross it, I opted to sit on a shaded rock and cast from there. Paul crossed and fished upstream.

picture provided by Gene Chague

It was terribly hot that day, and every now and then I had to dip my fishing hat into the water to cool my noggin. But I was content sitting in the shade and I even managed to catch and release a couple of trout.

While fishing there, an older gentleman passed behind me on the trail heading upriver.   Good for him, I thought, for I couldn’t even walk on that difficult trail. When I looked upriver a few minutes later, I saw him attempting to cross an area of fast moving water about 70 yards away.  Oh no!   After making another cast, I turned to see how he was doing and there he was on his hands and knees in the middle of the river trying to get up. Each time he tried to stand he went down again.  Ooh, this is not good!  Fortunately, the river wasn’t so deep that he was in too much danger of drowning, but his waders must have filled with water and he was in a dangerous situation.  The thought of him possibly having a broken hip or leg crossed my mind.

picture provided by Gene Chague

With no way for me to help him, I decided to call Paul, who was fishing further upstream out of sight, to see if he could come downstream to help him.  Unfortunately, I accidentally left my cell phone in Paul’s vehicle. (I subsequently learned that there was no cell service there anyway).

I was beginning to panic, possibly more so than the old gent himself.  After a fairly long time, he was able to get to his feet.  Thankfully, it appeared that no body parts were broken.  Now all he had to do was to work his way to the other side, not an easy task at all. Gradually, he made it.  After he finally got to the other side and checked his flyrod for damage he looked toward me and we exchanged “Hooray!” signals.

When Paul returned and helped me get out of the river, up the bank and back to the park area, we sat at a picnic bench and ate overstuffed sandwiches with a slight tinge of yellow pepper juice. Paul had some good fishing upstream catching a 15 inch rainbow trout and a 16 inch brown trout along with several other nice fish.

Just before leaving, we met another older gent who had just stopped fishing.  He told us how he used to fish the area with his father and grandfather.  In fact, his great grandfather used to camp on some farmer’s land around there way back when.   Over the years, he made it his mission to fish every one of the areas about which his grandad spoke.  He was able to fish them all, except one place which he could never find, a place that his grandad called Rhododendron Pool.  When Paul told him about that pool behind the service area where he saw all the rhododendrons, the old gent was elated and said he said he couldn’t wait to fish that place.

To be continued next week.

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Now’s a good time for bass fishing

 

Summer time is a great time to bass fish.   The most successful bass fishermen seem to prefer rubber worms or sluggos and such..  Others prefer crankbaits, buzzbaits, spinnerbaits, jigs, live bait, etc.  I’m still fishing with some plugs purchased over 65 years ago, and they still work.  Old fashioned topwater plug such as Arbogast Jitterbugs or Hula Poppers, Heddon  Crazy Crawlers or floating River Runts, etc.  When they don’t work, underwater plugs like the Worden’s Flatfish, Rapala Minnows work.  Now and then I even use a home made wooden plug made and given to me years ago by Dave Mackey of Pittsfield.

 

This is the best time of year to use top water bass plugs.  There’s nothing more exciting than fishing at dusk and having a big bass come up to the top and shatter the silence with an explosive hit on a floating plug and then jumping several times trying to shake it off..

Ben Giambrone seated, Chris Robillard standing. Picture provided by gene Chague

 

Bass fishing out of a boat is fun, but not absolutely necessary.  There are still open shorelines where you can “plug” along.

 

Some of my fondest memories are of plugging away on Laurel Lake or Stockbridge Bowl all night long with my best friend and school classmate Jerry Zink. We were teenagers back then, too young to have driver’s licenses.  Jerry’s dad or older brother would drop us off in the early evening and pick us up the next morning.  At Laurel Lake, we rented an old wooden rowboat for the night from Bing Miller’s boat rental for $2 or $3 dollars. Yeah, they leaked a little, but that never bothered us.

 

How well I remember Jerry and I fishing one night when a pretty severe thunder storm hit us as we were out in a rowboat on Stockbridge Bowl.  While seeking refuge from the lightning and rain,  we rowed to the open boathouse that Shadowbrook Jesuit School owned.  We brought some butter and flour in a jar and planned to cook up some fish for a snack sometime around 1:00 or 2:00 a.m. The fishing was lousy that night and all we had caught were a couple of dinky bluegills.  After cleaning, scaling and flouring them we threw them on our stove…………….a tiny sterno burner. We couldn’t get enough heat to cook the fish which were somewhere in the gooey paste.   Ugh!  I almost gave up eating fried fish after that episode.  Once or twice a year, Jerry and I still chuckle over that.

 

How well I remember one night shortly after I got out of the service  fishing alone out in one of Shadowbrook’s rowboats on Stockbridge bowl.  It was a peaceful late summer evening filled with sounds of bullfrogs and mallard ducks.  I was 100% focussed on the sound of my popping  bass plug in the darkness. When all  of a sudden there was a horrific flash which lit up the sky and a loud explosion, followed by several more.  After I crawled out from under the rowboat seat, I realized that the commotion was fireworks coming from Tanglewood. Apparently, they aimed the fireworks in the sky over the lake so as not to accidentally start a fire.  The guys at the office got a charge out of that when I related the event. “You should have read the newspaper”, they said, “they mentioned the upcoming event.”

 

As the song goes, “Precious memories, how they linger.”

Kids fishing derby and more at the Berkshire National Fish Hatchery

Next Saturday, July 13, the Friends of the Berkshire National Fish Hatchery Board invites you to join them for a free pancake breakfast to kick off derby day at 7:30 a.m., at the hatchery, 240 Hatchery Road, New Marlborough.  A chance to fill up on delicious pancakes before heading down to the Derby Pond for some exciting fishing action.

At 9:00 a.m., the derby (for kids ages 13 and under), kicks off with more tagged fish added to the pond, guaranteeing good fishing.  Don’t miss out on the chance to win great prizes and snag one of their exclusive derby t-shirts. The derby ends at 10:30 a.m.

This should be a good morning of fishing fun and delicious food.

MEP Entrance Exam

Lieutenant Tara Carlow from the Massachusetts Environmental Police informs us of an upcoming MEP entrance exam for qualified, interested candidates.  This test is offered only every 3-5 years. The application deadline is July 16. For details, click onto

https://www.mass.gov/info-details/2024-environmental-police-officer-ab-examination

Good things happening on the Hoosic River

On Thursday, July 11, beginning at 6:30 p.m., the Taconic Chapter of Trout Unlimited (TU) is sponsoring a Hoosic River Cleanup to pick up trash, tires, etc. in the North Adams stretch of the Hoosic River. Volunteers meet at the Ashton Ave boat launch.

Some gloves and bags will be available, but bring your own gloves, cleanup tools, boots  and  tick prevention.  Waders and hip boots are encouraged but not required.  No need to RSVP.

In case of excessive rain and/or unsafe conditions, a notice will go out to the Taconic TU email subscribers, and be posted on its social media (Facebook and Instagram) around 10:00 a.m. on July 11.

Additionally, according to its most recent issue of the Backcast, (Taconic TU’s quarterly newsletter) they have a bacteria monitoring program underway on the Hoosic River with the Hoosic River Watershed Association (HooRWA). This is a great collaborative project which will add to the data on the health of the river.

They also have a new 3-year temperature monitoring project on the three branches of the Hoosic River (North, South and Main) under way.  One of the greatest threats to the health of fish on the Hoosic is the rising water temperature.  To their knowledge, this 3-year citizen science study will be the most comprehensive temperature monitoring of the 3 branches of the Hoosic to date.

Justin Adkins, president of the chapter, has these words of advice :  “As you fish this summer, please remember that when the water temperature is 68F or more, don’t fish for trout. We have some great bass and carp waters here in Berkshire County. When the water is warm it is time to leave the trout alone and go explore some new waters.”

New Ducks Unlimited Chapter Formed

On July 27, the State Line Chapter of Ducks Unlimited will have a Kickoff Banquet at the Stockbridge Sportsmen’s Club, 24 West Stockbridge Road , Stockbridge.

Doors open at 5:00 and dinner starts at 6:00 p.m. There will be a buffet style pasta dinner, a silent auction, general raffle and special gun raffles.  Individual tickets cost $60, couples $100, and sponsor tickets will also be available.

Tickets may be obtained at: HTTPS://SHORTUR.AT/DLUVD  or by contacting Joe DelSoldato, Ducks Unlimited Area Chairman at 413-717-0938.

What to do with those old fish mounts

Mounted bass hands on Gene’s cottage wall

Jim Legacy, MassWildlife ‘s Aquatic Resource Education Coordinator, asks if you have an old fish mount that’s collecting dust? Maybe you inherited one which meant so much to your grandpa, father or uncle, or have your own mount of a nice fish that you caught years ago. Perhaps its time to downsize and you just won’t have the wall space anymore to display it.

 

Legacy suggests you consider donating it to MassWildlife’s Angler Education Program.
They use fish mounts to show what a fish looks like and how anglers can catch one just like it during its Learn To Fish clinics. Their current mounts are ready for retirement and they’re looking for replacements that are in good condition and looking for a new home.

If interested, contact Jim Lagacy at jim.lagacy@mass.gov to coordinate a donation.

 

Headed for the Catskills

Readers may recall that last year Paul Knauth of Hinsdale and I took two fly fishing trips to the Catskills (NY) to fish the Beaverkill and the Willowemoc Rivers.  You may remember that 2 or 3 times I hooked into what we believe was the same big brown trout in the spring and the fall.  Every time that fish pushed me around, spitting the AuSable Fly back at me, breaking my fly line leader, stripping my reel down to its backing and probably giving me the fin.

That fish became a legend, known as Iron Mike, named after the heavyweight boxing champion Mike Tyson who practiced for his title fights in the Catskills. Well, this past June, we went back to fish there again and to try to find and to do battle with Iron Mike again. The narrative starts next week.

Joe Areno’s Legacy lives on

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I think I first met Joe Areno, of Pittsfield, sometime in 1980 when I attended a Pittsfield Sportsmen’s Club (PSC) venison heart and liver dinner.  At that time the club was having various fund raisers to help pay for properties that it acquired on Potter Mountain.  The land was to be used for hunting and recreation. Joe was a director of the club who coordinated the event which drew large crowds and the tickets were hard to get.

Joe was well known in the outdoor sporting community as one who was instrumental in dealing with local, state, and federal agencies to help institute legislation that protected open space throughout the county and state and legislation to help protect sportsmen’s rights to hunt and fish. Because of those efforts, Joe was named the Berkshire County League of Sportsmen (BCLS) 2002 Sportsman of the Year. In acknowledging him, the League pointed out that (at that time) he had served on the Board of Directors of the PSC in every position for over 45 years.  “Many times he traveled down to Boston at his own expense to meet with Senators and Representatives to express views on how to protect the habitat and wildlife of this great Commonwealth.”

Sometime around 2008 or 2009, Joe was diagnosed with terminal cancer and one day, when he was quite ill, his wife Doris called me and said that Joe was nearing death and that he wanted me to stop by and see him. He wanted one final chat and to give me something. Oh, how I dreaded it, but I thought the world of him and did visit him.  We had a good chat and I remember him saying something to the effect that he had no complaints and that he had a pretty good life. (Even though he served in the Korean War and was a decorated veteran). After having a sad but pleasant conversation, we said our final good byes. That was tough.

When I was leaving, Doris told me that there was some fishing stuff that Joe wanted me to have.  One of the items was a bamboo fly rod that Joe had purchased in 1955 in Japan when he was on R&R from Korea.  I told Doris that I couldn’t take that rod but rather it should be kept in the family to be given to one of his kids or grandkids.  Doris said that nobody, kids or grandkids, flyfished and that Joe really wanted me to have it and some boxes of flies.  Doris said that it was one of Joe’s final requests that I have it. Reluctantly but graciously, I accepted it while silently resolving that before I pass beyond the riverbend, that rod must somehow be returned to the family.

After leaving their house, I headed for the East Branch of the Westfield River, below Chesterfield Gorge in Chesterfield to meet fishing buddy, Doug Yates and do some flyfishing.  Upon arrival, I saw Doug fishing downstream and waved to him to let him know I had arrived.  I didn’t immediately join him for I wanted to be alone for a while after experiencing what had just transpired.  Honoring Joe, I opted to use his bamboo rod instead of my own.  With teary eyes I rigged up Joe’s rod and entered the river.

How appropriate it was that shortly thereafter, I caught a nice rainbow trout using that rod.  This is for you, Joe, I thought. Unfortunately, I never got to see Joe again and tell him about it, for he passed away shortly thereafter.

In Joe’s honor, I created a bucktail style fly which I named Areno’s Legacy.  A half dozen of them were raffled off at the next sportsmen’s banquet and his close friend the late Cleante ‘Clem’ Caryofilles of Pittsfield scoffed them all up.  The ingredients for tying the fly are listed below.

Over the course of the next 15 years, I periodically fished with the bamboo rod.  When using it, I always thought of Joe, and  commonly referred to the fishing trips as fishing with a friendly spirit (Joe’s spirit).

Jump forward to this past May 11 Wild Acres Youth Fishing Derby.  While covering the event for this column I spoke to quite a few anglers, mainly parents with their kids.   One time, I stopped and talked with a pleasant young woman named Jessica Porter who was there with her 17 year old daughter Chalyce and 12 year old son Chase.  While chatting with her, I mentioned that it just wasn’t the same this year without Clem Caryofilles of the Onota Fishing Club being there. He always assisted in this event, but sadly he passed away earlier this year.

Jessica replied that she knew Clem well and that he frequently fished and hunted with her father and grandfather. When asked who they were, she said her dad was Chris Porter and her grandfather was Joe Areno.   Whoa! Joe Areno’s great grandson was there fishing?

I mentioned the fly rod and my desire to get it back to the family and wondered whether her son would want it.  She immediately responded yes, but she would hold it for him until he gets older and appreciates what it is that he has.  I told her that along with the rod, he’ll receive two boxes of flies that were Joe’s (Joe had etched his name on those fly boxes) and an Areno’s Legacy fly.

On May 29, the fly rod, Joe’s Pflueger Medalist fly reel and the flies were delivered to Chase. Now, Joe’s bamboo flyrod is in good hands, for he loves to fish.  I really feel good about that, and I’d bet Joe does, too.

Incidentally, while delivering the rod, I learned that Chase was quite a young outdoor sportsman.  He had also inherited Joe’s archery equipment including his bow, arrows and targets.  (The arrows had Joe’s name printed on them).  He, his mom and sister Chalyce are members of an archery league taught by Mark Jester at the Lenox Sportsmen’s Club.  He has already received an Archer’s Perfect Score award.  The folks at the Lenox Sportsmen’s Club are pretty high on him and are sponsoring him to attend the two week Mass Junior Conservation Camp later this summer. I’ll bet Joe feels good about that, too.

Rest assured Joe, your legacy lives on.

Areno’s Legacy fly

 

Hook:  Size 6, 4X L streamer hook

 

Tail:  Gray squirrel tail –  represents the squirrel tails that Joe gathered up and kept in his freezer for his fly tying friends.   (He may also have provided some to Mepps Company for their spinning lures.  Each year Mepps put out a public call for squirrel tails and Berkshire Eagle Outdoor Columnist Ted Giddings included it in his column.)

 

Body:  Rabbit fur dyed forest green signifying Joe’s love for rabbit hunting and his efforts to restock club property with snowshoe hares.  It also signifies the many acres of forest that Joe helped to procure for the Pittsfield Sportsmen’s Club, making it the club with the most landholdings in Massachusetts.  Through his efforts, nearly 1,000 acres of Potter Mountain were preserved as open space.

 

Collar and Wing:  Deer hair (dyed black) which signifies the many deer that Joe harvested over the years.  But more significantly, it acknowledges the many deer that Joe skinned and prepared for cooking for the club’s many venison fundraising dinners.

 

Head (thread): The deer collar and black thread head represent Joe’s dark black hair which he maintained until his illness.

 

Carp Palooza

 

This year’s Carp Palooza event will take place on Pontoosuc Lake on Saturday, June 15.  Sign-up will take place at the Pontoosuc Lake boat ramp between 10:00 am and Noon and the fishing competition runs from Noon to 10:00 pm.

 

There will be cash payouts to the winners and to 2nd and 3rd place, pending the number of entries.  Two person teams, $50 per team.  Awards will be given for the best combined weight for 2 carp.  Lunker Pool optional at $20 per team.  Championship belts will be awarded to the winners.  There will also be a 50/50 raffle as well as a $100 Lottery Tree raffle. There will be a prize for the largest Mirror Carp.  The Dink award will be awarded for the smallest carp.