Category Archives: Fly Fishing

Rematch with a legendary brown trout

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Readers may recall an article I wrote on June 24 entitled “Back to Battle on flyfishing trip to the Catskill” which chronicled a fishing trip my buddy Paul Knauth of Hinsdale and I took in early June.  You may recall that I couldn’t land any of the large brown trout that I hooked, especially one that Paul described as “looking like a submarine” chasing my fly.  I hooked it twice during that trip, but for one reason or another was unable to land, or even see it.

After considerable arm twisting by Paul, we went back to the Catskills in early September, with the intent of having another chance at catching that big trout, assuming that it was still swimming around in the Little Beaverkill River.

We arrived Sunday afternoon, and after checking in at the Roscoe Motel in Roscoe, NY, we suited up and were on the river for the evening hatch.  Paul fished upstream where he had good luck in June and I snuck into the spot where I had done battle with that big “submarine.”  Other than a few small trout jumping in a riffle nearby, it was quiet.  Eventually, I saw a rise near where I thought the big fish lived.  I tossed a Cream Cahill dry fly and while I was stripping it in, a nice trout hit it and immediately broke me off. Just as I pulled in, the trout hit and the force of both caused the tippet to snap.  Oh no, not again!    That could have been the big guy!  Paul had come back and witnessed the whole thing.

I half- heartedly made a few more casts afterward thinking that fishing was all over in that hole when, to my delight, another big fish rose and made a decent splash.   It refused all my offerings of various flies.  Finally, I decided to put on a fly called “The Usual” This old-time fly is made up entirely of the fur from the foot of a snowshoe hare   There are oils in that fur which enables the fly to float like a cork.

Just before darkness set in, I tossed it out and after it had completed its drift and began to swing, I felt a heavy tug and the reel began to sing (expression used to describe the reel drag clicking sound). “This is a big fish.” It may be the big one!” I shouted to Paul.   The fish headed for the bottom, shaking its head and then ran about 20 feet causing the tip on my rod to bounce up and down. No way I could budge it.  Then it took off again stripping more line from my reel and repeating the head shaking. Suddenly, there was no tension on my rod.  “You’ve got to be…..!”  Thinking it broke my leader, I reeled in the line but it and the fly were intact. The fish must have rubbed its jaw on something and was able to dislodge the fly with a barbless hook, just like the big one did in the spring.

When we returned to the motel that night, there were three other anglers who we met earlier in the day sitting in the walkway outside their rooms. We told them about the big fish and the possibility that it was the same fish missed twice earlier in the spring. It was their opinion based, upon the estimated size, location, where it’s lie was and how it reacted when it was hooked, that it probably was the same fish that cleaned my clock twice in the spring.

The next morning, we fished another area and I was able to catch a nice brown trout using a bamboo rod and fishing with my favorite dry fly, the AuSable Wulff.    It was a difficult place to fish and when I reached for my net, I discovered that it was gone.  Somewhere, while fighting my way through multiflora roses, etc., the net was pulled off the retractable cord.  That meant that without breaking my bamboo rod, I had to carefully bring the trout to my feet so that I could release it without removing it from the water, which I did. (Readers may recall that I broke another bamboo rod last spring). Paul found the net on our way back to the car.

That evening, we returned to where the big, “submarine” lived.  There were some small trout jumping after insects, but I didn’t fish for them, not wanting to disturb the hole and scare the big fish.  I only had one half-hearted tug on my fly that evening.  Darkness set in as we left the river and returned to the motel.  The guys were there eager to find out if I caught the big fish. After telling them about the one tug, one of the guys commented that the big fish was becoming a legend, quite fitting for these legendary waters.

The next morning, Paul and I fished the Beaverkill River just below Junction Pool, a famous pool where the Little Beaverkill and the Willowemoc Rivers meet. Paul picked up a rainbow trout there but I got skunked.

After a snack and an afternoon rest, we headed out for “you-know-where.”  It was comical because as we pulled out of the motel parking lot, the three other anglers lined up, wishing me good luck, and giving me a thumbs up.  It was like I was shipping out and going off to war.

This time Paul fished downstream below me and I went to where the big trout lived. Nothing was happening there, not even the small trout. I must have tried a dozen different flies but to no avail.  Then I remembered that I hadn’t tried the AuSable Wulff yet.  I selected a smaller one tied parachute style that I had bought earlier that day from a flyfishing shop in Roscoe named Trout Town.

Paul had returned in time to see the horrific splash and my reel starting to scream. “I hooked him again Paul.” I shouted. Shaking its head and staying deep in the water, it kept running and the reel kept screaming – 40, 50, 60 feet of line peeled off of it, and the fish was not slowing down a bit.  It became obvious that I might have to follow it when the fly line was nearing the end and I would be into the backing (additional line tied onto the end of the fly line).  But that could pose a problem as I was in the river standing on slippery stones, having balance problems and neuropathy in both feet.  It continued running, 70, 80 feet without slowing down.

When the 90-foot fly line reached the connection between it and the backing, there was a snag and the line went limp. The fish got off, again!!  There was total silence, neither Paul nor I said a word.  I finally looked at Paul as if to ask…What just happened here? Paul was looking down at the water with his hands on his knees, perhaps searching for a submarine.

After a long time reeling in the line, I was somewhat relieved to see the fly and leader were still intact. No telling what I would have done if I saw a curlicue at the end of the line which would have indicated an improperly tied knot.

Back at the motel, I was practically speechless and Paul had to relate the story to the others.  After receiving their sympathies, they once again re-asserted their opinion that it was the same big trout that harassed me twice in the spring and now three times on this trip.  That trout, in their opinion, gained in its already legendary status. In fact Paul suggested that we call it “Iron Mike”, named after the former world heavyweight champion boxer who was one tough, no-nonsense  fighter who trained in the Catskills.

The fishing on this trip was generally slow, but thanks to that big trout, and some unique and notable people who we met, it was a memorable trip. I plan to write about them when the opportunity presents itself.

On the way home, Paul urged me to go back after it again this fall.  But after beating me 5 times, I wanted to leave it alone to, hopefully, enjoy a long and happy life, which it deserves.

Anyways, it provided immense pleasure at a time when I really needed it.  I wish I had at least seen that fish, bade it touché, and shook its fin.

So true, that old saying,  “Some of the most memorable fish are the ones that we don’t catch.”

 

A good way to learn to pheasant hunt

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The Youth Pheasant Hunt is a great way for young adults (ages 12-17) to practice firearms safety, develop shooting skills, and join in a pheasant hunt with an experienced hunter in a friendly environment.

photo provided by masswildlife

 

The Massachusetts Youth Pheasant Hunt Program was developed by MassWildlife to provide an opportunity for Hunter Education graduates aged 12 to 17 to practice firearms safety, develop shooting skills, and participate in a special pheasant hunt under the guidance of an experienced adult hunter.

The program is divided into multiple parts:

  • Seminar and Range Practice: Participants get hands-on instruction in shotgun shooting fundamentals and firearm safety, learn upland hunting basics, and focus on how to have a safe and fun hunt.
  • Pheasant Hunt: Participants get to experience a real pheasant hunt under the supervision of an experienced hunter on 1 of the 6 Saturdays prior to the regular pheasant season. This year, the pheasant hunting season starts on October 14, 2023.

Requirements:

  • Be between the ages of 12 to 17
  • Have graduated from a Basic Hunter Education course (in any state) before the day of the hunt
  • Participants 15 to 17 years of age must have a hunting license, a pheasant/quail permit and a Firearms Identification Card (FID). Steps

Steps

  1. Make sure you meet all the requirements above
  2. Register for the Program by August 31, 2023
  3. Complete the Seminar and Range Practice

Please note, all other regular pheasant hunting regulations apply including bag limits, hunting implements, hunter orange requirements, etc. Be sure to review the pheasant hunting regulations.

The Lee Sportsmen’s Association, located at 565 Fairview Street, is a participating club.  The course will be taught by MassWildlife. The dates and times are as follows:

  1. August 26, from 9:00AM – 11:00AM, September 16, from 9:00AM – 11:00AM, and October 07, from 9:00AM – 12:00PM.

 

Massachusetts wildland firefighters sent out again

The Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) and the Department of Fish and Game (DFG) sent a crew of 19 firefighters – 17 from DCR and two from DFG – recently to Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest in western Montana to help battle the large fires that are burning across the state.

This is the third crew of wildland firefighters DCR has deployed to assist in fighting the wildfires raging across the country and neighboring regions this summer. In June, DCR deployed 11 firefighters to assist in fighting wildfires in Quebec, Canada, and in July, in partnership with DFG, the department deployed to the region another crew of 16 wildland firefighters that included two firefighters from DFG. Response efforts are now shifting to the western United States, with more than 80 large fires currently burning more than 534,000 acres in 14 states.

“As these wildfires continue to rage on across the country, burning thousands of acres of forest to the ground, DCR and DFG firefighters have stepped up again to help our partners in need fight these devastating blazes,” said DCR Commissioner Brian Arrigo. “DCR is proud of our dedicated and hardworking firefighters who will be on the frontlines in the Northern Rocky Mountain region over the next two weeks, working to stop further destruction of our natural resources.

 

Included in the group of 19 was Jacob Morris-Siegel from the Mass Division of Fisheries and Wildlife Western District Office located in Dalton.

 

Intro to Fly Fishing for women – taught by women

 

The Taconic Chapter of Trout Unlimited invites women to join Betsy Clark and Diane Holhubner. (both trained at the Wulff School of Fly Fishing) to learn about the basics of fly fishing and get a chance to get experience on the river. The free event occurs on September 9 from 8:30 to 11:00 am on the Hoosic River in Williamstown. No fishing experience is necessary. You will learn about the components of a flyfishing rod, learn about a couple of types of flyfishing flies, and how to do a roll cast.

 

You don’t need to bring anything, for they will provide the rods and tackle to use but they do suggest that you wear comfortable shoes that you don’t mind getting a little wet. If you have river shoes that would be great. A hat and sunglasses might make you feel more comfortable but they are not necessary. They will be on a gravel beach for this event. Bring your own water bottle, they will have herbal tea available as well.

 

This event is for anyone who identifies as a woman.

 

They will meet at the parking lot on Syndicate Road. It is a new lot which doesn’t show on google maps. They will then walk a short distance on a dirt trail down to the river. To register, click onto  https://bit.ly/45ORY2v

 

BEAT celebrates 20th anniversary

 

The Berkshire Environmental Action Team was established in 2003 when a vernal pool at Berkshire Community College was being threatened by the development of soccer fields on the campus. Over the past two decades, BEAT has taken on many fights and projects — often leading them and creating a path for environmental change and progress.

 

BEAT’s mission has remained the same: To protect the environment for wildlife in support of the natural world that sustains us all. But its vision and goals have continuously expanded and evolved. They see a world where communities work together to sustain their environmental health and economic vitality; all people recognize their interconnectedness to, and dependence on, the natural world; the air and water are clean; rivers and streams flow naturally; and there is plenty of interconnected, natural land where wildlife thrive. Its goal is to make all of this happen — and its newly renovated Environmental Leadership & Education Center is one of the first steps in reaching that goal.

 

You are invited to join the folks at BEAT on Saturday, September 2, from 1:00 to 3:00 PM, to see the renovations, hear about what’s to come, and meet BEAT’s staff and board.

 

Executive Director Jane Winn will lead an optional tour of the building at 1:15 PM, and a steam-table demonstration will start at 2:00 PM. They’ll also have finger foods and refreshments for guests.

 

It’s not necessary to RSVP in order to attend, but it would be greatly appreciated.

 

Email team@thebeatnews.org with any questions.

 

Berkshire communities to get culvert replacement grants

 

The Culvert Replacement Municipal Assistance (CRMA) Grant Program is one of the many resources the Healey-Driscoll administration utilizes to help municipalities replace undersized and deteriorating culverts with crossings that meet improved design standards. The grants target culverts whose replacement brings significant ecological and resilience benefits and helps municipalities deal with the increasing aging road infrastructure costs.

 

“With extreme weather becoming more frequent, projects like these are a climate-smart investment to help cities and towns adapt to climate change,” said Governor Maura Healey. “It is important that we upgrade culverts and small bridges to prevent flooding and reduce public safety risks.”

 

The MA Division of Ecological Restoration (DER) is awarding $811,000 in grants to 14 municipalities through the CRMA grant program. Nearly half of an estimated 25,000 small bridges and culverts in Massachusetts act as barriers to fish and wildlife because they are undersized or poorly positioned. Installing culverts that meet the Massachusetts Stream Crossing Standards allows rivers to flow unrestricted, improves access for fish and wildlife, and lowers the risk of flood damage.

 

Berkshire County Grants

Town of Egremont: $48,811awarded for Karner Brook Culvert Replacement

This award will fund design and engineering, permitting, and some construction for a culvert replacement project on Blunt Road to improve stream connectivity of a tributary to Karner Brook.

 

Town of Richmond:  $55,200 awarded for Sleepy Hollow Road Culvert Replacement

This award will fund the design and engineering for a culvert replacement project on Sleepy Hollow Road to improve stream connectivity of Cone Brook and two tributaries.

 

Town of Great Barrington:  $55,933 awarded for Housatonic River Tributary Culvert Replacement

This award will fund the design and engineering for a culvert replacement project on Brush Hill Road to improve stream connectivity of a tributary to the Housatonic River.

 

Berkshire Clean, Cold, Connected Restoration Partnership 

Housatonic Valley Association, awarded $199,899

This Partnership supports a network of organizations, agencies, and communities working for healthy aquatic systems and building climate resiliency in the Hoosic, Housatonic, and Farmington River watersheds.

What an amazing fishing trip that we almost made

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Readers may recall last year that I wrote about a flyfishing trip to Labrador where two local anglers, Mike Shepard and Craig Smith joined several anglers from the eastern part of the state and New Hampshire.  They were after the large brook trout that exist up there in the Eagle River system.  You may recall that I bemoaned the fact that I was scheduled to go too, having paid for the lodge, guides and air fare to get there.  But I had some health issues going on and was unable to go.  I wrote about the trip anyway with information about the wonderful catches provided by Mike and Craig.

The outfitter and airlines allowed me to defer my payments to be applied on a trip this year and  I excitedly began planning for the trip.  All I had to do was to get better.  Thanks to the good doctors and nurses at Berkshire Medical Center and Phelps Cancer Center in Pittsfield, I am still around and feeling better, albeit with additions to and deletions from my body parts and 45 pounds lighter.  This year I would be fishing with Mike Shepard of Dalton, Carl Racie and Mike Miller of Athol, Gary Hebert of Richmond, NH, Bill Waite of Westminster and former MA F&G Commissioner Ron Amadon of Templeton. We have previously fished together in Labrador and have become close friends.

But, as time neared, it became obvious that I was not yet strong enough to do the 2 1/2-miles treks into moose bogs, lichens etc. to get to some of the fishing spots (you may recall that last year, the muck was so strong that it pulled the felt bottoms off of Craig’s waders).  On top of that I have been nursing a couple of bum shoulders which prevented me from casting the heavier flyrods and fly lines required to catch those large fish. Sadly, I had to bow out……again! (One man out)

The rest of the guys continued their preparations.  Mike Shepard was tying up a bunch of large flies (green drakes) for all of the fellas.  He was to drive out to Greenfield, MA and join the others on their trip to Montreal, Canada.  After spending a night in a hotel there, they would fly out to Goose Bay where they would spend another night, and then hop onto a float plane which would fly them into a remote camp (Igloo Lodge) out of which they would fish.

Unfortunately, on the morning that Mike was to leave, he developed a serious cold.  He felt lousy and he did not want to give it to the others which would in turn ruin their week stay.  Mike drove out to Greenfield, delivered the flies that he had tied for them and came back home.  He spent the following week trying to recover from that cold. (Two men out).

After two days of traveling the group finally made it to Goose Bay, Labrador and were ready for the fly-in to the camp.  As soon as they arrived in Goose Bay, Bill Waite received an urgent call informing him of a medical emergency at home.  He turned around and caught the first flight out and returned home (Three men out).

That left Mike Miller, Carl, Gary and Ron to continue the travels to the camp.  The following is a narrative provided by Gary:

“A week before arrival we got a notice from the lodge that due to unseasonably high temperatures, the fishing had essentially shut down. Water temperature in both the lake and river were averaging 78 degrees F which was unheard of.  Trout need 60 degrees F or lower temp waters to thrive.  Only a few fish were caught in the last three weeks.

We flew into camp on our float plane to find a lot of sad faces and poor fishing reports. The bright spot was the camp had undergone some significant improvements under the new ownership of Craig and Steve Gillingham. The weather was forecasting cooler temperatures and some rain towards the end of our stay.  True to the report that we had been given, the fishing was terrible for the first couple days. We did manage a few dozen 1 – 2 lbs. fish in the river but that was not our goal.  We came for the world class 5-8 lbs. trophy Brook Trout.

Four anglers seated in the float plane. L to R: Ron Amidon. Carl Racie, Mike Miller and Gary Hebert. Photo provided.

 

To add to the frustration the river and Igloo Lake had an algae bloom that made the water pea green, and which made for very difficult wading. Fortunately, this year no one got baptized and no one, including me, broke any rods. That was a first. I’m usually good for at least one or two!!

 

After a couple days of poor fishing, we decided to head to Burton’s Pond, a remote pond that’s a 25-minute boat ride and a 2 1/2 mile hike through a bug infested swamp trail. The pond hadn’t been fished for several weeks due to the water temps but we were up for the challenge.  We lucked out and had the small camp Beaver float plane fly us in on our first attempt at Burton’s Pond.  We had gotten a tip from a group that fished Burton’s the day before that they had a little luck near a spring fed brook entering the pond.  After the float plane landed, we met our guides with their boats in the middle of the pond. The plane couldn’t get near the shore due to rocks and low water. The guides had to hike in to get the boats and meet us.

We headed directly to the spring and found the mother lode in a cool protected cove.  The fishing was incredible. We netted over 150 beautiful Brookies weighing 4-8 lbs., smashing the camp record.  It was an incredible day on the water.

Gary Hebert holding a sizeable brookie. Photo provided.

 

Two days later we went back but this time we had no available plane so the four old duffers hiked in and experienced another fantastic “Bonus” day. We were so elated that we practically jogged through the 2 1/2-mile swamp.

 

The camp has been a great steward of the local ponds and rivers especially during this crazy heat spell.  All trout were caught and quickly released using barbless hooks.  All fish were released from the net without being removed from the water or being handled. Only a couple of fish were permitted to be held quickly for a special photo.

 

The food has always been good at Igloo but this trip it was outstanding. The camp has added some additional support staff for the kitchen and for the facilities.

There were eight sports in camp. Two brothers from New Brunswick and a father and son from Minnesota. All of them were great guys.

 

All in all, the trip turned out nice.”

 

Gary described this trip as “From Bust to Bonus.”

 

Igloo Lake is already booking into 2025, but fortunately Mike Shepard, Craig Smith and I are already booked for 2024.   Gary, Mike Miller, Ron and Carl will be fishing in Iceland next year.

 

Public hearing to extend archery deer hunting season

 

MassWildlife is holding a hybrid public hearing on Tuesday, August 15, at 1:00 pm on proposed regulations that would extend the dates of the archery deer hunting season in Wildlife Management Zones 1–9 by two weeks.  The amendments would be to 321 CMR 3.02 Hunting of Particular Game in Massachusetts.

 

If approved, the archery deer season would begin statewide in all zones on the eighth Monday prior to Thanksgiving, and end on the first Saturday after Thanksgiving.  The public can attend the hearing and provide oral comments either in-person at the MassWildlife Field Headquarters (1 Rabbit Hill Road, Westborough) or via a Zoom video webinar. Click onto the MassWildlife web site to find out how to join the webinar meeting.

 

The full hearing notice, including the text of the proposed regulations, is available on MassWildlife’s Public Hearings page. Written comments will be accepted for 2 weeks after the hearing until Tuesday August 29, 2023 at 5 p.m.

 

To submit written comments email susan.sacco@mass.gov to the attention of the Fisheries and Wildlife Board, or mail comments to Chair, Fisheries and Wildlife Board, c/o Director of MassWildlife, Mass. Division of Fisheries and Wildlife, 1 Rabbit Hill Road, Westborough, MA 01581.

Several events coming up for anglers

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If you are an angler or fish enthusiast, there are several events coming up this month which you may find interesting. They are listed chronologically:

“Massachusetts Wild Trout Fisheries”

 

On Wednesday, August 9 beginning at 6:00 pm, Adam Kautza, MassWildlife Coldwater Fisheries Project Leader, will make a presentation at the August Berkshire Green Drinks event in person and online via Zoom.

 

The in-person gathering begins at 5:00 PM at Shire Breu-Hous inside The Stationery Factory, 63 Flansburg Ave in Dalton.

 

After giving some background on the wild trout found here in Massachusetts, Adam will discuss the status and distribution of the state’s wild trout fisheries, how MassWildlife manages these resources, and talk about some of the work the agency has been doing with wild trout over the last few years.

 

Adam Kautza has been the MassWildlife Coldwater Fisheries Project Leader since 2017. His role with the agency includes developing applied research projects to answer wild trout management questions and monitoring their cold-water fishery resources statewide.

 

Pre-registration is required to attend this event. Learn more and RSVP at: https://tinyurl.com/Aug2023-Berks-Green-Drinks

 

 

Berkshire Green Drinks is sponsored and organized by the Berkshire Environmental Action Team (BEAT). For more information regarding Berkshire Green Drinks, contact Chelsey Simmons, chelsey@thebeatnews.org, (413) 464-9402.

 

Hoosic River Cleanup

On Thursday, August 10, beginning at 6:30 pm, the Taconic Chapter of Trout Unlimited is sponsoring a Hoosic River Cleanup with Mountain Warrior Conservation Society, HooRWA, and others in North County to pick up trash, tires, etc. in the North Adams stretch of the Hoosic River. They will meet at the trailhead at the bend in Harding Ave. (Across from Clear Sky). Some gloves and bags will be available, as well as a few grabbers but bring your own gloves and cleanup tools, boots that can get dirty are a huge plus, and whatever tick prevention you use.

No need to RSVP

 

Berkshire National Fish Hatchery events

On Saturday, August 12, two events will be taking place at the Berkshire National Fish Hatchery in Monterey/Hartsville.

Running from 9:00 to 10:30 am they 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!

Following that, from 11:00 am to 2:00 pm 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 water during the Open House. It’s their way of saying thank you for your support.

They’re also thrilled to have the following organizations joining them: Boy Scouts, Berkshire Bass, Berkshire Regional Planning Commission. Friends of Lake Garfield, and Taconic Chapter of TU.  TU will have a table there and Peter Paulson and I will be teaching folks how to fly cast, tie flies, etc.

The Hatchery will be Introducing their new additions:

Fish Egg Separator: Curious about the process of separating fish eggs? Their innovative fish egg separator will be on display, and they’ll be providing a live demonstration of how it works. You don’t want to miss this presentation.

Also

A 270-Gallon Display Fish Tank: Marvel at the beauty of the Brook Trout in their newly installed 270-gallon display fish tank. Get up close and personal with these magnificent creatures, and learn about their habitats and behaviors.

You are invited to come and connect with fellow fishing enthusiasts, conservationists, and outdoor enthusiasts. Share stories, make new friends, and learn about other local organizations dedicated to preserving our natural resources.

Bring your family and friends along for a day of fishing, exploration, and community bonding.

 

American Museum of Fly Fishing Festival

 

Also on Saturday, August 12 from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm, the AMFF’s 16th annual Fly-Fishing Festival will take place 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.

 

Activities include:

11:00 am: Casting competition
12:00 pm: AMFF Ambassador Steve Ramirez on fly fishing and mental health
2:00 pm: AMFF Ambassador Rachel Finn discusses “After You’ve Gone.” .She grapples with       life after loss while showcasing an inspiring outlook on moving forward through trauma in an unapologetically true-to-herself way that brings a smile to everyone who crosses her path.
3:00 pm: Raffle drawing at admissions tent

Throughout the day, there will be: free tackle appraisals with Bob Selb, Fred Kretchman, and Carmine Lisella; free casting lessons with AMFF Ambassador Rachel Finn, free fly-tying demonstrations, book signings with Steve Ramirez and Steve Woit, children’s activities, and free museum admission

That evening, at 7:00 pm at the Burr & Burton Academy’s Riley Center, 57 Seminary Ave, Manchester, VT, there will be a special screening of the motion picture Mending the Line  to benefit the American Museum of Fly Fishing and the Southwestern Chapter of Trout Unlimited. It is a new motion picture written by Stephen Camelio and directed by Joshua Caldwell—starring A-list actors Brian Cox, Sinqua Walls, Patricia Heaton and others. It tells the story of a U.S. Marine “Colt” (Walls) who returns from a traumatic tour in Afghanistan and is sent to a VA facility in Montana. There, he meets Vietnam veteran “Ike” (Cox) who connects him with fly-fishing to find healing. The time they spend together—especially interactions on beautiful Montana rivers—eventually helps Colt navigate through survivor’s guilt and replace his desire to die for something with a renewed sense of having something to live for.

Anglers will appreciate the film for several reasons. It’s true to the sport with legitimate  substance, right down to the knots and flies. The cinematography and especially close-up trout “eats” are stunning. And while anyone who seriously fishes will sense where the story is headed (because they’ve felt redemption through fly fishing themselves), the picture gives pride and purpose to all who embrace fly fishing as more than a mere game for people who get their jollies by pulling on trout. It’s the kind of picture you want to take your friends who don’t really fish or don’t really understand why you fish to see, because the light bulb will undoubtedly turn on.

The characters are compelling and authentic, and the cast really pulls the whole thing together. The last time we saw a film that landed on the grace of fly fishing this well was Robert Redford’s screen adaptation of Norman Maclean’s benchmark novella A River Runs Through It, some 30 years ago. That changed the angling world as we knew it. Mending the Line is eye-opening and reaffirming on several levels and is bound to be another essential element of fly-fishing filmography. Tickets cost $20.

 

Deerfield River TU Annual Banquet

On Thursday, August 17 from 5:00 to 9:30 pm you are invited to join the Deerfield River Chapter of Trout Unlimited (DRWTU) to celebrate the Deerfield River and all who care for this valuable resource. Held at the Warfield House Inn’s scenic outdoor pavilion, this event will include a BBQ dinner featuring local produce, a cash bar, and an auction and prize giveaway to benefit the DRWTU.

Cocktails at 5:00, dinner at 6:00 pm. The Warfield House is located at 200 Warfield Road, in Charlemont, MA. The cost is $55 per guest.

Tom Rosenbauer will be the guest speaker. Tom has been a fly fisher for 50 years, and was a commercial fly tier by age 14. He has fished extensively across North America and has also fished on Christmas Island, the Bahamas, Belize, in Kamchatka, Chile, and on the fabled English chalk streams. He is credited with bringing Bead-Head flies to North America, and is the inventor of the Big Eye hook, Magnetic Net Retriever, and tungsten beads for fly tying. He has about 20 fly fishing books in print.

His presentation, “Taking Your Trout Fishing to the Next Level” will answer the questions, “How do I get better at my trout fishing?” and “What should I learn more about to have more fun on a trout stream?”

This should be a great presentation for novices and experts alike.

Wonderful June flyfishing in the Catskills

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In early June a fishing buddy of mine, Paul Knauth of Hinsdale, and I decided to take a 4-day flyfishing trip to the nearby Catskills in NY to fish the fabled waters such as the Beaverkill, the Willowemoc and other rivers. We didn’t plan on roughing it on this trip as we usually do but rather to stay in a comfortable motel in Roscoe, NY, eat our breakfasts and dinners in local restaurants and bring sandwiches for our lunches at stream sides.  When not fishing, we planned to visit the Catskill Flyfishing Museum and the famous Dette’s Flyfishing Shop in Livingston Manor, NY.

The afternoon that we arrived, we met with Paul’s friend Mark Sturtevant who is an outdoor writer, angler, fly tier and cane (bamboo) aficionado.  He showed us to a few good spots to fish and what insects were hatching. He suggested we fish nymphs and wet flies near the stream bottom and to get on the stream by daybreak. I asked him if my favorite fly, the AuSable Wulff, would work there and he said no.

When we told him that we were going to fish with our old bamboo rods, (both Orvis Battenkills, mine built in 1967 and Paul’s in 1974) the conversation switched to the cane rods.  He mentioned how one of his old Orvis Battenkill bamboo rods snapped while he was fighting a fish.  Upon subsequent inspection he noticed a black spot, under the guide wrappings just above the ferrule which indicated rot.

We didn’t fish that evening but rather checked on a few places to see how the anglers were doing.  They were having success fishing the green drakes (Ephemera guttulata).  We were excited to fish this large mayfly early the next morning.

Monday morning came and we were on the Beaverkill bright and early.  We planned on stopping for breakfast around 9:00 am, but the fish didn’t start biting until then,  so we skipped breakfast.

While I was casting a wet fly, a big trout jumped right over it as soon as it hit the water. That indicated the fish weren’t on the bottom but rather seeking hatched or emerging flies on the water surface.  I tied on a size 10 (large) March Brown (maccaffertium vicarium) fly with a creamy tan thorax and abdomen.  The water exploded near the fly and before I knew what happened, my valuable, old bamboo rod was split in two (It broke under the wrapping just above the ferrule!).  The fish was still on and when I tried to land it by just pulling the line it quickly broke off.

We each caught some fish, but nothing as big as that one.  Paul was having success fishing nymphs while I stayed on top using large mayflies.  Before we knew it, it was time for lunch so we ate sliced chicken on rolls that Paul had brought from home.  After a short afternoon rest, we returned to the same spot and fished until dark, catching some nice brown trout.  But by then, the restaurants were closed so we had no choice but to have another helping of sliced chicken on rolls.

On Tuesday morning, after breakfast, we tried a different place on the Little Beaverkill.  Paul killed them upstream of a bridge, (actually, we released all the trout) and downstream I caught a few.   It was there that I hooked and missed another huge trout, breaking my tippet (thinnest part of the leader).  After dining on sliced chicken on rolls for lunch, we visited the Catskill Flyfishing Museum.  It was quite interesting and I recommend flyfishermen visit it when in the area.

Later, we went back to the same spot and once again, Paul had phenomenal luck upstream of the bridge, while I fished downstream.  I hooked another big brown that snapped my tippet and swam away. We met an angler there who told us about a good spot to fish just below the bridge.  He said that just before dark, the trout feed heavily there.  So, rather than to stopping for dinner, we went there.

Sure enough, the fish started feeding.  While fishing the inlet of a very large pool, I had a hellacious hit that bent my replacement rod, and before I could react, the fly line came flying back at me. Paul was going to film the fight and when I told him the fish got away, he shouted “No way!” Well, at least it didn’t break my leader and take my fly. We fished until dark without getting another hit.  Once again, the restaurants were closed so we ate sliced chicken on rolls.

On Wednesday morning, we returned to the same spot.  Paul once again killed them upstream above the bridge, while I tried to settle the score downstream.  I had pretty good luck catching 4 nice trout with the AuSable Wulff dry fly. But the big guy that broke me off the day before refused my offerings. Finally, with a big splash he took the fly and the fight was on but only for a couple of seconds as the knot on the fly gave way and he got away again., Once again, Paul shouted, “No way!” That was the fourth big trout on this trip that managed to elude my net.

There was still one more trout near the big pool that scared us the prior night, the one that made the hellacious splash.  After refusing several of my flies, I put on what we think was a “Chocolate Dun” fly and gave it a cast. The following is the description from Paul: “You could see the wake of a big fish as it followed the fly, and when it emerged after the fly, it looked like a submarine.”

It dived for the bottom and was heading for the big pool and after that, perhaps Chesapeake Bay. It pulled so hard that I simply couldn’t turn that fish and I was preparing to follow it downstream when the line came flying back at me.  The line broke at the knot connecting the tippet to the leader. Over my shoulder I heard, “No way!

I never landed any of those five big brown trout that I hooked.  Perhaps I should take fishing lessons from Lawrence “Skip” Dean of Becket who hauled a big brown trout out of Lake Buel earlier this spring.

Picture of Skip Dean provided by him.

Other tidbits about this trip:  The smoke from the Canadian fires was unbelievable with the air quality index just shy of 200.  We spent hours (11 ½ hours one day) fishing in it.  Not smart.

The water level of the river was low, but the water temperature ranged from 58 to 62 degrees F, perfect for trout fishing.

We enjoyed fishing the Beaverkill and Little Beaverkill Rivers because of their easy, wadable bottoms, easy access and the multiple large mayflies and caddisflies that were hatching.

Although I regretted breaking that old bamboo flyrod, it cost me nothing.  It was a gift from the family of a deceased old friend   There were two tips to that rod, so it is still fishable.  I had planned on donating it as a Trout Unlimited raffle item, but am glad I didn’t.  Can you imagine how I would feel if a friend bid $700- $1,000 on it, only to have it break that easily? It turned out that not only Mark’s and my bamboo rods broke in the same place, but Paul had a similar rod and his also broke in the same place last year, probably due to the same cause, hidden rot.

The soles of my old wading shoes began disintegrating on the last day.  I don’t know how one boot stayed in one piece.  They ended up in the motel’s dumpster before I left for home.

This was my first fishing trip in a year due to health issues which kept me close to home. Since the fall of last year, Paul insisted that I would be making this fishing trip and he wouldn’t let me think otherwise.  I’m glad he did for I had a good time waving the flyrods again.

Please note:  The picture of young Cassidy Wojniki in last week’s column was taken by Autumn Phoenix of Autumn Phoenix Photography. This credit had not been included. The Jimmy Fund Sportsman Award was won by Ian O’Hearn and not Erwin O’Hearn.

Memories of fishing the Deerfield River

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As noted in last week’s column, good friend Marc Hoechstetter, an excellent fly fisherman from Cummington, agreed to cover for me while I am out of commission for a week or so by sharing one of his fishing episodes on the Deerfield River.  By way of clarification:  The surges to which he refers are the periodic water releases from Fife Brook dam in Florida.  Al Les was a well-known fly fisherman from North County who fought hard and long to get a “catch & release” section in the Deerfield River.   He was dubbed “The father of Catch & Release in Massachusetts” and received the first Silvio O. Conte Sportsman of the Year Award in 1985.

 

The Hideaway pool

 

By Marc Hoechstetter

 

The Hideaway Pool is the largest pool in the lower Catch and Release area on the Deerfield River and the first above the junction where the Cold River meets the main stem. Often bypassed for the upper reaches of the river, it is a prime fishing spot with its own quirks. This account is of my own involvement with this favorite spot and the characters: human, piscatorial and avian encountered.

 

I first started traveling to the Deerfield to explore its fishery in the late 1980’s. Like most young guys my constraints were time between my work as a builder and a young family. It is no wonder I explored the Hideaway pool as it is at least 20 minutes closer than the Diamond Drill Pool from my home.  Back then the river flows were a lot more predictable. The ISO NE in Holyoke which controls all power generation was being built but not yet in full operation. The computers had not quite taken over everything.

 

One parks at a rail bed access, without blocking the access, and walks along the railroad track a short distance and down to the pool. At first it is rather daunting; a large rectangle 400 feet long by over 100 feet wide, both sides framed by massive oaks.

 

When I first got there in a late afternoon the flow was low and the only riffle into the pool was drifting bubbles by an enormous rock on the far side. In that feeding lane there were sporadic but consistent sipping rises with an occasional tail splash. I eagerly rigged up and looked the pool over. I could see very large trout lazily moving in the pool but not in any organized way all facing in different directions. It would be like fishing in a still pond.

 

So why not fish the riffle? Well, there was an older fellow there fishing and catching fish, not fast but deliberately and very relaxed. When he had success, he would chat with his companion on the bank who sat in a folding chair with a cigar box at his feet. I introduced myself and was warmly welcomed and chatted a while. At one point the fellow in the river reeled up, while the one in the chair promptly rose, picked up his rod and waded right in. They met half way to the rock and that was that. The one coming out gave me a warm greeting and sat in the chair. His name was Al Les.

 

I do not discourage easily so I went upstream and fished the bank against the tracks and discovered some very nice browns trout but it was a trek on the rocks and wading had to be judicious. I could keep an eye on the pool if the old guys bailed. But no such luck. Fisherfolks must be patient, so I kept at it.

 

One day they did leave and I hightailed it down to the pool, eagerly taking my spot above the big rock to put puddle casts into the feeding lane. I noticed there was more activity and quickly caught a few fish, nice plump rainbows mid-sized maybe as long as 15 inches but not those big ones I had spied before. There was also less rock out of the water and more push against my waders. I headed back to shore in a hurry. Luckily by the time the surge of water gets this far down ts not a wave just a steady rise.

 

On another occasion on getting there when Al Les and companion were folding their chairs

and packing their cigars, I noticed the water was already filling quickly. I also noticed on the far bank by a white birch partially in the river, some big splashes.

 

Then I saw it! A five-pound fish came out and it seemed to be in the air an eternity. I decided to figure out how to get there. I walked to the end of the pool where the water splits in two. The first is a long riffle straight to the Junction Pool where a rope hangs from an oak. The second is a wider one that only fills at high water. I powered myself through the first above my knees and then the second one nearly to my hips but made it and worked myself in rather calm water to the white birch. When about twenty feet away, I paused to scan the water.

 

I noticed some fish were on the surface with their dorsal fins folded over. The largest fish was at the head and really the only one to which I could toss a fly.  I sent the Ausable Wulff fly with a little left hook and watched what seemed to be an eternity as the fly drifted on the nose of the big Rainbow.

 

Then it simply turned its head and inhaled the fly! I set the hook with my left hand and arced the rod to the right, level to the water to set the hook and get the fish going to the right in the pool. Down he went, but soon came up ready to jump. Then I thought a branch from the giant oak tree fell in the water right on the fish in a huge splash. I was stunned but saw no branch; instead, a huge osprey came out of the water with my fish in its talons! I watched her struggle and gradually come up and fly up the river.

 

My fly line was following the bird like a peach ribbon in the sky until I broke it off. As I stood there in disbelief, I noticed the osprey make a wide turn and with labored strokes fly back towards me and flared right above me to land in her nest. I could see white fluffy necks reach out towards her.

 

So much with fishing in the osprey’s larder.

 

Yes, I got water in my waders on my return to shore but made it home safely. Sadly, there have not been ospreys on that pool for years, the nest gradually fell apart, victim to the winds of time and neglect. The bald eagles, fish thieves that they are, have displaced them and now rule the sky above the pool.

 

Conte Memorial Dinner

Don’t forget about the Berkshire County League of Sportsmen’s (BCLS) Silvio O. Conte Memorial Banquet which will take place at the Cheshire Rod & Gun Club, 310 Curran Road, Cheshire, on Saturday evening, April 22.

This year’s award winners are:   Sportsman of the Year – Stephen Sears, Lifetime Achievement Award – Fred Moran (posthumous), John Zuber Award – Eric Dupont and Sportsmen’s Appreciation Award – Joel Miraglia.

There will be great raffles and silent auctions. The social hour begins at 4:30 with dinner at 6:00 pm. Tickets, which cost $40, can be obtained from any BCLS delegate.      Don’t wait, they expect a large turnout.

Be safe on the water

 

Personal flotation devices (life jackets) are required to be worn by: (1) youth under 12 years of age, (2) personal watercraft users, (3) Stand Up Paddle Board (SUP) users, (4) water-skiers, and (5) canoeists/kayakers from September 15 – May 15.  The water can be mighty cold this time of year and hypothermia can set in quickly.

2022 deer harvest set a record

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In his February report to the Berkshire County League of Sportsmen, DFW Western District Supervisor Andrew Madden reported that the preliminary statewide deer harvest for 2022 was a record with  15,853 deer. “That harvest highlights growing deer abundance statewide and increased access to permits, with the previous 3-year average of 14,007.” he said.

The breakdown of the harvest by season is as follows:

  • Youth Deer Hunt Day: 114
  • Paraplegic Hunt Days: 7
  • Archery Season: 6,543
  • Shotgun Season: 5,823
  • Primitive Firearms Season: 3,366

He noted that the harvest is well within the expected range allowed under strict regulations set by MassWildlife.

“The statewide deer population has been increasing for several decades,” said MassWildlife Deer and Moose Project Leader Martin Feehan. “Hunting is a critical tool for balancing deer populations with forest health while feeding tens of thousands of families across Massachusetts every year. It really is a win-win for both people and wildlife conservation.”

Deer densities vary widely from an ideal range of about 12–18 deer per square mile in most of central and western Massachusetts to more than 30–50 deer per square mile in areas of eastern Massachusetts and on the islands. Without population management through regulated hunting, deer become overabundant, increasing risks to public safety from vehicle collisions and habitat damage. When there are too many deer, they over-browse tree saplings and seedlings, which degrades forest health and negatively impacts many other wildlife species.

 

Basic hunting education is mandatory for all hunters.

 

There are different rules for minors based on their age. No person under the age of 12 may hunt in Massachusetts.

Youth ages 12-14

Youth ages 12-14 do not need a license or stamps or firearms license to hunt. They may hunt only when accompanied by a licensed adult hunter 18 or older. Only one minor per adult is permitted. The adult and minor share one firearm/bow and a single bag limit along with any applicable permits/tags.

The adult must have:

  • A valid Massachusetts hunting or sporting license
  • Any required state or federal stamps or permits
  • Firearms license if a firearm is being used
  • All other hunting laws apply.

 

 Youth Ages 15–17

Youth ages 15-17 must have a minor hunting license along with any required stamps and permits.

  • Minors without a Basic Hunter Education certificate must be accompanied by a person 18 years of age or older.
  • Minors with a Basic Hunter Education certificate may legally hunt without adult supervision and must carry their Basic Hunter Education certificate while hunting.
  • Minors hunting with a shotgun or rifle must follow Massachusetts Firearms license laws and must obtain a Firearms Identification Card (FID).
  • All other hunting laws apply.

Basic hunter education is required even for adult hunters.

  • Blended: Students complete the online MA hunter study guide before attending one in-person Field Day.
  • In-person (traditional): Students attend an entirely in-person, instructor led course that is offered over multiple days.  All courses are free of charge and open to the public.

 

Such a class will be held at the Cheshire Rod and Gun Club on March 13, 17, 20, 22, 27 and 31 from 6:00 to 9:00 pm. If interested, you should click onto the MassWildlife website education and call the number listed to sign up.

 

Ice Fishing derbies

The Great Barrington Fish & Game Club will be holding an ice fishing derby on Saturday, February 11 from 7:00 am to 1:00 pm at Mercer’s Pond in Great Barrington.  The entry fee is $15 for adults and children 12 and under $5. There will be a spaghetti and meatball dinner following the derby.  There will be prizes for every child.  The grand door prize for adults will be an ice auger, for children a bicycle. Other prizes include:  largest fish (adult and child), heaviest fish overall plus many raffle prizes. Tickets must be pruchased at the clubhouse prior to derby, no exceptions.

The Cheshire Fire Department’s Sixth Annual Ice Fishing Derby will be held on Sunday, February 12 on Cheshire Lake.  There will be prizes for the three largest fish of any species for both adult and youth age groups. An additional prize for the largest bass of the day will be awarded as well as the Bill Lewis Biggest Bass Award.

Registration will take place from 6:00 am until noon on both boat ramps. It will run from 7:00 am to 4:00 pm on both the north and south basins. Registration Fee: $15.00 for adults, youths 12 and under free with an adult. Registration fee automatically enters you in for thousands of dollars worth of raffles to be drawn throughout the day.  A 50/50 raffle will also be available.  All fish must be weighed in by 4:00 pm.

All proceeds from this derby go directly to benefit the Cheshire Volunteer Fire Department for things like training, equipment, vehicle maintenance, etc. Call or text with any questions. 413-281-5020.

 

Results of Ice fishing Derby

 

The winners of the Lanesboro Fire Association Ice Fishing Derby which was held on Saturday, January 28 on Pontoosuc Lake are as follows:

Pike: 1st Place John O’Neil 8 lbs 2 oz, 2nd Jon Jewell 7 lbs 6 oz, 3rd  Brian King 6 lbs 6 oz.  Bass: 1st Place Kristen Strum 3 lbs 5 oz, 2nd Dan Dufur 3 lbs 4 oz, 3rd Brian Littlefoot 2 lbs 8oz.  Pickerel: 1st Place Dan Starkey 2 lbs 15 oz,

 

Some 80 or so ice fishermen entered the Coles Memorial Ice Fishing Derby last Sunday on Goose Pond. John Kelley caught the largest fish of the day, a 2 lb 5 oz brown trout which measured 19 ½ inches long.

 

Other Adult Category winners were:  Bass: Trevor Goodermott took 1st place with a 1 lb 15 oz bass.  James Trumps came in second with a bass weighing 14 oz.  Pickerel:  Shamus Daley took 1st place with a 1 lb 10 oz fish.  J Petersoli came in second with a 1 lb 7 oz fish, Trout:  John Kelley took that 2 lb 5 oz brown trout.  2nd place went to Josh Brown with a 1 lb 8 oz 16-inch rainbow trout.  Perch: Tyler Swicker took first place with a 11 oz yellow perch.  Josh Brown took second place with a 10 oz perch.

Picture taken by
Gene Chague

 

In the Kid’s Category, Carson and Emmit Mechare tied for 1st place by each catching a 14 oz rainbow trout. Young Trenton Santolin caught the only pickerel in this category which was a 13 oz pickerel.

 

The 39th Annual Springfield Sportsmen’s Show coming soon

 

The show takes place at the Eastern States Exposition (Big E) 1305 Memorial Ave., West Springfield, MA on February 24 through 26.   The show hours are Friday from noon to 8 pm, Saturday 9 am to 7 pm and Sunday 10 am to 5 pm.  Admission:  Adults – $15, kids 6 to 12 – $5 and under 6 free.

Billed as the largest pure hunting and fishing show in the Northeast, it is filled with hundreds of booths, seminars and action areas. The show is filled with an outdoorsman’s dream of fishing and hunting gear, outfitters, charter boats and adventure destinations, along with great deals on fishing boats, ATV’s and UTV’s. There will be great attractions and displays such as The Northeast Big Buck Club, Trout Pond, and more.

The Outdoor Sports Expo Group brings together just the right mix of hunting and fishing celebrities, industry experts, and entertainment features to produce a sporting and outdoor show that is educational, entertaining, and fun.

Each year, the show draws exhibitors from all over the Northeast who are eager to present their products and services to outdoor sporting enthusiasts. Returning and all new fishing tackle vendors will exhibit and sell fishing reels and rods, hard and soft plastic baits, fishing kayaks with accessories, boats of all types, etc.

State of the Hoosic River

On February 9, from 6:30 to 8:00 pm, the Taconic Chapter of Trout Unlimited will have at its general meeting Arianna Collins, Executive Director of the Hoosic River Watershed Association (HOORWA).  She will be speaking about the state of the Hoosic River and the work HOORWA is doing in water quality and temperature testing. The meeting will take place at the Trailhouse Kitchen and Bar, 896 State Rd, North Adams.

Fly Tying with Chris Samson

 

On February 7, Chris Samson of Berkshire Outfitters, 169 Grove St, Adams, MA, is hosting a fly-tying night at 6:30 pm.

Protecting our lovable, cuddly friends

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According to the Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife (DFW), coyotes are “an opportunistic​ feeder” that is adaptable to many habitats, including suburban, urban and rural areas. Some town officials across the state are urging residents to be cautious with their pets this winter, as coyote mating season is officially underway and could last until March.

During this time, you are likely to see coyotes more frequently than normal, especially in wooded areas, in neighborhoods and backyards. They will utilize whatever food is naturally available, including small animals, birds, insects and fruits, as well as artificial sources such as garbage, pet food, birdseed, and compost.

In suburban areas they’ve been known to prey on unprotected pets, including small dogs and house cats.  They may view larger dogs as competition. It is not abnormal for coyotes to protect themselves if threatened.

Pet owners should keep their pets out of harm’s way.  Here are some suggestions:

  • Feed your pets indoors to avoid attracting wildlife
  • Cats should be kept inside, if possible, especially during low light hours such as early morning and early evening.
  • Dogs of all sizes should be kept on a leash and closely monitored when out in the yard.
  • Go outside with your dog. Before letting your dog out and while it is out there, check and even make noise to scare off any coyotes that may be lurking in the area.

 

For more helpful information on preventing conflicts with coyotes, click onto the MassWildlife web site https://www.mass.gov/prevent conflicts with coyotes.

Fly-tying event was a great event

“We had a great turnout tonight” wrote Fran Marzotto of Pittsfield.  He was writing about the fly- tying class which was held at Berkshire Outfitters in Adams last Tuesday evening.

photo taken by Fran Marzotto

Including instructors, the event was attended by 24 people. The attendees included women, men, and children. Their ages ranged from 8 years old to seniors and their skill levels ranged from beginners to intermediate to advanced tiers. They tied Wooly Buggers and Egg Patterns for trout and Crab Patterns for Striped Bass.

The above event was a Taconic Trout Unlimited affiliated event. But in addition to them, Instructor Chris Samson is planning on holding tying events at Berkshire Outfitters every two weeks on Tuesday evenings throughout the winter.  The next event on February 7 at 6:30 pm. Future TU affiliated events will be announced by Taconic President Justin Adkins at a later date.

The names of the instructors were Chris Samson (Store Manager), Fran Marzotto, Paul Gigliotti and Bob Levesque.

picture taken by Fran Marzotto

Steve Blazejewski is the owner of Berkshire Outfitters. As you can see in the pictures, it has a great array of flyfishing and fly-tying equipment.

 

 

 

Housatonic River in CT now designated as “Wild and Scenic”

 

For the many local flyfishermen who fish the Housatonic River in Connecticut, especially around Falls Village and Cornwall, there is a bit of good news.

 

The Housatonic River Commission recently announced federal designation of the Housatonic River as a Wild & Scenic River for the 41 miles of the Housatonic River from the Massachusetts border to the Boardman Bridge in New Milford. William Tingley, Chairman of the Housatonic River Commission, said ‘This federal Wild & Scenic designation of the Housatonic River will help to ensure the Commission’s ability to carry through its management plan to maintain the river’s unspoiled beauty and create solid accessibility to the many user groups who treasure the Housatonic River.”

 

“The Commission has worked diligently for many years to accomplish this important Wild & Scenic designation. This was a team effort, and there are many to thank for their support in making this designation happen. First and foremost, thank you to the residents and public officials of the seven towns represented on the Commission: Canaan (Falls Village), Cornwall, Kent, Salisbury, Sharon, New Milford, and North Canaan, and to the Housatonic Valley Association (HVA) for their dedicated support and advocacy for the river and this designation”.

 

“Additionally, thank you to state and federal elected officials, most particularly Senator Chris Murphy and Congresswoman Jahana Hayes, for making sure this designation was included in the recently passed Omnibus Bill in Washington, and to several key partners for their dedicated efforts in addition to the HVA, including the National Park Service, Northwest Hills Council of Governments, Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, local area land trusts, and other interested organizations.”

 

This 41-mile section of the Housatonic River is now a member of the National Park Service’s Partnership Wild and Scenic Rivers Program, a federally funded consortium designed to protect and enhance exceptional rivers throughout the country. The Commission will also be entitled to receive federal funds to carry out its management plan for the Housatonic River, including the pressing need to improve and control public access to the river for recreation

 

What to do if you think you caught a state record fish

How many times have you gone ice fishing and thought that perhaps that day you might catch a state record pickerel or northern pike?  Why not?  State records have been caught out of Berkshire waters before.  Be prepared by reading the following advice from MassWildlife.

“If you think your trophy fish may have broken a state record, it needs to be weighed by a MassWildlife Fisheries Biologist. Email Steven.Mattocks@mass.gov to make an appointment to bring your fish into one of our office locations. The fish must be presented in its entirety (whole). In keeping with MassWildlife regulations prohibiting the transportation of live fish without a permit, any fish submitted for weighing must be dead.”

Good to know, now all we have to do is catch a state record.

Active Military & Veteran Waterfowl Hunt coming up

Two statewide Active Military & Veteran Waterfowl Hunt season dates (Oct. 8, 2022 and Feb. 4, 2023), are open for waterfowl hunting (ducks, coots, mergansers, and geese) by veterans and current members of the Armed Forces on active duty.  It includes members of the National Guard and Reserve on active duty (other than for training).

The term “veteran,” is defined, per section 101 of title 38, United States Code, as “a person who served in the active military, naval, or air service, and who was discharged or released therefrom under conditions other than dishonorable”. Proof of eligibility is required and must be carried on person while hunting. All regular season waterfowl regulations and bag limits apply.

Annual Pheasant Fundraising Turkey Shoot & Dinner

 

The Lee Sportsmen’s Association (LSA) invites you to its Annual Pheasant Fundraising Turkey Shoot & Dinner being held on Sunday, February 5. The Turkey Shoot runs from 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm. Prizes include NY strip steaks, turkeys, pork loins, and spiral hams.  The dinner is from 5:00 pm to 7:00pm.  Cost is adults $20 and children 12 and under $10.  Contact Secretary John Polastri at (413) 822-8278 for any questions, concerns.

Every year, MassWildlife stocks an average of 40,000 pheasants on Wildlife Management Areas and other lands open to the public.  LSA helps raise and release the pheasants.  They are stocked for recreational hunting and are paid for by revenue from license fees; however, the cost of raising and releasing the pheasants is the responsibility of LSA, and the caretakers are all LSA volunteers. You are invited to come on out for a day of fun and delicious food, and help support a great cause to ensure our continued legacy of wildlife management and hunting heritage in the Berkshires.

Carla Rhodes:  From Comedy to Conservation

Wildlife conservation photographer Carla Rhodes will make a presentation at the February Berkshire Green Drinks gathering on Wednesday, February 8, at 6:00 PM in person at Barrington Brewery, 420 Stockbridge Rd, Great Barrington, and online via Zoom.

With work published in The New York Times, The Guardian, and more, Carla’s untraditional path to helping elevate wildlife through the art form of photography inspires people to chase their wildest dreams.

Join the Berkshire Environmental Action Team (BEAT)  in person or online for the  Berkshire Green Drinks event to hear how Carla went from comedy to conservation and see some of the awe-inspiring moments she has captured through her photography.

The in-person gathering begins at 5:15 PM, and the presentation starts at 6:00 PM. RSVP for the in-person event at Feb2023-Berks-Green-Drinks.eventbrite.com.

Pre-registration is required to attend the virtual presentation. Register at tinyurl.com/Feb2023-Berks-Green-Drinks.

Hunters Share the Harvest Program” is a success.  Expansion planned for next year.  

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In my December 10, 2022 column, I did an article on MassWildlife’s Hunters Share the Harvest Program, a new program which provides an opportunity for hunters to donate and share wild game meat like venison with Massachusetts residents in need.

Free range, organic venison is a lean, healthy protein with a low carbon footprint that already feeds thousands of licensed hunters and their families across Massachusetts each year and now successful hunters can help combat hunger and food insecurity in their communities by donating venison.

In last year’s deer hunting seasons, there was only one approved meat processor that accepted whole-deer donations.  The packaged venison was to be distributed to those in need through the Massachusetts Military Support Foundation’s Food 4 Vets program.

Meat processors, food pantries, hunger relief agencies, or other organizations who wanted to participate in MassWildlife’s Hunters Share the Harvest program in the future could contact Martin Feehan, MassWildlife’s Deer and Moose Project Leader, at martin.feehan@mass.gov.

Well, at last week’s Berkshire County League of Sportsmen’s (BCLS) meeting, DFW Western District Supervisor Andrew Madden reported that MassWildlife had a very successful launch of the Share the Harvest Program. “With support from the Massachusetts Outdoor Heritage Foundation and through the generosity of hunters, more than 700lbs of venison were distributed.” said Madden.

MassWildlife will be expanding the program in 2023 to reach wider distribution and provide meals for more people throughout the state.

BioMap is available.

BioMap, a newly-updated online tool that identifies critical land and waterways throughout the Commonwealth in need of conservation is now available. MassWildlife and The Nature Conservancy (TNC) worked to develop the tool to help state and local governments, land trusts, non-government organizations, and other conservation partners strategically plan projects to conserve wildlife and their habitats.

The latest version of BioMap combines more than 40 years of rigorously documented rare species and natural community records from MassWildlife with cutting-edge climate resilience data from TNC and spatial data identifying intact fish and wildlife communities, habitats, and ecosystems that are the focus of the Massachusetts State Wildlife Action Plan.

You are invited to join Assistant Director of MassWildlife’s Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Program Eve Schluter and TNC Ecologist Andy Finton for a demonstration of the new BioMap webinar on January 18 at 7:00 p.m. on Zoom. Click onto https://www.mass.gov/news/new-release-of-biomap to register for the webinar.

Email natural.heritage@mass.gov to request BioMap technical support or to request notification of future trainings.

 “Tracking Wildlife: Stories from the More-Than-Human World”

Skilled wildlife tracker and educator Dan Gardoqui is visiting the Berkshires to present a talk: “Tracking Wildlife: Stories from the More-Than-Human World” at Berkshire Community College’s Robert Boland Theater in Pittsfield on Friday, January 20 at 6:00 PM. This event is sponsored by Berkshire Environmental Action Team (BEAT), Greenagers, Berkshire Natural Resources Council (BNRC), Housatonic Heritage, Richmond Pond Association, and Berkshire Community College. It is free and open to the public, with a $10 suggested donation.

Dan Gardoqui will give a presentation on tracking wildlife. He’ll lead attendees to make deeper connections with the natural world and the wildlife that surrounds us by sharing thrilling stories and photos from his tracking experiences and discussing ways to actively participate in the more-than-human world by applying wildlife tracking skills. A Q & A session will follow the talk.

The following day, Saturday, January 21, Dan will lead two back-to-back trackings (8:30 am to 11:30 am and 12:30pm to 3:30pm at the Eugene D Moran Wildlife Management Area on the border of Cheshire and Windsor, MA. Each workshop costs $50 and has a limited space of 10 participants Email team@thebeatnews.org with any questions.

For over 30 years, Dan Gardoqui has been a student, teacher, observer, and active participant in the more-than-human world. A Certified Wildlife Tracker since 2006, he has trained hundreds in the science and art of tracking. Dan is also a bird language expert and bird mimic – known for his YouTube series “Learn a Bird.” Some of his contributions include the books “Mammal Tracks & Sign: A Guide to North American Species” (Elbroch & MacFarland) and “What the Robin Knows: How Birds Reveal Nature’s Secrets” (Young). Dan applies wildlife tracking skills in citizen science projects (e.g., Canada Lynx, Flying Squirrels, Moose, Eastern Wolf) as a Registered Maine Guide.

Fly fishing show in Marlboro

 The 2023 Fly Fishing Show will take place January 20-22 at the Royal Plaza Trade Center,181 Boston Post Road Marlborough, MA. Hours are 10 am to 6 pm on Friday, 9 am to 5:30 pm on Saturday and 9 am to 4:30 pm on Sunday. The show promises more fly-casting, tying, manufacturer and retail store displays of the newest rods, reels, lines, boots, waders, clothing and flies during the three-day run.

The show will have many demonstrations at its Destination Theater presentations each hour including Labrador’s Monster Brookies, Fly Fishing Martha’s Vineyard, Montana, Iceland, the Adirondacks and many others.  There will be more than $30,000 in door prizes.

Admission is $15 for one day, $25 for two days and $35 for three days. Children under age 5 are free, children 6-12 are $5 and active military with ID’s are $10.

Fly Fishers International hosts the Fly-Fishing Show Learning Center with fly tying, casting instruction and other fly-fishing information and is free to show attendees.

The New England premiere of the 2023 International Fly-Fishing Film Festival is Friday at 6:30 pm. Tickets are $10 in advance or $15 at the door.

For a complete listing of fly-fishing films, classes, seminars, door prizes, demonstrations, etc., visit www. flyfishingshow.com or phone (814) 443-3638.

 Beginner Snowshoe/Winter Hike

 On Saturday, January 21 from 10:00 am to 12:00 pm BEAT and the Great Barrington Land Conservancy are having a 1-mile beginner winter hike at BNRC’s Housatonic Flats reserve on Stockbridge Road, Great Barrington. If weather permits, they’ll snowshoe, if there’s no snow, they’ll go for a winter hike. They will review the basics of winter hiking like what traction to wear on your feet, how to layer properly, and what to look for.

It will be an easy hike of 0.9 miles.  Bring water, wear sturdy footwear and wear layers. BNRC has a few pairs of micro-spikes and snowshoes to loan.  Animals not allowed. For questions contact Charlotte at chood@bnrc.org

Fishing community mourns the loss of Fred Moran

Frederick Dennis Moran of Adams passed beyond the riverbend on January 8 at the age of 80. He undoubtedly will be remembered by former students from the Lenox, Cheshire and Dalton schools.  He completed his last years as a classroom teacher at the Craneville Elementary School in Dalton.

Perhaps more people will remember Fred as an avid fly fisherman who ran Points North Outfitters in Adams.  For two decades Fred and his wife Marilyn taught hundreds how to fly fish and they guided hundreds more on the Deerfield River.  Fred was known for collecting antique (bamboo) fishing rods and reels and the building and restoration of fly-fishing rods. He later worked at the Orvis fly rod factory in Manchester, VT. He was a close friend of the legendary local bamboo rod builder, Francis “Digger” Degere and became his apprentice.

Fred was an esteemed member of the Taconic Chapter of Trout Unlimited where he and Digger put on rod building demonstrations.  Fred and Marilyn were recipients of TU’s Crooked Staff Award, the highest honor that the chapter bestows.  He was also a director of the Hoosic River Watershed Association.

Fred was a good friend.  The last time I saw him was when we did some flyfishing one day at the Alford Brook Club in August of 2020.  It was such a wonderful day that I did an article about it in this column. (Google Gene Chague-Fred Moran to read the Berkshire Eagle article). Boy, could he cast a fly!

Fred’s son Kevin (Berkshire Eagle Executive Editor) emailed me about his dad’s death and included these words, “I figured maybe some of his fishing buddies would imagine him casting a fly out there on heaven’s river, which is one way he’d like to be remembered, I’m sure. I suspect that Digger Degere is waiting for him there, and probably has the flies already picked out and ready to give to dad.”

Our condolences go out to Marilyn, Kevin and his entire family.  He will never be forgotten.

Help MassWildlife with its waterfowl survey

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Every 5 years, MassWildlife conducts a winter waterfowl survey of sites where people feed wild ducks and geese. While the feeding of wildlife is discouraged, there is no state law or regulation that prohibits feeding (though some municipalities do restrict or prohibit feeding). MassWildlife is asking for the public’s assistance to identify current waterfowl feeding locations so that biologists can visit and identify and count these birds.

The survey will be conducted statewide in January of 2023 and includes sites in urban, suburban, and rural areas near fresh, brackish, and salt water. Feeding sites range from municipal parks where many visitors come to feed the ducks to ducks gathering in backyards feeding on spilled bird seed or handouts thrown out someone’s back door.

MassWildlife biologists will visit historic feeding sites from January 9–27, 2023. Because feeding locations can change over 5 years, public input is needed. If you know of a spot where waterfowl are being fed, you are asked to let MassWildlife know by phone at 508-389-6321 or by e-mail at h.heusmann@mass.gov. Include the town and specific location where waterfowl are being fed. If you are able, also include the number of ducks and/or geese (preferably by species) that you see at the feeding site at one time.

Mallards are by far the most common duck at feeding sites, but other ducks may be observed as well. American black ducks and Canada geese are common, and wood ducks, pintails, gadwalls, American wigeon, and hooded mergansers are occasionally seen.

MassWildlife has been conducting the winter waterfowl survey for the past 50 years. A report summarizing this year’s survey results compared with previous years will be posted in the coming months.

Art contest connects youth artists to nature

There is still time to enter the Massachusetts Junior Duck Stamp (JDS) contest. Students from kindergarten through grade 12 can submit original artwork to participate in this fun and educational competition. The entry deadline is February 15, 2023. The process of creating these works of art allows students to appreciate the importance of preserving wetland habitats and the delights and diversity of wildlife. “Even if students do not enter the competition, science and art teachers will value the JDS curriculum as a useful resource,” advises MassWildlife’s Wildlife Education Coordinator, Pam Landry.

The JDS program links the study of wetlands and waterfowl conservation with the creation of original artwork.  Students learn about the habitat requirements of various kinds of ducks and geese and then express their knowledge of the beauty, diversity, and interdependence of these species artistically, by creating a drawing or painting which can be submitted to the JDS art contest. The art is judged in four age group categories in a statewide competition; the entry judged Best of Show moves on to represent Massachusetts in the national JDS competition. Art teachers, science teachers, and parents who home-school can visit the MassWildlife web site for an information packet and entry information.

The Junior Duck Stamp is a pictorial stamp produced by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to recognize the conservation efforts of students and support environmental and conservation education programs. Sold by the U.S. Postal Service and Amplex Corporation, the $5 stamp is purchased by birders, conservationists, wildlife art and stamp collectors, students, hunters, educators, etc. Funds generated are re-invested in the program to fund environmental education efforts, provide awards for the students, teachers, and schools that participate in the program, and market the JDS program.

For more information contact Pam Landry at pam.landry@mass.gov.

If there are any local winners, I will gladly include their duck stamp pictures in this column.

Feed Wild Birds Safely and Responsibly

The New York Dept. of Conservation (DEC) has advice for its NY residents which is also good advice for us here in the Berkshires:

For many birdwatchers, November 30 is an important date: the day that backyard bird feeders can go back up. To avoid conflicts with bears, DEC highly recommends only feeding birds from November 30 to April 1. There are many natural sources of winter food for birds including birch catkins, spruce and fir cones, dried seed heads from native grasses and flowers, and lingering fruits on plants. Bird feeders can supplement these natural foods and may attract more birds to your yard. A simple tube feeder with black oil sunflower seed is a great place to start. Depending on where you live, you might expect to see chickadees, nuthatches, juncos, and goldfinches. Adding suet is a sure bet to draw in woodpeckers. To provide a source of water, try installing a birdbath heater or bubbler and regularly refreshing the water.

If you are drawing wild birds into your yard with feeders, try these tips to keep birds safe:

  • providing nearby cover such as evergreen trees, native shrubs, or even discarded Christmas trees;
  • placing feeders away from windows and making windowpanes bird-safewith screens, netting, decals, or vertical tape;
  • regularly cleaning feeders to avoid spreading disease;
  • securely storing bird seed indoors;
  • keeping cats indoors;
  • feeding pets inside to avoid inadvertently attracting feral cats, rodents, or other wildlife; and
  • taking down feeders in the spring to avoid bear conflicts.

Fishing and Hunting Swap Meet

The Cheshire Rod & Gun Club (CR&G) will be holding its third annual Fishing and Hunting Swap Meet on Saturday, January 28 at its clubhouse at 310 Curran Road, Cheshire.  The hours are from 8:00am to 1:00pm.  Open to the public, the admission cost is $3.00 for adults and kids 12 and under free.

It is an opportunity to buy, sell or trade new and used fishing and hunting gear.  No guns, ammunition, household items; unsold items must be removed.

Table space is still available at $30, which includes admission for one.  To reserve a table, contact Jeff Kruszyna at (413)743-4168.

Truckload of Goodies raffle winners

Staying with the Cheshire Rod & Gun Club, the winner of its Truckload of Goodies raffle was Melissa Fortini. 2nd place was John Haskins, 3rd was Bob Ciempa and 4th place was Tom Wiencek.  Congratulations to all!

Author Dave Whitlock passed beyond the riverbend

One of the most important figures in the history of modern fly fishing passed away last Thanksgiving night.

“It breaks my heart to let you know that we lost Dave to a massive stroke,” wrote Dave’s wife Emily on their social media account. “He was working on his boat next to our casting pond when it hit, and he was flown to Tulsa, AZ for care. But he broke the tippet and drifted gently back to the deep water, the wild that he loved and spent a lifetime exploring, writing and painting about”.

Fly Fisherman magazine honored him by naming him one of four greats that make up the Mt. Rushmore of fly fishing.  (The other three mentioned were Joe Brooks, Lee Wulff and Bernard “Lefty” Kreh). Fly Fisherman magazine editor Ross Purnell wrote “He was a brilliant trout angler, but he showed us that fly-fishing was about much more than trout. Because of him, we’ve had generations see the beauty in fly fishing for carp, bass, and panfish. He will be greatly missed.”

He was inducted into several Hall of Fames down through the years, including most recently, the International Game Fish Association’s Hall of Fame.

Dave’s art and writing appeared regularly in many fly-fishing and sport publications such as Fly Fisherman Magazine, Fly Fishing and Tying Journal, Trout Magazine and others. Besides them, he also authored or co-authored many flyfishing books.  I suspect most fly fishermen have one or two of his books in their libraries.

Fly tying event coming up

After being relatively quiet, due to the Covid Pandemic, the Taconic Chapter of Trout Unlimited is getting active again.  Starting off the new year, Berkshire Outfitters, on Grove Street in Adams, will be holding a Trout Unlimited Fly-tying event on Tuesday, January 24 at 6:00 pm. Beginners and experienced fly-tyers are welcome. Host Chris Samson will offer free lessons and loaner equipment for inexperienced tyers, as well as a good assortment of equipment and materials for purchase.  It is open to the public but space is limited, so call Chris at Berkshire Outfitters at  (413) 743-5900 to reserve your spot.