Category Archives: Fishing

Fishing, Gone?

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Fishing, Gone?
Humans have a rapacious relationship with the world’s oceans, extracting immeasurable quantities of its inhabitants and resources, while simultaneously depositing unbound sums of pollution into it. That’s according to Sid Dobrin, author of Fishing, Gone? Saving the Ocean through Sportfishing. If we are to move toward sustainable practices, he writes, then we must first move toward ways of thinking about fish and fisheries beyond mere economic agendas. And there is one group in particular who could make an impact: saltwater anglers.

Recreational saltwater fishing is big business and big culture. The industry is one of the largest in the United States, but that has not translated into a cohesive effort, agenda, or ethic. Saltwater anglers, a diverse group with a range of motivations, do not belong to a single organization through which to galvanize significant voting or lobbying power toward conservation regulation. As a result, federal policymakers have traditionally focused on commercial harvesting interests.

Fishing, Gone? Is not about whether oceanic devastation, global warming and sea rise, we already know that, this book is about what is next.
Regional fisheries management have historically been dominated by commercial fishing interests and there are far more commercial fishing representatives than recreational fishing representatives on the Saltwater councils. This in spite of the fact that there are almost twice the number of jobs in some regions supported by recreational fishing than commercial fishing.
Dubbed the “most contemplative of pastimes,” recreational fishing provides a valuable perspective on how humans interact with saltwater environments. Fishing, Gone? builds on this tradition of reflection and opens up the saltwater sportfishing life as a method for thinking through the current status of marine fisheries and environment. Author Sid Dobrin calls on fellow saltwater anglers to reconsider their relationship to fishes and the ocean—the sport can no longer be only about the joy and freedom of fishing, but it must also be about living for the ocean, living with the ocean, and living through the ocean. It is about securing the opportunity to fish on while meeting the economic and environmental challenges that lie ahead.
For a while, the prevailing attitude was that ocean fisheries are inexhaustible and that nothing that we do would seriously affect the number of fish and any attempts to regulate these fisheries seems useless. If we are to move toward practices and promote ocean sustainability, then we must first move toward ways of thinking about fisheries beyond economic frames.
We understand and measure fish populations in terms of weight rather than numbers and we think about a population as a mass and not a collection of individual organisms. We don’t count populations of terrestrial game in weight but numbers. We refer to wild animals as “wildlife”, unless they inhabit the marine environment in which case we refer to such animals as simply seafood.
Most Americans have no idea that the fish they eat, which are harvested from waters they collectively own, have been deemed the private property of a few sea lords who sell those citizens own property back to them in frozen filets.
The recreation angler might be tempted to dismiss the catch-share fight by believing it is a problem for the commercial part of the allocation; we still have our recreational allocation. However, as catch-share owners gain stronger foothold with the NOAA councils, we see allocations leaning more heavily toward the commercial side of things.
In his book, Dobrin calls for a new ethic for saltwater anglers. This new ethic is necessary if recreational anglers, saltwater and freshwater, are to contribute to the protection of our communal waters and deeply treasured pastime. Some of the items of his manifesto are:
Saltwater recreational fishing is not a right but a privilege (an economic privilege) and with that privilege comes a responsibility, that to lend a communal angler voice to policy making.
Contemporary anglers’ ethic requires the accounting for the 3 primary facets of recreational fishing (a) the actions of the angler (b) the effects on the fish and (c) the impact on local and global ecosystems.
All anglers must adhere to the strictest care and empathy in harvest methods, only fish harvested are those to be eaten, used as bait to catch other fish or those to be used for scientific research. A catch and release mentality should be imbued.
We must think about fish and fisheries beyond economic frames. This includes understanding the role of every organism in local and global ecosystems. There is no such thing as trash fish.
The individual angler’s minimal harvest is compounded across the recreational angler population and can have a noticeable effect not just on fishery populations but on every aspect of human engagement with the ocean.
Lastly, Dobrin writes that fish populations are necessary in the global protein economy. Recreational anglers must support technological development of methods such as mariculture as an alternative to wild harvest while simultaneously finding a balance for the management of wild harvest that accounts for recreational needs and a reduced and monitored commercial harvest. All such ethics will inevitably be bound up in complex management policies as well as deep-seated philosophies of what it means to be a recreational saltwater angler.
In my opinion, this is a deep book (pardon the pun) and not one to have on your bed stand. It is well written with sufficient supporting data for Dobrin’s position and the reader must slow it down and absorb. He makes compelling arguments for his positions based upon sound data. I’m not sure the world is ready to implement his recommendations, but his data is difficult to refute. This book is an eye opener, perhaps ahead of its time and I suspect people will be talking about and referring to it for years to come. It may very well become required reading for ecology students.
If you are a serious salt water angler, you might want to pick up a copy.
The 263-page softcover book is priced at $30 and published by the Texas A&M University Press.
Congratulations Jr Campers
MassWildlife reports that over 100 kids aged 13 to 17, graduated on August 17 from the Massachusetts Junior Conservation Camp. A couple of them were from our area. They learned about outdoor skills like fishing, hunting, camping, archery, & firearm safety. They also learn forestry, soil conservation, aquatics, and wildlife management.
This is an excellent program. If you have a young outdoorsperson coming up the ranks, you might want to consider sending him/her to next year’s camp. For more information on that program click onto https://www.mass.gov/service-details/junior-conservation-camp.
Life Preservers
Don’t forget! From September 15 to May 15 Massachusetts regulations require that anyone using a canoe or kayak must wear a life preserver. Don’t sit on it, wear it!
Home from another fishing trip
I have been away on a flyfishing trip to the Yellowstone area of Montana and Wyoming with several local flyfishing buddies. By the time you read this column, I should have just gotten home earlier this morning (Good Lord willing). Last week’s and today’s columns were written prior to my leaving.
I am not sure what transpired around here during the period that I was away, so next week I will try to catch up on the news before writing about our trip. Hopefully we weren’t harassed by any black or grizzly bears, trampled down by buffalos, or dragged down an airplane aisle screaming and shouting.

Linking Landscapes

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How many times have you been traveling along a road and have seen the dead carcasses of deer, squirrels, salamanders, turtles, etc. which have been hit by vehicles? Any how many times have you seen such dead critters in the same location year after year? You don’t have to be a rocket scientist to figure out that the road is probably crossing their ancestral migration paths or some necessary transit way. Do you feel helpless and wish you could do something to reduce these casualties? Well, there might be.

There is a statewide, long-term, and multifaceted volunteer-based wildlife monitoring and conservation planning collaboration that involves the University of Massachusetts in Amherst, state agencies, and citizen scientists. Called Linking Landscapes for Massachusetts Wildlife (LLMW), its objectives are to: 1) reduce wildlife-vehicle collisions and improve public safety; 2) enhance, protect, and restore habitats impacted by roads; 3) control invasive species within habitats of high conservation priority; 4) incorporate conservation priorities into transportation planning; and, 5) implement wildlife transportation research projects to inform transportation and conservation decision making.
Utilizing expertise from the program partners, a research project was designed to collect information on wildlife roadway sightings and mortalities through volunteer participation. Partnering with the UMASS since 2010, The LLMW website, hosted by UMASS (http://www.linkinglandscapes.info/), features three separate databases: 1) road-crossing observations of vernal pool-breeding amphibians during spring migration; 2) turtle road crossing mortality during nesting season; and 3) all other wildlife road related mortality.
Online data forms available on the LLMW website use a Google Map interface that allows users to identify the exact location of a recorded observation and all of its associated data, including species and numbers of animals observed, date of the observation, observer name, contact information, and additional comments. Multi-year wildlife mortality observations and the presence of any rare wildlife are also recorded.
The citizen scientist volunteers documented over 3,500 mortalities representing 49 species at 1,161 locations throughout the state. Nine species of current or former state-listed salamanders and turtles were among the mortalities recorded. Sites of highest conservation need were identified and targeted by MassWildlife and MassDOT to develop on-site improvements such as new signage, enhanced culvert design, or installation of wildlife barrier fencing. One successful fencing example at the highest turtle mortality hot spot documented in the state (Littleton) reduced turtle mortality by 90%.
In addition to community engagement through citizen science, the collected data from LLMW has informed the agencies where best to install improved crossing structures and other wildlife barriers to enhance public safety and protect endangered species. The LLMW collaboration has helped the partners prioritize and implement invasive species control, and conduct habitat restoration activities on scenic uplands and calcareous wetlands that are hot spots for biodiversity.
The LLMW has engaged with community organizations to build and install nesting boxes for American kestrels, a declining species; installed and monitored peregrine falcon nesting boxes on bridges; and provided an avenue for meeting the Highway Division’s GreenDOT goal to enhance the ecological performance of MassDOT impacted land.
To prevent or reduce turtle road mortality – one of the most pernicious and devastating threats to this group of reptiles – new initiatives are providing barriers to road crossings, placing turtle crossing signs at reported high mortality areas, and enhancing culvert/bridge designs to favor turtle survival.

You can learn more about Conservation Projects at the link https://www.linkinglandscapes.info/uploads/2/8/7/8/28782453/linking_landscapes_2017_final_3-26-18_update.pdf. Also, there is a good write-up regarding this program in the Issue #3, 2014 Massachusetts Wildlife magazine if you can get your hands on one.

After reading the Summary Report, I had a few questions which I posed to David Paulson from MassWildlife. asked him if the program covers secondary roads, ie, town roads? He said that it covers all roads in MA, especially the citizen science data.

I asked him how can the general public participate? Does the general public join as a monitor, or just report a road kill?
Reporting is easy, he said, volunteer effort can be as passive as occasional observations to more intensive survey efforts (which are usually coordinated). Safety is always the priority. To submit your findings, click the major project that best fits what you see: reducing turtle roadkill, mapping amphibian crossings, or mapping wildlife roadkill. Fill out the short survey, with detailed location information. The Google Map at the bottom of the survey can be zoomed in and panned to a specific location. The information provided on the website helps MassWildlife and MassDOT determine priority areas to mitigate wildlife-human interactions and how best to manage them.

I asked him if people can sign up through the Berkshire Environmental Action Team (BEAT)? Not required, but absolutely, he said. Two organizations have been very involved with the monitoring program and deserve recognition: The Parker River Clean Water Association and our own BEAT.

Many thanks to Fish & Wildlife Board Member Steve Sears who originally brought this program to the attention of the Berkshire County League of Sportsmen in February of this year.

Basic Hunter Education Course Cancelled
In this column of August 11, I mentioned that there will be a 6-day basic hunter education course at the Pittsfield High School running nights from September 10 through September 26. Please be advised that the course has been cancelled. No word has been received as to why the cancellation or if another one is being rescheduled.
Is it time to allow crossbow hunting here in Massachusetts?

Many hunters think so. A crossbill hunting bill passed in the State Senate last year, but not the House. Sportsmen have been trying to get a bill passed in the House for years now only to see it hug up in “committee.” Now they are asking public support. The Massachusetts Conservation Alliance is spearheading this year’s effort by supporting a bill in the MA House of Representatives titled H.3866. They are joined by the Massachusetts Sportsmen’s Council, GOAL and others.

Here are some of the reasons the MCA is asking the public to support the bill:
• Crossbows are legal in 46 other states.
• MA currently allows crossbow use by disabled persons by permit. If passed, Massachusetts would join at least 32 other states that currently allow crossbow hunting for non-disabled individuals
• It allows professional managers at the DFW to regulate crossbows as they currently do for all other archery equipment
• Crossbow sales taxes would increase the Pitman-Robertson funding for conservation of both game and non-game species.
• Crossbows are quick, quiet and effective on all types of game
• Crossbow hunting increases options for hunters and wildlife managers in areas where firearms are prohibited, and populations are high.
• There are no documented cases of non-hunters being injured by archery equipment in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

Unfortunately, many older bowhunters have had to give up archery hunting simply because they no longer have the strength to draw a 45-50 lbs. bow anymore. (Sorry folks, it’s a fact of life.) Because crossbows are much easier to draw (load) it allows them to enjoy a few more years in the woods archery hunting.

So how can the general public and sportsfolks help? By phoning or writing your legislators asking them to vote for H.3866.

Fishing Derby
The Berkshire Hatchery Foundation in Hartsville-New Marlborough is having its next free children’s fishing derby on Saturday, September 14 from 9:00 to 10:30 am at its lower pond. Children aged 12 and under must be accompanied by an adult. This will be the last derby of the year.
Early Goose Hunting Season

The statewide Early Canada Goose hunting opened on September 3 and runs until September 20. The daily bag limit is 15 and the possession limit is 45. For more information such as type of shot, licenses required, hunting hours, etc., click onto https://www.mass.gov/files/documents/2019/05/14/MassWildlife_MigratoryGameBird-Regs_2019-2020.pd.

 

Enjoy some summertime bass fishing

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With the hot weather that we have had recently, our local rivers have basically shut down with regards to trout fishing. They require colder waters, preferably under 70 degrees Fahrenheit. There is still good trout fishing in some of our deeper local lakes.
But for some anglers, they have put down the trout fly rod or spinning outfits, picked up their bass fishing gear and headed for the lakes, preferably those with some lily pads. If you have had a chance to look out onto a lake in the early mornings or early evenings at this time of the year, chances are good that you will see anglers in boats quietly bass fishing.
Anglers can bass fish year-round now in MA, but it wasn’t always that way. Back when fishing seasons didn’t open until mid-April, anglers could not catch and keep bass before June 15. The reason was that the bass were on their spawning beds until then and it was felt that they shouldn’t be pulled off of those beds leaving their eggs and/or small fry exposed to predators such as sun fish and perch. Some states like nearby New York still don’t allow bass fishing until that date.
Some of us are from the old school and still don’t fish for them until after June 15, and then we fish for them all summer long.
There are different methods of bass fishing- from using live bait with bobbers, to spoons and spinners, to rubber imitations of worms, crayfish and other critters. They all work well.
My preference for catching bass is the old fashioned topwater bass plug. To me there is nothing more exciting than the heart-stopping thrill of a bass coming to the surface and slamming that plug, followed by splashing, jumping, deep diving, etc. And if I am using a 50 or 60 year-old plug such as a Heddon River Runt or Baby Zara, a Fred Arbogast Crazy Crawler or Jitterbug, a Rapala bait fish imitation or a Helin’s Flatfish, all the better. I’ll bet some of you “more experienced” anglers are still using the old red and white Bass-O-Reno plug. They may be old with dings and teeth marks, but they still work.
There are a lot of bass out there in our lakes these days, partly because we have some nice, healthy waters and partly because more anglers now are practicing “catch and release”, resulting on more larger fish swimming around. That’s not to say that one should feel guilty when taking a bass home to eat now and then, but the catch and release concept has really taken hold these days in bass and trout fishing.
I like to link up with my nephews Joe and Jim Chague, buddy Doug Yates and others and go bass fishing on Friday nights. It’s a nice way to end the work week (even though I am long retired). Pictured here is a nice bass caught recently by Doug on a Heddon “Zara Puppy” bass plug, using the “Walking the dog” fishing method. Manipulated in a certain way, the plug looks like a small fish jumping out of the water chasing an insect. The big bully bass can’t stand that and pounce onto the imitation.
Its always nice to see families out fishing, such as the one shown in another attached picture. Grandparents Sue Joyner of Hinsdale and Gary Ouimet of Dalton took young Aralyn fishing last weekend. They had a nice day with Sue catching 4, Gary catching 3 and Aralyn catching 2 bass. All of them were released. Aah, it doesn’t get any better!
Aralyn is no novice when it comes to fishing. Two years ago, she won a “Lunker Derby” by catching a 4 ½ lbs. fish and taking home the $60 first prize money.
More on MassWildlife Habitat Programs
Readers may recall that last week this column dealt with MassWildlife’s Habitat Programs. Mass Fisheries & Wildlife Board Vice Chairman Mike Roche recently wrote an excellent piece about the same topic coming at it from a different angle, that being carbon storage and release. Here are some excerpts of what he wrote:
“MassWildlife has, for many years, planned the forest management on MassWildlife Wildlife Management Areas (WMA) for a number of purposes. The stewardship of the wildlife, plants and insects is always part of the equation but so are the important issues of carbon storage and release as they relate to Climate Change. A very detailed and informative presentation was given to the Fisheries and Wildlife Board at a recent meeting by Brian Hawthorne, Habitat Planning Coordinator, that included data analysis of the work done on MassWildlife lands and the impact, now and going forward.
As part of ongoing efforts to support Governor Baker’s Executive Order on Climate Change, and to implement the Global Warming Solutions Act, MassWildlife recently completed a detailed accounting of carbon storage and carbon release on state Wildlife Management Areas. The results from this carbon budget analysis showed that the amount of carbon released during selective tree clearing carried out during habitat management projects is a tiny fraction of carbon storage gained by tree and plant growth on the agency’s 170,000 acres of forested WMAs. Conducting habitat management provides a vital boost to rare and dwindling animals and plants that rely on open habitats and allows MassWildlife to fulfill its mission. “The Division of Fisheries and Wildlife is proud to incorporate climate change adaptation and mitigation principles into its mission to conserve biological diversity in Massachusetts,” says John Scanlon, MassWildlife’s Habitat Program Leader. “We are able to manage habitat for all kinds of wildlife while substantially contributing to carbon sequestration in Massachusetts.”
MassWildlife protects and manages over 220,000 acres of wildlife lands across the state, including WMA’s and Wildlife Conservation Easements, for wildlife to thrive and for people to enjoy. The agency is recognized as a national leader in incorporating climate change adaptation and mitigation principles into its statewide wildlife conservation mission. Climate change is driven by increased concentrations of greenhouse gases, mainly carbon dioxide, in the atmosphere. As they grow, trees and other forest plants help reduce greenhouse gases by storing large amounts of carbon in wood, root systems, and soils. MassWildlife is committed to managing the vast majority of its land as forest and recognizes that every acre the agency and its conservation partners permanently protect from development contributes to climate change mitigation efforts.
In 2006, MassWildlife habitat biologists conducted a comprehensive inventory of forests on WMAs and found that its wooded lands stored 10.3 million tons of carbon. Between 2007 and 2018, MassWildlife acquired additional lands which contributed to another 2.6 million tons of carbon storage. In addition, between 2007 and 2018, forest growth across all MassWildlife lands sequestered an additional 1.2 million tons of carbon. MassWildlife lands currently store a grand total of just over 14 million tons of carbon.
On the other side of the equation, MassWildlife staff calculated carbon release tonnage from habitat management activities. MassWildlife regularly performs habitat management on WMAs including tree clearing. These actions restore and maintain open habitat types that are crucial to the conservation of many kinds of uncommon or rare animals and plants. These habitat management practices release carbon, but how much? The results from the carbon budget analysis showed that since 2006, MassWildlife’s habitat management activities have released only about 20,000 tons of carbon. This is just 1.7% of the 1.2 million tons of new carbon storage gained on WMAs from forest growth since 2006.
Scanlon says that the agency’s habitat management activities are critical for rare and declining wildlife like whip-poor-will, New England cottontail, and a variety of butterflies and moths. “Forest cutting also directly benefits game species such as ruffed grouse and American woodcock. At the same time, we are doing our part in storing carbon.” Scanlon notes that MassWildlife is currently working to calculate carbon storage and release measurements on its Wildlife Conservation Easement lands.
Sportsmen have long recognized the wildlife value of forest cutting and it is easy to observe the changes in the following years after the work is done. Both game species and non-game species tend to become more abundant and that is not lost on hunters and birdwatchers”.

Apprehensions over the new proposed coyote hunting regulations

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Apprehensions over the new proposed coyote hunting regulations
Last week, this blog listed the proposed new MA coyote hunting regulations. For a review of them, click onto https://www.mass.gov.

The MA Fish &Wildlife Board voted 6 to 1 in favor of forwarding them for public hearing. Only Board member Robert Durand had opposed the motion because the Board had not yet been provided with the parameters of the regulation.

He had other issues, too. He pointed out to the Board that most states won’t touch “wanton waste” because it is hard to enforce and leaves it up to the discretion of law enforcement. He noted that the state of ME excludes coyotes from their wanton waste provision and the VT Commissioner said at a legislative hearing that wanton waste regs are “fraught with peril”.

Board member Brandi Van Roo is reported to have said that (banning) coyote hunting contests means standing up for a core value of the organization (DFW). But Durand reminded the Board that that the core constituency are the sportsmen and women of the Commonwealth, who pay for MassWildlife, and yet they continue to put in more regulations that hurt this constituency. “If it’s not broke don’t fix it. While I have tremendous respect for the (DFW) staff, they too can get it wrong. I believe this is the case.”, he said. Bob is not alone in this belief.

Bob Durand is no babe in the woods when it comes to environmental and sportsmen’s issues. He formerly served as MA Executive Secretary of Environmental Affairs from 1999 to 2003. He is highly respected in the sportsmen community and his opinions carry a lot of weight.

Because of the 4 listening sessions held across the state (none of them in the Berkshires, by the way) sportsmen knew that coyote hunts would probably be banned. What they didn’t know was that they could be made lawbreakers (wanton waste segment) for doing what they believed was a good thing, reducing the numbers of the coyotes thereby giving the deer, snowshoe hares, partridge and other critters a better chance for survival.

Sportsmen are aware of wanton waste and are taught the importance of ethics in the basic hunting education course. Of course, hunters shouldn’t shoot a duck, deer or other game animal for no reason and leave it in the woods. Give them credit for that at least. But when it comes to predators, that is a different matter. If they see a pack of coyotes chasing a doe and her fawn, for example, chances are good that they will take steps to protect those deer. And I suspect that they are not about to stop their day in the field to drag the animal out and check it in. If the State is going to ban coyote hunts, then ban them, but don’t make criminals of the good intentioned hunters.

The definition of “wanton waste” that I am aware of states “to intentionally waste something negligently, inappropriately for no apparent reason.” And the term is usually associated with edible food – deer, ducks, pheasants, rabbits, etc. In the coyote example used above, it is doubtful that hunters consider that wanton waste, because they killed that animal for a reason….to save another animal. Perhaps many, if not most, hunters would agree with that. I personally don’t believe the coyote hunts came about for any reason other than to relieve the deer herd from being decimated. Any prize winnings are negligible.

I am not a lawyer, but if I was, I would have a field day in court arguing this wanton waste issue.

So how does one sell the notion of wanton waste to the public? That’s easy. Tell them that the deer population doesn’t need the help from the hunter; that coyotes don’t adversely affect the herd, that coyotes don’t chase down and kill healthy adult deer. Well, try telling that to an experienced hunter or someone who owns or lives near a field and frequently sees the carnage for themselves. Our observations in the woods and fields yield different conclusions than DFW’s.

MassWildlife seems to have a handle on the numbers of deer and coyotes that are in MA They feel that the coyote populations are stable, healthy, and abundant with an estimated statewide population of between 9,500 and 11,500 animals. They estimate that there are 95,000 deer in Massachusetts. (Probably the vast majority of them are in the Eastern part of MA where hunting is not allowed in some towns). Each year tens of thousands of antlerless deer permits are issued there to try to control the herd size. There aren’t those kinds of numbers here in the Western District, especially in Wildlife Zones 2 and 4.

But when it comes to the estimated number of fawns born each year, DFW is mum. All that is said is that annually, biologists estimate that coyotes kill about 20–30% of them. That is meaningless unless you know how many fawns are born each year. Does a herd of 95,000 produce15,000 fawns each year? I don’t know, but DFW should. Assuming it is 15,000, then are we talking about a coyote kill of 3,000 to 5,000 fawns a year? Could it be that DFW doesn’t want to shock the general public with such numbers of fawns killed? Then add the kills made by bears which may also be quite high and the kills of adult deer and you are talking some high numbers.

And what about the coyote effect on the snowshoe hare population. They have nearly been decimated here in the Berkshires. Many hunters believe that there is a direct correlation of the rise in the population of the coyote to the decline of the hares.

I have particular concerns of coyotes attacking my beagles while rabbit hunting (happened on 3 separate occasions over the last 30 years) and sought clarification from Board Member Steve Sears. His understanding is that if I shoot a coyote after my dog, I am protecting my property, which the regulations permit. I hope he is right.

But, according to DFW WD Supervisor Andrew Madden, if I shoot a coyote trying to chase down and kill a deer and/or a fawn, it is legal to shoot it, during the combined coyote and deer hunting season, but it must be removed from the woods and checked in, with an explanation as to what I will do with it.

And what if I didn.t report it and left it in the woods? What are the penalties? I see no mention of them in the proposed new regulations. Will there be financial penalties? Will my gun be confiscated? My FID card?

After the Board voted to go to public hearing, DFW Director Mark Tisa is quoted by the Worcester Telegraph-Gazette as saying “The proposed regulations would make the State one of the leaders in banning hunting contests”. The article did not say that he was only referring to coyote hunts. My immediate concern was about the bunny hunts that we have here in the Berkshires. The general public may not be aware that the rabbit meat from these hunts is not wasted but rather brought home to eat or donated to an organization, such as the Adams Outdoor for Youth, that puts on game suppers in order to raise funds to support youth programs.

On two occasions, I emailed Director Tisa to see if he was misquoted or wanted to clarify that statement, but to date I have received no response. Could the bunny hunts be the next target? Big buck contests? And later fishing derbies?

Space does not allow me to express more concerns regarding this proposed regulation. There is supposed to be a public hearing sometime in September with a date to be announced. I encourage sportsmen to weigh in on this whether or not they hunt coyotes.

One parting comment of this subject. A former high-ranking state environmental official commented to me that Gige would be “turning in his grave” over this. He was referring to the late George “Gige” Darey of Lenox, the long-time Chairman of the MA Fish & Wildlife Board.

There is no question that Gige was a strong advocate for the coyote, fighting hard to not allow year-round hunting of them (unlike some neighboring states) and supporting DFW’s findings. The lively monthly discussions between him and Berkshire County League of Sportsmen Board member Robert McCarthy, who is not a big fan of coyotes, were legendary, with neither giving an inch.

But Gige also had a very high regard for the outdoor sportsmen and always had their backs. He fought hard to protect their rights. He was particularly proud that he had their trust.

I’ve got to believe that he would have handled this coyote issue much differently.

Firearms Class

The Lenox Sportsmen’s Club will host an LTC – UTAH and Multi State Firearms class on Sunday, August 11th from 10:00 am to 2:00 p.m. If you or someone you know would like to register for this class contact Tom Nadolny at tnadolny1@gmail.com or call him at 413-822-6451.

Fishing Derby
The Berkshire Hatchery Foundation in Hartsville-New Marlborough is having its next free children’s fishing derby on Saturday, August 10 from 9:00 to 10:30 am at its lower pond. Children aged 12 and under must be accompanied by an adult.

Western Massachusetts has great camping areas for fishing

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Recently, MassWildlife listed what they consider the ten top campsites for fishing in Massachusetts. Five of them are right here in Western MA. They are beautiful areas right under our noses which we sometimes take for granted. They are as follows:

Clarksburg State Park in Clarksburg

With over 365 acres of hardwood forest surrounding Mauserts Pond, Clarksburg State Park is a perfect spot for camping, hiking, canoeing, kayaking, and fishing. There one can take advantage of 9.5 miles of foot trails surrounding the pond to look for wildlife, like moose or otters. There are 45 well-spaced and wooded campsites located near the pond. A cartop boat ramp is available for launching non-motorized boats. Ideal for beginner anglers, Mauserts Pond is a 49-acre, shallow, man-made pond offering great warmwater fishing opportunities. Just outside Clarksburg State Park, anglers will find excellent trout fishing opportunities along the North Branch of the Hoosic River, which is stocked with trout annually.
Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) State Forest in Goshen

Visitors can enjoy fishing, swimming, and paddling in the Highland Lakes found in the DAR State Forest. Try fishing for trout in Upper Highland Lake, which is stocked with trout annually each spring. Lower Highland Lake is popular with anglers for largemouth bass and yellow perch. There is a paved boat ramp on Lower Highland Lake and an informal ramp on Upper Highland Lake, suitable for launching canoes, cartop boats, and small craft with electric motors. The 50-site campground offered at DAR State Forest is situated on a ridge between Upper Highland Lake and a scenic wetland where moose, bear, and beaver can be spotted. Hikers will enjoy 15 miles of trails with options for all experience levels. Try the Highland Lake Trail or make your way up to the DAR Fire Tower for a great mountain view.
Mohawk Trail State Forest in Charlemont

Mohawk Trail State Forest is one of the most scenic woodland areas in Massachusetts, covering 6,000 acres of mountain ridges, gorges, and woods. Visitors can enjoy camping, fishing, hiking, swimming, canoeing, and kayaking. There are 47 wooded campsites available seasonally, and 6 log cabins available year-round. In the state forest, enjoy trout fishing on the Deerfield River and Cold River. You may also try trout fishing in the Chickley River or Clesson Brook just outside the state forest.
Tolland State Forest in Otis

At the center of Tolland State Forest sits the 1,065-acre Otis Reservoir, which has a large concrete boat ramp and ample shore access for fishing. Anglers will enjoy catching a variety of fish here, including bass and stocked trout. There are 92 campsites available on a peninsula that juts out onto the Otis Reservoir, providing a unique camping experience for all to enjoy.
Beartown State Forest in Monterey

This 12,000-acre forest is the perfect place to visit, no matter the season. Swim, fish, or boat in Benedict Pond. A gravel boat ramp is available to launch cartop boats, canoes, and small electric crafts. Shore fishing access is excellent from many areas of the shore for largemouth bass, yellow perch, and golden shiners. Take a walk along the 1.5- mile loop around Benedict Pond and look for wildlife including deer, bobcats, and even bears.
The other five campgrounds on the list are: Lake Dennison Recreation Area in Winchendon, Wells State Park in Sturbridge, Myles Standish State Forest in Carver, Nickerson State Park in Brewster and Harold Parker State Forest in Andover. To find out more about them, click onto https://www.mass.gov/service-details/top-10-campsites-for-fishing-in-massachusetts.
The MassWildlife Habitat Management Grant Program
MHMGP provides financial assistance to private and municipal landowners of conserved lands to enhance wildlife habitat, while promoting public access for outdoor recreation. Over the past 4 years, the MHMGP has awarded over $1.5M in funding to 28 different organizations and individuals for 63 habitat projects. MassWildlife anticipates the next MHMGP grant application will become available about now, with applications due in the early fall. Application information is available on the MHMGP web page.
The MHMGP encourages landowners to engage in active habitat management on their properties to benefit many types of wildlife, including species of greatest conservation need and game species. Although MassWildlife and other conservation organizations have made unprecedented investments in land acquisition in Massachusetts, land protection alone is not enough to guarantee the persistence of the Commonwealth’s diverse wildlife. They feel that investment in habitat restoration and management is urgently needed on public and private lands across the state. To address this need, MassWildlife and the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs have substantially increased their investment in habitat management on state wildlife lands and are committed to working with partners to promote these efforts on other conserved lands across the state.

New this year, MassWildlife is offering technical assistance to landowners who are interested in applying to the MHMGP but the offer ends tomorrow. If you are interested in speaking to a MassWildlife Habitat Biologist about habitat management on your property or your eligibility for the MHMGP, contact: James Burnham at James.Burnham@Mass.gov or (508) 389-6343. MassWildlife anticipates the FY 2020 MHMGP grant application will become available in mid-July, with applications due in the early fall.
Report any fish kills

Summer weather is here, and once again MassWildlife is reminding us that lakes and ponds are warming up, and fish kills may occur. The sight of dead and dying fish along a shoreline can be distressing and can prompt concerns about pollution. However, the vast majority of summer fish kills reported are natural events.
Natural fish kills are generally the result of low oxygen levels, fish diseases, or spawning stress. Depletion of dissolved oxygen is one of the most common causes of natural fish kills. Water holds less dissolved oxygen at higher temperatures; in shallow, weedy ponds oxygen can be especially low as plants consume oxygen at night. Spawning of fish including sunfish and bass in late spring and early summer occurs in shallow waters along the shore. These densely crowded spawning areas can become susceptible to disease outbreaks, especially as water temperatures rise. The result is an unavoidable natural fish kill, usually consisting of only one or two species of fish.
To be sure there isn’t a pollution problem, it’s always best to report fish kills. When a fish kill report is received, a MassWildlife fisheries biologist determines if the kill is a natural event or the result of pollution. In general, pollution impacts all kinds of aquatic life; therefore, the most important piece of evidence for the biologists is the number and variety of fish associated with the incident. When pollution is suspected, MassWildlife notifies the Department of Environmental Protection, who then conducts a formal investigation of the water and affected fish to determine the source of pollution.
To report a fish kill, contact the Environmental Police Radio Room at 1 (800) 632-8075.
Basic Hunter Education courses being offered

The Worthington Rod & Gun Club will be conducting a 4-day Hunter Education Course at its clubhouse on 458 Dingle Road (Route 112) in Worthington. The sessions will run on Monday, July 29, Tuesday, July 30, Thursday August 1 and Friday August 2 from 5:30 to 9:00 pm.

To enroll in the courses, call (508) 389-7830. For more information, click onto http://www.mass.gov/service-details/basic-hunter-education-course-offerings.

Last reminder for antlerless deer permit

Deer hunters remember, you must apply for an Antlerless Deer Permit by this Tuesday, July 16, to be eligible for a permit.

Big pike caught on trout rod

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On May 16, Dan “Durt” Whalen of Berkshire Village was fishing for trout on Onota Lake near the pier. Using his trout rod, his trusty old Garcia Mitchell 300 spinning reel, 6 lb test line and Berkley Power Bait on a size 8 Eagle Claw hook, he was after some trout. It was a cloudy day and he was having decent luck, having caught a couple of Rainbow Trout.
Then he had another hit and when he set the hook, he knew he was into a decent sized fish, perhaps a Carp. He said it put up fierce fight lasting 20 minutes and when he got it close to shore, he could see that it was a Northern Pike. The fish made three runs, nearly spooling him out. Finally, he got it near the shore again but because of the size of the fish, Don knew it would break his line if he tried to beach it (He didn’t have a net). So, he waded into the water nearly up to his waist, grabbed the fish under its gill and carried it into shore.
He laid the fish onto the wet grass and gingerly removed the hook from the fish. He was lucky for it had been hooked on the its skin just outside of its lip, otherwise its sharp teeth would have easily cut the line. He said that when he weighed the fish on his digital scales, it weighed 29 lbs even, was 49 inches long and had a girth of 20 inches.
A man and women were nearby and saw the whole event. Don asked the woman if she would take his picture with the fish using his cell phone, which she did.
Don chose to release the fish and submit an affidavit to MassWildlife attesting to its size. If accepted, he should get at least a bronze pin from the State, perhaps the gold pin, in the Catch and Release category. (A gold pin and plaque are awarded for catching the largest species of a freshwater fish in the state for that year). Don was not interested in keeping the fish to mount as he already has a large Northern Pike hanging on his wall. It was a gold pin fish that he caught in 2001. He said that one weighed 26.9 lbs and was 46 ½ inches long.
Usually pike the size Don recently caught are taken on tip-ups through the ice. It is rare to see one this large taken on a rod and reel. The fact that he caught it on 6 lb test and size 8 hook makes the feat even more remarkable. That and the fact that he caught it on a reel approximately 50 years old.
Good old-fashioned fly fishing
Speaking of old reels and equipment, fishing buddy Paul Knauth of Hinsdale and I recently spent a few days flyfishing for trout on the Ausable River in and around Wilmington, NY (near Lake Placid). This year, we decided to do something different, we would fish with old equipment, stuff right out of the 1940’s and 1950’s.
I chose to use my Heddon Expert bamboo fly rod which was once owned by the late Russell Chenail of North Adams. I purchased it from his niece last year. Out of curiosity, I researched the rod and found out that it was built between 1948 and 1952 and sold by Sears Roebuck. The reel was a Pfluger Medalist Model 1494 ½ which was purchased from Rod Moon’s Sporting Store in the mid 1970’s.

I also brought along my old willow creel that was once owned by my late uncle Alphonse Chague. Lord knows how old that creel it, but I suspect that it is around 80 years old.
Paul brought his Phillipson PaceMaker bamboo rod which was built sometime between 1946 and 1951. Bill Phillipson had been a protégé of Goodwin Granger and then supervisor of the rod shop for the Goodwin Granger Co. up until the time it closed down shortly before World War II. In 1945 he tried to purchase the Granger operation but when that failed, he started his own company, the Phillipson Rod and Tackle Co.
Paul also brought along his creel which was probably as old if not older than mine.
We had a ball fishing with these old flyrods. We are used to fishing with today’s modern graphite flyrods which weigh hardly anything. These rods weigh probably three times the weight of the modern rods. Their actions are quite different, too, they are whippier, and it took a while to adjust to the slower action of these rods. But we did, and we put them through the test of three days of fishing.
What a thrill fishing, catching and releasing trout on a flyrod that was made over 70 years ago. What stories they could tell. In my case, I was fishing with the Ausable Wulff, a bushy dry fly that was created by the famous Wilmington, NY fly tyer Francis Betters some 55 years ago which only added to the enjoyment. Paul was fishing sub surface mainly with bead head nymphs.
We encountered several old timers on the river, one wading and expertly casting away at 87 years old. His wife, perhaps not much younger, was out in the stream fly fishing with him, looking chic in her chest waders. When they and other older anglers spotted our cane rods, they commented on how they used to fish with them in olden times. The sight of the rods appeared to have brought back fond memories for them.
Unless you are used to them, bamboo rods can pose an endurance challenge. As noted above, they are heavier. Our modern-day graphite rods weigh around 1 ½ oz; whereas these rods weigh about 5 oz. I know it doesn’t sound like much weigh, but when you sling these things around for nearly 10 hours a day you feel it. At the end of the third day, my shoulder ached and I thought my casting arm would fall off into the river and drift away.
In spite of the fact that the river was running high due to recent storms Paul and I had a wonderful, memorable trip, filled with nostalgia. We were fishing in a gorgeous area, the foot of Whiteface Mountain. It doesn’t get much better than that.
Thank you to Cabela’s and Bass Pro Shops
Recently, MassWildlife staff visited Cabela’s in Berlin, MA and Bass Pro Shops in Foxborough, MA to accept donations of over 100 fishing rods and reels. This fishing equipment will be used by MassWildlife’s Angler Education Program to teach families how to fish across Massachusetts. To find upcoming learn-to-fish classes and clinics near you, check MassWildlife’s Angler Education Calendar.
This generous donation is part of a nationwide effort by Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s to get families outside this summer. Bass Pro Shops founder Johnny Morris is challenging families to put down their digital devices and get outside to discover the joys of fishing. To kick off Gone Fishing, the nationwide movement that gets kids and families connected to nature each summer, they are donating more than 55,000 rods and reels nationwide to nonprofit organizations that help kids from all backgrounds connect to the great outdoors.
Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s hosted family-friendly Gone Fishing events over the last two weekends. Kids of all ages were invited to catch their first fish with free catch-and-release ponds, take home a “First Fish” certificate and beginner’s guides, and participate in free seminars, free crafts and free photo downloads. The effort is part of the company’s mission to inspire future generations to enjoy, love and conserve the great outdoors. Since the program’s inception, Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s have donated 400,000 items to youth-focused nonprofit organizations across North America.

Over 300 anglers participated in the Bateman Jimmy Fund Fishing Derby

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“We couldn’t ask for a better day.” said Jimmy Fund Fishing Derby Co-Chairman Steve Bateman, “We have had all kinds of weather (in the past) but this day was perfect”.

On this day, Saturday, June 1, 2019 they had a record turn-out 302 registered fishermen plus at least another 30 people, raising a record amount of cash, well over $7,000.

They gave out a record eight bikes. Normally they give out six but a good friend and long-time supporter, John Lacy, donated a boy’s bike so they did something special. They asked if there were any 5 to 6-year old boys that didn’t have a bike. Four boys stepped forward and were given a raffle ticket and a winner was drawn.

On the other bike they called all of the numbers for the boy’s bike 10-14 years old. No one showed up so they called another number and a young man immediately raised his hand. While he was on the way up to accept his bike, the first ticket holder appeared. They gave the bike to the original ticket holder and promised to make things right by giving the second ticket holder a bike also. The family of Mellissa and Leanne Davis, along with their mom and Melissa’s daughter, gave a donation towards a new bike, a very kind gesture on their part. The second ticket holder received his new bike the following next day.

Co Chairman of the Harry Bateman Derby, Stephen Gingras, gave an emotional speech on the fishing derby and how it is more than just a cancer fundraiser but on friendships. They lost one of their childhood friends, Carl DeLuce (1963-2018). Carl was also their biggest supporter. From this year forward they will be giving the Adult Door Prize each and every year in Carl’s memory

They gave out an autographed picture of Dont’a Hightower which was donated by the New England Patriots, and a Coleman Tailgate Grill donated by Injected Solutions Inc. The plaque which bears Carl’s name was donated by ABC Financial. Carl’s family was present including his 94-year old mother, Mrs. Josie DeLuce, and Carl’s wife Tracy pulled the winning ticket. (David Bowers of Lee won it).

The following is a list of the winners: Children’s Heaviest Game Fish Category: 1st place – Largemouth Bass – Kolton Buck – 3 lbs 10 oz; Smallmouth Bass – Braxton Gladu – 2 lbs 2 oz, 2nd Place – Rainbow Trout – Darryn Cassavant- 1 lb 11 oz; 3rd Place – Rainbow Trout Mason Chamberland – 1 lb 10 oz.
Children’s Heaviest Non-Game Fish Category: 1st Place – Bullhead – Julian Smith – 12 oz; 2nd Place – Bullhead – 11 oz; 3rd Place – Crappie – 11 oz
Adult Heaviest Game Fish Category: 1st Place – John Ragoza – Pike – 3 lbs 3 oz; 2nd Place – Tom Archambeault – Smallmouth Bass – 3 lbs 10 oz; 3rd Place – Jennifer Racine – Smallmouth Bass – 3 lbs 3 oz.
Special Heaviest Fish Category First Place Awards: Largemouth Bass – Pul Cuddihy – 3 lbs 13 oz; Crappie – Braxton Gladu – 1 lb I oz; Common Carp – Joe Trybus – 7 lbs 12 oz; Trout (Adult) – Cameron Pularo – Brown Trout – 3 lbs 4 oz; Trout (Children) Mason Kucka – Brown Trout – 2 lbs 1 oz;
The Sportsmanship Award went to Austin Sayers, the Carl Deluce Award went to David Bowers and the Butch Patrick Award went to Jackson Cienciwa.

On a side note Braxton Gladu, who won the Perch/ Crappie Award, was also the second-place winner in the Children’s Gamefish Award. Because one can only win one award in this fishing derby he was removed from the second-place spot and given his first-place award.

Incidentally, this year a bowfin was caught. It is the second time a bowfin has been caught at the Bateman Fishing Derby in 27 years. Unfortunately, it didn’t qualify because no awards were given in that category. The fish weighed in at 3 lbs. 10 oz.”

It is obvious that there is more at play here than winning a fishing derby or raising funds for the Jimmy Fund, as important as they are. There is a sense of community involvement, of getting the kids involved with the outdoors, of remembering those who contributed so much to this derby in the past, of remembering those who have succumbed to cancer.

This community involvement is evident when one considers the number of people involved to put this derby on – the organizers, the ticket sellers, the cooks and, of course, the number of contributors (nearly 60 individuals and companies).

Congratulations to all, and thank you!

Youth Outreach Derby

At the same time 25 kids from the Hillcrest Educational Center and the Northern Berkshire Community Coalition attended the Youth Outreach Fishing Derby which was held on Reynolds Pond in Cheshire. Brandon Hoist brought the Hillcrest kids and Alex Daugherty, Liz Boland and AJ Bostwick brought the Coalition kids.

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Each kid was given a fishing pole and equipment with which to fish and when the day was over, they were able to take them home. Their equipment was all set up by volunteers by the time they arrived and they were provided with the necessary bait. Each time a kid caught a fish, a volunteer would clean it and put it into a plastic zip lock bag to bring home to eat. Around noon time, a meal of burgers, dogs, chips, soda and desert was provided.

The Berkshire County League of Sportsmen sponsors the event, providing the brook trout (which were raised in the Berkshire National Fish Hatchery), equipment, bait, and food. Volunteers from the Cheshire Rod & Gun Club, East Mountain Sportsmen’s Club, Adams Outdoor for Youth, B.A.S.S. and the Ashfield Rod & Gun Club provided assistance and made sure the kids had an enjoyable and memorable day.

Many thanks to Steve Bateman, Co-Chair of the Jimmy Fund Derby and BCLS President Wayne McLain for providing the above information and pictures. This scribe is sorry to have missed both events this year but hopes to join you at next year’s events.

Old Mill Trail event

If you are not doing anything today, you might want to join the Berkshire Natural Resources Council celebrate its festive day at the Old Mill Trail to celebrate and raise support for accessible trails in the Berkshires.

The event takes place from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm at the trailhead on Old Dalton Road in Hinsdale. This “all ages” gathering features guided walks, music, food, and fishing in the clean East Branch of the Housatonic River.
It is free and open to the public and you can drop by anytime for any part of the event.
Any donations will support upgrades and ongoing upkeep of this Berkshire gem. The Old Mill Trail was carefully designed for enjoyment by people big and small—amblers and sprinters—who visit on boots, strollers, chairs, or skis alike!
Here’s the schedule:
10:00am-12:30pm: Fishing for everyone (15+ years need a Massachusetts fishing license). Some gear will be available, but feel free to bring your own too. At 10:15am there will be a Hinsdale/Dalton history walk with nature notes, led by Alison Dixon of Housatonic Valley Association, who created the Old Mill Trail’s interpretive discovery stations.
From 11:00am-1:00pm enjoy some Toe-tappin’ music by Housatonic Philharmonic: Paul Rice, Andy Gordon, and Tim Gray play timeless tunes with a folk, Celtic, and Americana feel.
What makes a trail accessible? See for yourself with BNRC’s outreach coordinator and naturalist Mariah Auman at 11:30 am. From 11:30am-1:00pm Food by Hinsdale Trading Company, to include hot dogs, burgers, grilled veggie sandwiches, smoked pulled pork, and local ice cream.
Special thanks to the remarkable Housatonic Valley Association for its outstanding stewardship of the OMT over the years.

Albert Adams catches a big trout

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Frequently this column includes pictures of young kids holding large fish that they caught. There will probably be some more in next week’s column, too, what with the Berkshire County League of Sportsmen Youth Outreach Fishing Derby and the Bateman Jimmy Fund Fishing Derby both of which took place yesterday. Who can resist seeing them with their big smiles. But you know, adults sometimes catch big fish, too.
Albert Adams of Pittsfield landed a beautiful brown trout out of Onota Lake on May 16. It weighed 7 lbs 8 oz on the DFW certified scales. It measured 26 inches and had a girth of 15 ½ inches.
Albert was alone trolling a silver and blue Thomas Buoyant spoon from his boat in about 10 feet of water. The weather was magnificent. When the fish hit his lure, he knew it was a big fish and for a while thought it might be a smallmouth bass or a northern pike. It was when he brought the fish to the boat that he saw that it was a big brown trout. It was at that time that the fish realized what was going on and the battle really began. Albert fought it for a long time and thankfully his equipment held up and he was able to net it. The trout swallowed the lure deep and could not be expected to survive so he kept it.
He weighed it at the Onota Boat Livery, but their scales were not certified. Because the fish might be a State gold pin winner, they suggested that he weigh it at the DFW Headquarters in Dalton. It turned out that the brown trout is the second largest one caught in the state this year so Albert will have to settle for a bronze pin. He was told that the fish was stocked from the Palmer Hatchery.
Albert is having the fish mounted by Greg Gillette’s Taxidermy in Lanesborough.
Trout Stockings
There was only one river scheduled with trout last week. It was the Deerfield River in Buckland, Charlemont and Florida. The rest of the trout stockings were scheduled to take place in the following ponds and lakes: Lake Buel, Laurel Lake, Littleville Reservoir, Onota Lake, Otis Reservoir, Pontoosuc Lake and Windsor Pond.

According to Deb Lipa, Clerk from the DFW Western District Office, the official spring trout stocking season is over. On behalf of all of the local anglers, we thank Deb for providing the up-to-date stocking information for this column. I’m sure It resulted in extra work on her part. And thanks to Leanda Fontaine Gagnon for getting those beautiful trout into our waters. There were a lot of positive comments from anglers as to the size and condition of them.

Well done Mass DFW!

Anglers learn to fly fish through OLLI course

Eight enthusiastic anglers tried out their newly acquired fly fishing skills at the Wild Acres Pond in Pittsfield on May 21.

Marc Hoechstetter teaching Roxanne how to fly cast

They included: Roxanne Suprina, Ed Neumuth, Gail Tardif Frazier, Colleen Budness, Dan Burkhard, Joe Horton, Paul Gniadek and Kevin Boisjolie. They were part of the 14 men and women who had taken a 6 -week course entitled Introduction to Fly Fishing. It was taught by Taconic Chapter of Trout Unlimited board members through the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at Berkshire Community College (OLLI).
Teachers included Taconic TU President Henry Sweren and Board Members William Travis, John Burns, Fran Marzotto, Marc Hoechstetter and Richard ‘Dick’ Bordeau., some of the best flyfishers in the Berkshires.
The course included a video about the joys of fly-fishing. Other segments included an introduction to the gear and equipment, macro-invertebrates, fly casting, knots, fly selection, an overview of watersheds, the various fish species that inhabit them and two segments of fly fishing on water. The flies were tied by the instructors, LL Bean donated 3 rods, reels and lines and Orvis donated a rod, leaders and tippets.
It was a sunny but very windy day there at Wild Acres Pond that day. I expected to see line tangled around people’s heads and torsos, including mine. But to the contrary, the pond is somewhat sheltered from the wind and the anglers did surprisingly well in controlling their fly lines. They all appeared to be having a grand time. One angler told me that he had just retired and was interested in trying fly fishing and meeting other fly fishermen. Another person had fly fished in the past and discontinued it but was planning on taking it up again. A few anglers had never tried it before.
I didn’t see any fish caught but not due to lack of the student efforts or trainer skills. The fish just appeared to be sulking on the bottom of the pond. Perhaps they didn’t feel like eating during that wind. Oh well, the new fly fishers had another fly fishing trip scheduled on a river in a week or so. Maybe that is when they’ll get a little respect from those finicky fish.
Perhaps Gayle Tardif Frazier summed up the sentiments of the students best, “my thanks and gratitude for all of the patience, kindness and humor you have all shared to make this class an enjoyable experience! I look forward to seeing folks out fishing!”
There are new Striped Bass regulations
Lots of folks from the Berkshires travel east to Cape Cod annually to fish for stripers. It is a very popular sport, even for us landlubbers. Please be advised that the Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries has recently implemented two new striped bass conservation regulations aimed at reducing release mortality
Effective immediately, it is unlawful for any fisherman to gaff or attempt to gaff striped bass measuring less than 28 inches total length, and for a commercial fisherman fishing on an open commercial striped bass fishing day to gaff striped bass measuring less than 34 inches total length.
The prohibition on gaffing undersized striped bass (as opposed to all striped bass) takes into consideration safety concerns associated with expediently removing large striped bass from the water.
Effective next year (2020), recreational anglers not fishing aboard for-hire vessels will be required to use inline circle hooks when fishing for striped bass with whole or cut natural baits. This will include fishing with whole or cut natural baits while in possession of striped bass as well.
This circle hook mandate will not apply to natural baits attached to an artificial lure to be trolled, jigged, or casted and retrieved (e.g., tube and worm). Nor will the mandate apply to any natural bait affixed to a treble hook and fished using the snag and drop technique.
A hook is considered to be an in-line circle hook only if it is manufactured so the barb of the hook is in-line with the shank and bend of the hook and is turned perpendicularly back to the shank to form a circular or oval shape (see image).
In-line circle hooks are proven to substantially reduce striped bass release mortality compared to other hooks (e.g., j-hooks or offset circle hooks) by being far more likely to hook the fish in the lip or the mouth and not the gut or the gills. The circle hook mandate is targeted at private recreational anglers because this segment of the fishery is primarily hook-and-release and accounts for the vast majority of recreational striped bass catch in Massachusetts.
Why the change? Well, the most recent striped bass stock assessment found the species was being overfished. In addition, it demonstrated that release mortality from the recreational fishery is the single largest source of fishing mortality (48%). Accordingly, these actions have been taken to reduce release mortality in our fisheries. It is expected that the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission will also take action this year to implement coastwide conservation measures for 2020 aimed at reducing overall fishing mortality.
For more information regarding the management of striped bass in Massachusetts, visit the website (www.mass.gov/marinefisheries) or call DMF at 617-626-1520.

Fishing Derby
The Berkshire Hatchery Foundation in Hartsville-New Marlborough is having its next free children’s fishing derby on Saturday, June 8, from 9:00 to 10:30 am at its lower pond. Children aged 12 and under must be accompanied by an adult.

Robert Durand named to Fish and Wildlife Board

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Governor Charlie Baker has named Robert A. Durand, president of Durand & Anastas Environmental Strategies, an environmental consulting and lobbying firm, to the Massachusetts Fisheries and Wildlife Board. Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito conducted the swearing-in ceremony for the five-year term last Wednesday at the State House. Chairman of Environment, Natural Resources and Agriculture Smitty Pignatelli was one of about 10 Reps and Senators who attended the swearing in. Smitty said some nice words and reminded everyone of how close Bob was to the late George (Gige) Darey.
“I am so pleased and honored to receive this nomination to the board, which has been a part of my life in one way or another for most of my life,” Durand said. “I’m thankful to Gov. Baker and Lt. Gov. Polito for their confidence in me to carry out this vital mission to protect many critical aspects of our natural world, and with it, our quality of life in Massachusetts.”

As one of the seven-member board, Durand will represent the Northeast Region, Middlesex and Essex counties, and replaces Fred Winthrop, who resigned from the board last fall. The board has various duties, including writing and overseeing all hunting and fishing regulations, Natural Resources and Endangered Species Act regulations, and is the appointing authority for the director of MassWildlife.
I would bet that most Massachusetts outdoor sportsmen and conservationists are extremely happy with the Governor’s choice to appoint Durand. Why? Read on.
Durand has been an avid outdoorsman and conservationist his entire life, and in 2011 was recognized as such by the Board when it awarded him the Francis W. Sargent Conservation Award. Prior to forming Durand & Anastas Environmental Strategies, he served four terms as state representative for Berlin and Marlborough, where he lives. He followed that with four terms as a state senator for the Middlesex and Worcester District, during which he chaired the Environment, Natural Resources and Agriculture Committee, and four years as Secretary of Environmental Affairs, under former governors the late Paul Cellucci and Jane Swift.
During his career as a public servant, Durand forged new bonds between the outdoor and sporting communities and environmentalists, bringing these advocates together to support initiatives that strengthened both. As a legislator, he wrote the Rivers Protection Act and the Community Preservation Act. As Secretary, he protected 150,000 acres of open space, including major bioreserves open to hunting and fishing, helped usher in the nation’s first state regulations on coal burning power plant emissions and oversaw a vigorous campaign to reduce mercury emissions that bioaccumulate in wildlife and people. He also created Biodiversity Days, an annual event that saw tens of thousands of school children from more than 500 schools fan out across the state to learn about and catalogue plant and animal species, and championed environmental justice and environmental education
Bob has served as the President of the Massachusetts Outdoor Heritage Foundation and served on the Board of Trustees for both The Nature Conservancy/Massachusetts Chapter and the Massachusetts Environmental Trust.
He has received many wildlife and conservation related awards from various organizations, including Mahar Fish ‘N Game Club, Massachusetts Bowhunters Association, Essex and Middlesex County Leagues of Sportsmen, Massachusetts Wildlife Federation, Environmental League of Massachusetts, Ducks Unlimited, Trout Unlimited, Massachusetts Audubon Society, Gun Owner’s Action League and the Nature Conservancy.
Durand is no stranger to the Berkshires. For many years he has come out here to hunt. Ron Smith taught him how to turkey hunt back in the day and Bob frequently hunted turkeys with Gige. He also hunted woodcock, grouse and whitetail with Phil Hiser, Gige and Ginny Akabani and did some carp fishing and trout fishing on the Housatonic with Jay Baver.
Trout stocking

The following local waters were scheduled to be stocked with trout last week:

Rivers and brooks: Deerfield River in Buckland, Charlemont and Florida; Westfield River (East Branch) in Cummington and Chesterfield, Westfield River (Mainstem) in Huntington and Russell, Housatonic River (C&R) in Lee and Stockbridge, and Windsor Brook in Hinsdale.

Lakes and Ponds: Greenwater Pond in Becket, Littleville Reservoir in Chester and Huntington, Pontoosuc Lake, Laurel Lake, Garfield Lake in Monterey, Windsor Lake in North Adams, Onota Lake and Richmond Pond.

Stockbridge Sportsmen’s Spring Fishing Derby

Seventy anglers entered the SSC Spring Fishing Derby last Sunday, which ran from dawn until 3:00 pm at Stockbridge Bowl. For a change, it was rain free with the temperatures near 80 degrees. The results are as follows:

Adults

Largest Trout: Lee Soules, of Lenox, caught a trout that was 16 1/2” long and weighed 2-lbs, 2 oz.

Largest Bass: George Hess Jr. of Washington MA caught a 19 1/2” Bass that weighed 5 lbs. 11 oz.

Largest Pickerel: Travis Santolin of Lee caught a 23” Pickerel that weighed 2 lbs. 15 oz.

Largest Bullhead: James Trumps of South Lee caught a 12 1/2” Bullhead that weighed 1-lb 1 oz.

Age 12 and under Winners:

Largest Bass: Mason Chamberlain (age 6) of Lee caught a 12” Bass which weighed 13oz

Largest Trout: Trentonn Santolin (age 5) of Lee caught a 16 1/2” trout that weighed 2 lbs., 2 oz

Interestingly, for the first time ever they had a tie for the largest trout.

Annual Harry A Bateman Memorial Jimmy Fund Fishing Derby

The 27th annual Harry A. Bateman Memorial Jimmy Fund Fishing Derby will take place next Saturday at the Frank Controy Pavilion at Onota Lake in Pittsfield from 6:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. No fishing license is required because it is Free Fishing Weekend for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The fishing derby is open to the public and its purpose is to raise money for the Jimmy Fund – Dana Farber Cancer Institute for Children. All of the proceeds will be donated to the Jimmy Fund in memory of Harry A. Bateman, a former member of Central Berkshire Bowman and I.U.E. Local 255 who was well known throughout Berkshire County and who became a victim of cancer in 1992.

Fifteen trophies and prizes will be awarded to the winners of the fishing derby, eight trophies for the Children, four trophies for Adults and three trophies that can be won by adults or children. There is even a special category for those fishing with a bow and arrow. All fish must be weighed in by 12:00 noon and must be caught at Onota Lake from a boat or the shore. Don’t be late! The scales will be removed immediately after 12:00 noon.

Fishing tackle is given with the trophy prizes with two prizes for heaviest trout. A sportsman award will be given out to a child which includes a tackle box with over $100 of tackle. The entrance fee is $10 for adults and $5 for Children 14 years and younger. The fee includes food and beverages. All children receive a free gift and a children 5-14 years old will have a chance at winning a mountain bike.

Food tickets will be given for hamburgers, hot dogs and sausages. No alcohol is served at this event. Advanced tickets may be purchased at Avid Sports, Dave’s Sporting Goods, and Onota Boat Livery. Everyone needs to register before fish can be weighed in. Individuals must be wearing wrist bands provided at the registration desk in order to receive food and to weigh in the fish.

Remembering Thomas King

Thomas Michael King passed away on May 16 at the age of 72. He had been a director of the Berkshire Beagle Club, a longtime member of the Cheshire Rod & Gun Club, the Adams Outdoor for Youth and the Night Stalkers Bass Club He was the Beagle Club’s delegate to the Berkshire County League of Sportsmen (BCLS) and was the 2009 recipient of its Sportsmen’s Appreciation Award. He was also a volunteer for the Mass Anglers Education Program.

He was an avid volunteer for the annual turkey shoots, work bees, pheasant and rabbit stocking programs, annual youth fishing events and game dinners. He was always performing Beagle Club tasks such as repairing fences, trimming brush and building boxes. Tom was an avid, ethical sportsman whose goal was always to promote youth interest in hunting and fishing sports. He will be missed.

Memorial Day Weekend

Here’s hoping you have an enjoyable holiday weekend. Whether you are spending it with your friends and loved ones barbecuing burgers and dogs, watching a downtown parade, decorating graves or spending it in solitude fishing a remote trout stream, you might want to take a moment to remember and thank those who gave so much to protect our democracy and ensure our freedoms.

Great turnout at the Wild Acres youth fishing derby

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They had decent weather for a change at the Wild Acres Fishing Derby which was held last Saturday, and over 100 anglers took advantage of it. This was the 6th year that the City of Pittsfield Conservation Commission and Lyon Aviation sponsored the event.

Representing the City of Pittsfield were Becky Manship, Recreation Activities Coordinator and Rob Vanderkar, Pittsfield Conservation Agent. Assisting the anglers, cooking the food, etc were the Onota Fishing Club President Fred Ostrander and his team of OLC volunteers. Dave’s Sporting Store provided the worms and some equipment, Lyon Aviation donated funds for the event and The Berkshire National Fish Hatchery provided the good-sized brook trout. The City of Pittsfield provided the food which was expertly cooked up by Al Lucier, proprietor of Ozzie’s Steak & Eggs of Hinsdale.

There was a slew of trophies awarded based upon the fish sizes and the age group category of the kids. The results are as follows:
8 and Under Category: 1st Place – Lola Rodriguez (14” – 1 lbs 4 oz, largest fish of the day), 2nd Place – Trenton Scales (13.5” – 1.1 lbs), 3rd Place – Wyatt Underhill (13.5” – 1 lb). The following kids in that age category also received trophies: Easton Tatro, Bryer Farrell, Kaylee Prew, Aiden Brewts, Tarey McDurby, Jace Coco, Griffen Sobolewski, Ryker Farrell, Cora Dicroche, Carmelo Coco, Kaiden Kalinowski, Elise Sobolewski and Declan Gallant.
9 to 11 Category: 1st Place – Austin Sayers (12.75” – 10 oz), 2nd Place – Rebecca Stimpson (12.75” – .8oz), 3rd Place Bella Munson (12.5” – 1 lb). Other trophy recipients: Selena Rodriguez, Noah Wesley and Tyrus Ospellino.
12 to 14 Category: 1st Place – Jimmy Spaniol (14” – 1 lb 1 oz), 2nd Place – Tyler Gaudette (12.5” – .7oz) and 3rd Place – Brett Healey (11.5” – .5 oz).
The kids had a great time. Look at that little girl proudly showing off her fish. A nice sized brook trout in one hand and a lollypop in the other. It doesn’t get any better than that!

Our hats off to Lyon Aviation, the City of Pittsfield and the Onota Fishing Club for providing the kids with a such wonderful day.

Trout stocking

The following local waters were scheduled to be stocked with trout last week:
Rivers and brooks: Beartown Brook in Lee, Chickley River in Charlemont and Hawley, Clesson Brook in Ashfield and Buckland, Cold River in Florida and Charlemont, Deerfield River in Buckland, Charlemont and Florida, Green River (south) in Alford, Egremont and Great Barrington; Hoosic River (north branch) in Clarksburg and North Adams, Hoosic River (south branch) in Adams and Cheshire, Hop Brook in Lee and Tyringham, Housatonic River(SW branch) in Pittsfield, Hudson Brook in Clarksburg and North Adams, Sackett Brook in Dalton and Pittsfield, Walker Brook in Becket and Chester, West Brook in Great Barrington and Lee, Westfield Brook in Windsor and Cummington, Westfield River (East Branch) in Cummington, Chesterfield and Huntington; Williams River in West Stockbridge and Great Barrington and Yokun Brook in Lenox.

Ponds: Big Pond in Otis and Richmond Pond.

Deerfield River trout study
In 2018, MassWildlife and Trout Unlimited launched a project to study Brown Trout in the upper Deerfield River (Fife Brook Dam downstream to Charlemont). If you fish in this section of the river, you can contribute to the study by completing an online form (https://ee.kobotoolbox.org/x/#w9WpYad0) during or after each fishing trip you take. Since 2018, and for the duration of the study, the adipose fins of all hatchery Brown Trout stocked in the upper Deerfield River will be removed. During this spring, a number of Brown Trout already in the upper Deerfield River will be captured and marked with individually-numbered external tags.
You are asked to fill out the form every time you fish in this section of the Deerfield River. Data collected from completed forms will show the ratio of wild to stocked Brown Trout being caught, the number of tagged fish being caught, the general locations that Brown Trout are being caught, and the effort expended by anglers in this section of the river.
The adipose fin is a small fatty fin on the dorsal surface (back) of the trout between the tail and the dorsal fin. Research has shown that the removal of this fin is the least intrusive, detrimental, or painful compared to all other fins on the body. Fin clipping is performed by trained biologists, who then stock the fish in their usual locations in the upper Deerfield. Eventually, all hatchery fish in this section will be marked with a fin clip. Anglers should note that for the next few years, there may be holdover hatchery browns in the system that have not been marked.
This project took shape through a collaborative process involving MassWildlife and Trout Unlimited (in particular, the Deerfield River and Greater Boston Chapters and the Massachusetts-Rhode Island Council), and included input and assistance from a number of other interested parties and individuals from UMass Amherst, US Geological Survey, local Deerfield River fishing guides, and local watershed groups. The study will yield data on important population metrics including abundance, mortality, and growth rates of individual fish. MassWildlife will use this information to more effectively manage the upper Deerfield River Brown Trout fishery.

Free fishing days

Did you know that you can fish in Massachusetts and neighboring states free without having to purchase a fishing license? In Massachusetts and New Hampshire, the free fishing day is Saturday, June 1. In Vermont, it is Saturday June 8. In New York, you can fish free on the weekend of June 29 -30. The free fishing weekend in Maine is June 1 – 2. In Connecticut, there are two days, July 6 and August 31. Sorry, Rhode Island’s free days already went by. They were May 4 and 5.

Residents and nonresidents may fish without a license. All legal fishing methods and limits apply.

Wild & Scenic Westfield River Free Workshops

Next weekend, there will be two free workshops conducted by the Wild and Scenic Westfield River group. On Saturday, May 25 from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm there will be a workshop entitled “Insect Tracking” with naturalist Charley Eiseman. You are invited to join them in Chesterfield as they track and admire the tiny critters that live in the forest. What is a Leaf miner and what is making their exquisite eggs?

Then on the next day, Sunday, May 26 from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm there will be a workshop on Center Pond in Becket entitled “Lets Pull Together” Center Pond Weed Project & Action Sports Free Hand and Foot pulling training for land owners and community members. At this workshop you will learn to identify and remove invasive plants, and be part of the solution.

For questions and to register, contact Meredyth Babcock, Phone 413 623-2070 or email volunteer@wildscenicwestfieldriver.org.

Old Mill Trail Interpretive Hike

On Wednesday May 22, from 3:30 pm to 6:30 pm, the Housatonic Valley Association (HVA) and Berkshire Natural Resources Council (BNRC) will be conducting a hike along the Old Mill Trail (3 miles) located in Hinsdale and Dalton. You are encouraged to explore the mill history of the area through augmented reality and learn about the natural history of the area.

It is free and open to the public. Meet at the trailhead on Old Dalton Road, Hinsdale. For more information, contact HVA 413-298-7024.