Category Archives: Trout fishing

Conte banquet honors five

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A nice crowd attended the Silvio O. Conte Awards Banquet which was held at the Cheshire Rod & Gun Club recently to honor the Berkshire County League of Sportsmen (BCLS) 2023 award winners.  Past BCLS President, Mark Jester, did a wonderful job as emcee.

After a delicious meal, Mark introduced DFW Director Mark Tisa.  Describing it as a great organization, Mark has worked for the DFW for 37 years working his way up the ladder. He considered it a great privilege.  He recognized Fish & Wildlife Board Chairman Steve Sears, of Dalton, for doing such a great job representing the Western District and bringing all of our interests and concerns to the Board.  He introduced new Deputy Director Eve Schluter.  He recognized DFW Western District Supervisor Andrew Madden and his staff. He also recognized BCLS President Wayne McLain, who was the first person to step up and support Mark’s new youth pheasant hunt program.

He commented that the Division is working hard to continue to create more opportunities for us to enjoy the outdoors such as fishing and hunting. Their job is taking care of the wildlife so that we can enjoy it.

Mark Jester introduced Wayne Adams from the Massachusetts Conservation Alliance who discussed current gun legislation and its work getting more representation at the Statehouse.

Mark Jester then proceeded with the various Silvio O. Conte 2023 Sportsmen Awards.

From left to right: Mark Jester, Emcee, Stacy Sylvester, Leanda Fontaine, Michelle Amburn, James Loughman and Ted Pointek

The John Zuber Award was presented to Rick French of Phillipston, MA. for his efforts in the paraplegic hunts and promoting the outdoors.  Because Rick could not attend (out west hunting), Stacie Sylvester who herself participated for some 35 years with Rick’s paraplegic hunts, accepted the award on his behalf. In her acceptance speech she noted that Rich was very proud to receive the award.

The Sportsmen’s Appreciation Award was presented to James Loughman of Adams for his dedication to the sportsmen of Massachusetts and his commitment and leadership in preserving and promoting the rich traditions of sportsmen.  He will ever be appreciated and remembered for all his efforts. In his acceptance speech he thanked groups like the BCLS, the Adams Outdoor for Youth and the Cheshire Rod & Gun Club for instilling the love of the outdoors to the next generation.

The Lifetime Achievement Award was awarded to Ted Pointek of Housatonic for his unwavering commitment to and promotion of the shooting sports especially for the future generations.  In his acceptance speech, he recognized all those who helped him in the shooting events over the years.

The late Richard “Rick” Theilig of Lee was posthumously awarded the Outstanding Achievement Award for his dedication and passion for the outdoors, and who will forever inspire future generations. His daughter Michelle Amburn accepted the award on his behalf.  He would probably say he doesn’t deserve it, said Michelle, but he does.  He wanted to teach everyone.  He loved what he did and made lifelong friends in doing so.  LSA club member John Polastri also presented her another plaque from the Lee Sportsmen’s Association.

Leanda Fontaine of Bernardston, MA was selected the Sportsperson of the Year. Her plaque read, “Her lifelong dedication and preservation of the rich natural resources of our state will forever benefit the citizens, habitat, and wildlife of Massachusetts”.  In her acceptance speech, she said she was extremely humbled and honored to be chosen.  She started in MassWildlife in 2005 working as a fishing technician working with district and hatchery staff.  She worked with DFW district staff from the NY border all the way to Cape Cod.  She had the opportunity to work on different projects, not just fisheries but wildlife, natural heritage, land projects, etc. She worked with multiple state organizations and nonprofits which provided great opportunities to work on different projects.  She mentioned the DFW employees’ passion and drive to do what they can for our resources, outdoor sportspeople and the environment.  She mentioned the great mentorship received from the DFW employees regarding hunting, fishing, etc.  She considered herself very lucky to work in the Western District – its become like family to her.

Youth trout stocking day was another huge success

Approximately 200 kids, parents and grandparents met on Wednesday afternoon, April 17, at the Onota Lake Burbank Park to help MassWildlife liberate some 550 rainbow trout which averaged 14 inches.

Mark Jester with grandsons Sam and Joe Maschino

MassWildlife Western District Aquatic Biologist Leanda Fontaine was assisted by DFW staff including Heather Sadler, Kalina Flood, Colby Kellogg-Youndt, and Jacob Morris-Siegel. Leanda’s daughter Isla also helped.  An iBerkshire.Com photographer was there as well as a newsperson from Spectrum TV Channel 1. Environmental Police Lt. Tara Carlow was there also to make sure everyone behaved. The weather cooperated nicely this day.

Prior to beginning the stocking, Leanda made some introductory comments.  She informed everyone about the agency and how it is charged with the responsibility of preserving, conserving and managing our flora and fauna all across the state.  She named the 5 regional districts across the state and how they perform their functions. The Western District covers all of the Berkshires as well as the western towns of Hampshire, Hampton and Franklin Counties.

One of their main jobs of the Western District Office is trout stocking, which they do for about 10 weeks in the spring and two weeks in the fall. This spring they expect to stock 80,0000 trout.  Statewide, some 450,000 are expected to be stocked.

They stock four different species, brook, brown, rainbow and tiger trout which is a hybrid between brown and brook trout.  They stock 72 local bodies in the Western District up to Memorial Day. To find out where they stock, go to the MassWildlife web site Mass.gov/trout.  She encouraged people to catch and eat the fish but if people prefer to catch and release them, that is fine too.

Then she explained how the stocking would take place.  They formed a line, a few trout were netted out of the tanker truck, put into empty 5-gallon pails which were handed to the kids and away they sped to the water’s edge and tossed the fish out, and then they ran back and did it all over again.  Oh! The expressions of joy and amazement on the faces of those kids.

I am happy to report that there were no buckets tossed into the lake and there was a 100% survival rate of the fish.

Local trout stockings

 

The following local waters were scheduled to be stocked last week by MassWildlife:  Beartown Brook in Lee, Bronson Brook in Worthington, Deerfield River in Buckland, Florida and Charlemont , Depot Brook in Washington, Dry Brook in Cheshire and Adams, Factory Brook in Middlefield, Farmington River in Otis and Sandisfield, Hoosic River North in Clarksburg and North Adams, Hop Brook in Lee and Tyringham, Housatonic River (SW) in Pittsfield, Hubbard River in Granville, Littleville Reservoir in Chester, North Pond in Florida, Sackett Brook in Dalton and Pittsfield, South Brook in Cheshire, Town Brook in Lanesborough, Trout Brook in Peru, Walker Brook in Becket, West Brook in Great Barrington, Westfield River Middle Branch in Chester, Huntington and Middlefield, Windsor Lake in North Adams, Windsor Pond in Windsor and Yokum Brook in Becket.

Spring Turkey Hunting Seasons opens Monday

 

The 2024 Massachusetts spring turkey hunting season opens on Monday, April 29 and runs through May 25.  The Youth Turkey Hunt Day took place today (April 27).

To hunt wild turkeys in Massachusetts, you’ll need a hunting or sporting license as well as a turkey permit. A turkey permit comes with 3 turkey tags. Hunters can take 2 bearded turkeys in the spring and 1 turkey of either sex in the fall. Regulation requires that all hunters place an official green Turkey Safety Sticker on their firearm positioned so it’s visible when sighting down the barrel.  On the youth hunt day only, the hunting hours are ½ hour before sunrise and end at 5:00 pm. For the rest of the turkey hunters, the hours are from ½ hour before sunrise to noon.

Successful hunters must report their turkeys within 48 hours of harvest. The easiest way to report a harvest is online using MassFishHunt, but you can also go to an official check station.

There are a couple of pages of rules and regulations addressing Turkey Hunting in the 2024 regulations (abstracts) and hunters should review them before heading out.

Oh!  That knot nemesis

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Charles and Alba Wohl .

In the April 2024 issue of The Backcast, the Taconic Chapter of Trout Unlimited’s newsletter, Charles Wohl of Lenox wrote an interesting article about bonefishing at Ambergris Caye, Belize and an embarrassing incident with which most anglers are familiar.  With his permission, I am relating his story, entitled “The Knot” to you.

“If I had one last day to fish, it would be on a bonefish flat. I love the challenge of walking in calf-deep water, spotting bonefish, and trying to make accurate casts to place my fly in the path of cruising fish. In the unlikely event that everything goes right, and I hook the fish, the reward is several sizzling runs across the flat before the fish can be brought to hand and released. However, most of the best bonefishing destinations, such as the out islands of the Bahamas, are not particularly attractive to those who don’t fish or even to those who do fish but do not wish to spend hours traipsing across saltwater flats in search of fish.

One exception is Ambergris Caye, Belize, which features tropical beaches where you will be served any drink you want, kayaking, snorkeling on the second largest barrier reef in the world, excellent restaurants, paddle boarding, trips to the rain forest and Mayan temples on the mainland, ubiquitous reggae music, and very nice places to stay.  You know – the stuff normal people like. Our friends Paula and Herb stayed there for three weeks a couple of winters ago and cried when it was time to leave. So, we weren’t surprised when our friends Barbara and Brian suggested that we all go down there for a couple of weeks in February. Shortly thereafter, our good friend Mary signed on. None of them fish, so I didn’t think it important to mention that on Ambergris Caye there are bonefish on the flats, snook in the mangroves, tarpon and permit on the deeper flats and good guides to take you to them. Going there had special appeal for me because Belize is where I caught my first bonefish forty years ago. My wife Alba fishes, but has never caught a bonefish, so I thought this might be the time.

Our apartment, which was among the palms on a heartbreakingly beautiful beach, was more luxurious than we expected or needed. We unpacked quickly, and, as soon as politely possible, I walked to the water’s edge and surveyed the very fishy looking flat. The clear turquoise water was a couple of feet deep, and there were patches of turtle grass that harbored the crabs and shrimp that bonefish and permit eat.  A dock extended about one hundred feet out from the beach. A man raking grass off the beach told me that he frequently saw bonefish and permit on the flat early in the morning. A young couple with fly rods walking nearby said that there had been some bonefish around the dock earlier. They had caught a couple of small bonefish, weighing about a pound (Bahamian bonefish average two to four pounds).

The next morning, I walked to the end of the dock and shortly spotted a pod of about a half dozen bonefish swimming about thirty feet away. I would have preferred wading, but the water was about three feet deep so spotting fish would have been difficult. I cast a fly called a Gotcha ahead of the cruising fish, and one took. The fish made a couple of decent runs before I was able to lead it to the beach where Barbara, Brian and Mary were lounging. The fish was small, about sixteen inches, but it was a bonefish. As the others had never seen one, I pointed out the position of the mouth under the prominent snout which made it easier for the fish to root out shrimp and crabs from the sand and the large eyes for spotting such critters. I showed them how the greenish back with its subtle vertical bands and its silver sides provided near perfect camouflage. Brian took the obligatory “grip and grin” photo.

By then Alba had emerged from the apartment, and we walked quickly to the end of dock in hopes that the fish were still there so that she would have a chance to catch her first bonefish. Brian joined us to watch the show. Alba wore polarized sunglasses and a long-billed fishing hat, so she was able to locate the pod of fish cruising about forty feet from the dock. She put the Gotcha just ahead of the fish.

“Nice cast, Alba,” I said. “Now count to ten while the fly sinks to the bottom where the fish are feeding. Good. Now strip in line with short pulls.”

On the third strip, a nice fish grabbed the fly. Alba drove the hook home with a firm strip set, whereupon the fish sped off in the general direction of Mexico. And then the line went slack. The fish and the fly were both gone. We let out a collective groan, and I buried my forehead in Brian’s right shoulder. I inspected the leader, and, to my horror, there was a curlicue where the fly had been, a sure sign that the knot had failed. Alba had lost what would have been her first bonefish because my knot had failed. I have been tying flies to leaders since the Ford Administration, and rarely had one come undone. Why now!?  I had tied the fly on the same as always, wetting the knot with saliva before tightening it, as instructed by the late fly fishing guru Lefty Kreh, and pulling on it to test its strength.  I had no idea what went wrong. Nonetheless, my soul was crushed, or at least dented, by my sense of guilt.

“Oh my god, Alba, I am so sorry!” I lamented.

Alba replied, “Don’t worry about it,” not sharing my anguish.

But I did worry about it until I remembered the words of my grandmother when something untoward happened, “This should only be the worst thing that ever happens to you!”

She was right, of course. Considering all the misery in our world and the truly bad things that could happen to a person, it was ridiculous to fret about a failed knot. I felt guilty about having felt guilty.

Still, I wanted to make up for the lost fish, so I arranged for a guide to take Alba and me to some good flats between Ambergris and the mainland. The bonefish were larger there, and we might run into some permit. Our guide Ricardo picked us up at our dock in his skiff. He was middle-aged with a bushy mustache and had lived and fished on Ambergris his whole life.

He took us to flats adjacent to uninhabited mangrove islands. The water was only about a foot deep, so the fish would be more skittish than in the deeper water around our dock. Our casts would have to be longer and more accurate. The bottom was too soft for wading, so Alba and I took turns on the casting platform at the bow. Ricardo, with his trained eye, would almost always spot the fish before we did and would point them out to us.

“Bonefish at two o’clock, sixty feet!” which meant that some fish were about thirty degrees to the right of straight ahead and sixty feet from the boat.

We would cast as soon as the fish were within range. Alba made some nice casts but, for unclear reasons, the fish would change direction before seeing the fly, spook for no obvious reason, or just not want to eat. Those things happened to me as well, but I did manage to catch several Bahama-size fish. Although Alba did not catch her first bonefish, it was clear that she had the skills to do so.

She wanted a rematch, and, upon arriving back at our dock, announced, “We’re coming back here next year and getting Ricardo to guide us again.”

Elated, I replied, “Great idea! And Ricardo’s tying the knots.”

Trout stocking

The following waters were scheduled to be stocked with trout last week:  Deerfield River in Buckland, Charlemont and Florida; Housatonic River C&R in Lee and Stockbridge, Westfield River East Branch in Windsor, Cummington, Chesterfield and Huntington; Westfield River West Branch in Becket, Chesterfield, Huntington and Middlefield; Otis Reservoir, Goose Pond, Ashfield Pond, Upper Highland Lake, Lake Buel, Laurel Lake, Windsor Lake and Windsor Pond.

Changes proposed for 2024-2025 Migratory Game Bird Regulations

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A public hearing will be held on Wednesday, April 17 at 2:30 pm., at MassWildlife’s Field Headquarters, 1 Rabbit Hill Road in Westborough, MA. The hearing will establish rules and regulations relative to the 2024–2025 migratory game bird hunting seasons.

Due to the migratory game bird season filing requirements of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Fisheries and Wildlife Board must vote to finalize and approve the 2024–2025 migratory bird seasons at the close of the hearing. Therefore, there will be no written comment period after this public hearing. Written comments may be submitted prior to the hearing via email to susan.sacco@mass.gov, Subject: Fisheries and Wildlife Board, or by mail to the Fisheries and Wildlife Board, MassWildlife Field Headquarters, 1 Rabbit Hill Road, Westborough, MA 01581. Written public comments will be accepted until Tuesday, April 16, 2024, 4 p.m.

Interested persons can review the proposed changes and provide written comments prior to the hearing and oral comments during the public-comment portion of the hearing. Here is a summary of the proposed changes:

  • Woodcock Season: October 3 – November 30
  • Youth Waterfowl Hunts: September 21 and October 5
  • Veteran’s Waterfowl Hunts: September 21 and October 5
  • Early Goose Season (statewide): September 2 – September 21
  • Regular Goose Season
    • Berkshire Zone: October 14 – November 16 *
    • Central Zone: October 12 – November 30 and December 17 – January 4
    • Coastal Zone: October 12 – October 19 and November 26 – January 25
  • Late Goose Season
    • Berkshire Zone: December 18 – February 15 *
    • Central Zone: January 16 – February 15
    • North Coastal Zone: January 27 – February 15
  • Duck Season
    • Berkshire Zone: October 14 – November 30 and December 16 – January 4 *
    • Central Zone: October 12 – November 30 and December 17 – January 4
    • Coastal Zone: October 12 – October 19 and November 26 – January 25
  • Falconry Season: October 19 – February 19

Most of the date changes are just by one or two days, however, I wish to point out the following changes:

*The regular goose season for the Berkshire Zone last year ran from October 10 to November 25; then from December 11 to December 14.  Then the Berkshire late goose season ran from January 1 through February 15, 2025. The new proposed dates are from October 14 to November 16 and the late season will run from December 18 through February 15, 2025.

*The Berkshire Duck hunting season last year ran from October 11 to November 25 and December 12 to January 6.  The new proposed season will run from October 14 to November 30 (which is the Saturday after Thanksgiving) and then from December 16 to January 4, 2025.

Local trout stockings

 

The following local waters were scheduled to be stocked last week by MassWildlife:   Ashfield Pond in Ashfield, Chickley River in Charlemont and Hawley, Farmington River in Otis, Sandisfield and Tolland; Green River South in Alford, Egremont and Great Barrington; Hoosic River North in Clarksburg and North Adams, Hudson Brook in Clarksburg, North Pond in Florida, Norwich Pond in Huntington, Plunkett Reservoir in Hinsdale, the Williams River in Great Barrington, Pontoosuc Lake and Richmond Pond.

 

Due to the nasty weather last week, the schedule could have changed. The web site at https://www.mass.gov/info-details/trout-stocking-report will contain the most accurate info:

 

Spring break is nearing, help stock the trout

The public is invited to help MassWildlife stock trout during school vacation week. Meet MassWildlife fisheries staff, view trout up close, and learn about places to fish near you.  Join them on Wednesday, April 17 at 12:30 pm at Onota Lake Burbank Park on Lakeway Drive in Pittsfield.

Children stocking trout, picture provided by MassWildlife

A few trout are placed in empty 5-gallon pails and the tots run with them to the lake front and heave the fish out into the water.  According to MA DFW Western District Supervisor Andrew Madden, we needn’t worry about hurting the trout for the sudden splash into the water does them good.  They found, over many years of stocking, that the trout respond better when they are stimulated by a toss into the water. This triggers them to begin swimming right away and speeds up adjustments to any differences in water temperature or flow between the truck environment and the pond or river.

“For the children’s event the fish do great, even though the handling may not always be perfect. These events also provide an opportunity to see and handle fish that many would never experience otherwise. There is no substitute for real life experience to inspire future anglers and conservationists” said Madden.

 

This is quite an enjoyable event, so parents, grandparents be sure to bring your cameras.

 

Kids Fishing Derbies beginning at the Hatchery

The 2024 kids fishing derbies are starting up at the Berkshire National Fish Hatchery.  Put on by the Friends of the Berkshire National Fish Hatchery, they will run the second Saturday of each month beginning in April and running through September.  The first derby will be next Saturday, April 13 at the Hatchery’s Derby Pond. It will start at 9:00 and run to 10:30 am. What a great opportunity for kids ages 13 and under to learn how to fish while competing for prizes.

Board member Dean Hutson promises an action-packed day with lots of exciting activities: New derby shirts for the kids, tagged fish in the pond with thrilling prizes and new merchandise available for sale.  No child goes away empty handed.

But wait, there’s more. The Friends of the Berkshire National Fish Hatchery are thrilled to reintroduce Fly Casting on Saturday April 20, following its Fly Tying class.   Hutson encourages you to, “Dive into the art of fly tying at 10:00 am, and then cast your creations into Derby Pond around 11:30 am! It’s a double-header you won’t want to miss!”

 

Don’t forget to bring eye protection  (sunglasses or safety glasses) for a safe and enjoyable casting experience.

 

Email them at info@hatcheryfriends.org beforehand, so they can prepare for your presence, specifying if you’re joining the fly tying class, fly casting session, or both.

 

Timberdoodles!

A Senecan Indian myth says God made the woodcock (aka timberdoodle) from the leftover parts of other birds. Large eyes are located along the sides of the bird’s head, allowing it to see in all directions, including directly behind. A long, thin bill that averages nearly three inches in length permits woodcock to probe in soft earth for worms, slugs and other invertebrates. Nostrils lie high against the skull so the woodcock can feed and breathe at the same time. Its ears are located beneath the eyes. Woodcock stand about eight inches tall, appear to bob when they walk, and weigh about a half-pound each.

photo provided by MassWildlife

On Thursday, April 11, from 5:00 to 6:00 pm, you are invited to join a Berkshire Natural Resources Council (BNRC) hosted online event with Kayleigh Filkins to learn about Timberdoodle ecology and fun facts as well as a scientific roundup from the Eastern Woodcock Migration Research Cooperative. Kayleigh is a graduate student at SUNY Brockport doing her master’s work on American woodcock habitat selection during the breeding season in New York.

The Zoom link will be emailed to RVSPs on the day of the event. The event will be recorded and shared with RSVPs and on BNRC’s YouTube channel.   For questions contact Mariah at mfogg@bnrc.org.

Beagle Club Field Trials

 

On the April 20 – 21 weekend the Berkshire Beagle Club on Sleepy Hollow Road in Richmond, MA is having its Small Pack Option (SPO) Licensed spring field trials.  Some of the best beagles in the northeast will compete and the best dogs are awarded ribbons for excelling in their natural tracking ability, high desire, quick thinking, and speed and endurance while following the scents of snowshoe hares and/or cottontail bunnies. All dogs are AKC registered.  .For beagle lovers, there’s no finer sound than that of a beagle singing its heart out while following the scent of a bunny.

 

Males will run on Saturday, April 20 and the females on April 21, starting at 8:00 am. They will be judged in the following categories:  13” and 15” males and 13” and 15” females.

The club welcomes folks to come and just listen to the dogs and observe the judges.

 

There will be breakfast and lunch available on both days and probably a 50/50 raffle.

 

Questions:  Chris Wilser (845)489-6554 or Jefferey St. John (413) 441-0744.

 

Tales with Rex

 

On Thursday evening, April 11 at 6:30 pm you are invited to join Rex Channel for a night of an unforgettable “eating , drinking & fishing” trip he recently took to Chile, Argentina & Tierra del Fuego.  Entitled “tales from South America with Rex, it is full of photos and tales and, of course, the people he met along the way.

 

It will be held at the Berkshires Hills Country Club, 500 Benedict Road, Pittsfield.

 

Rex is a valued member of the Taconic Chapter of Trout Unlimited

Teaching with Trout

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At the March 20 MA Fish & Wildlife Board meeting, a presentation was made by Adam Kautza, MassWildlife Coldwater Fisheries Resource Project Leader about its Teaching with Trout Program.

 

Here is some background information on MassWildlife’s Teaching with Trout program and brook trout:

  • The Division of Fisheries and Wildlife (MassWildlife) is responsible for the conservation—including restoration, protection, and management—of freshwater fish and wildlife resources in Massachusetts for the benefit of and enjoyment by the public. Part of the agency’s mission is education. MassWildlife’s Teaching with Trout Program can be utilized across all grade levels as a basis to develop an appreciation for the aquatic environment through raising trout in the classroom.
  • This is a popular educational program that enables students to raise brook trout from eggs during the winter and then release them into approved lakes and streams in the spring.
  • The program strives to connect students to their local environment; teach about water quality and habitat health; and, introduce conservation concepts related to local aquatic resources and population biology. Brook trout eggs are provided with a permit from MassWildlife’s fish hatcheries.
  • A tank is kept in the classroom for several months, and over that time students are engaged in a curriculum about conservation. As part of the program, teachers can also arrange hatchery tours with MassWildlife.
  • Teachers can adapt the program to fit their curriculum needs and students’ levels. Teaching with Trout has applications for science, math, language, arts, and social studies. The program is designed to teach Massachusetts students about conservation concepts related to their local aquatic resources. Using resources available online or those a teacher may develop, students in primary grades can be introduced to topics like life cycle, anatomy, and food webs. Students in higher grades can be introduced to concepts including ecology, population biology, water quality, and conservation.
  • There are currently 64 schools across the Commonwealth participating in the program, engaging over 5,100 students in elementary, middle, and high schools. Participating schools in the Berkshires include: Pittsfield High School and Taconic High School in Pittsfield; Wahconah Regional High School in Dalton; and Mount Everett Regional School in Sheffield.
  • The fish released by students at the end of the Teaching with Trout Program, and the hundreds of thousands of trout stocked by MassWildlife each spring and fall, are not meant to restore or repopulate waterbodies. Aquaculture and stocking activities are meant to ensure abundant fishing opportunities in waters open to the public. In contrast to stocked trout fisheries, wild brook trout populations are protected and restored through habitat restoration projects (e.g. dam removal), land protection, harvest regulations, along with outreach and education efforts.

 

Teachers will have to buy, or borrow, an aquarium set up. This costs roughly $1,300. Once a system is bought, maintaining it costs very little. If you are interested in Teaching with Trout, but the cost is prohibitive, please contact MassWildlife. An aquarium system includes:

  • 55-gallon tank
  • Water chiller
  • Water filter
  • Water pump
  • Air pump
  • Water chemistry test kits
  • Reagents

MassWildlife staff are available to help with aquarium questions and troubleshooting. Hatchery field trips may also be arranged.

This program is quite similar to a program that dates back to earlier days of the ASERP (Atlantic Salmon Egg Rearing Program) when Becket grammar students raised Atlantic Salmon fry and released them into nearby Yokum Brook. I shall never forget covering the fish release days for this column.  Students actually gave some of the salmon fry names.   When the day came for their liberation, they released them into the brook a few at a time in paper cups. They held a going away party for them, sang songs and wished the salmon a safe journey.  Those fish, after spending a couple of years in the brook, become salmon smolt which then embarked on a journey of thousands of miles into the Atlantic Ocean.  In 4 or 5 years they would attempt to come back to their home waters to spawn.

 

When state and federal funding for the ASERP program ran out, schools then switched to raising brook trout.  Taconic Trout Unlimited members assisted the schools and teachers wherever they could, acquiring tanks, chillers, etc.  That new program was called the Trout in the Classroom program.  Readers may remember in the past when I covered the liberations of the classroom raised brook trout into our local waters such as the Yokum Brook in Becket, Westfield Brook in Windsor and others.  TU members such as Paul Knauth, Karen Karlberg, Dave Oclair, Ron Wojcek and others helped out.

 

Its so nice to see MassWildlife still advocating for this program in our schools.  Lets hope many local schools participate in it.

 

Following that presentation, Kautza gave a second presentation about Brook Trout, pointing out the following:

 

  • Brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis) are technically not even trout. They are charr, more closely related to lake trout (Salvelinus namaycush) and artic char (Salvelinus alpinus) than they are to other species of trout like the introduced brown trout (Salmo trutta) and rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss).

 

  • Brook trout are the only remaining native salmonid (Family Salmonidae) in Massachusetts. Brook trout are true coldwater fish and are unable to tolerate water temperatures much over 20o C (68o F) for extended periods. They thrive in waters between 11–16o C (52–61o F). They do best when in streams with moderate pH and high alkalinity. Great brook trout habitat consists of areas with lots of pools and cover, relatively stable stream flows, and a substrate that is free of silt.

 

  • Brook trout reproduce in the fall, usually from mid-October until late November. Eggs hatch in the early spring. In the southern portion of their range (which includes Massachusetts), most brook trout live up to three or four years and achieve a maximum length of 200–250 mm (about 8–10 inches).

 

  • There are exceptions where brook trout have access to more food and/or optimum habitat. For example, in the Swift River in central Massachusetts, the water temperature and stream flows stay in the optimal range, and brook trout grow much larger.

 

  •  Sea-run brook trout also have the tendency to reach greater size than inland populations because of their ability to access the rich food resources in saltwater. Sea-run brook trout in Massachusetts tend to migrate from freshwater streams to inshore saltwater habitats in late fall following reproduction and then move back into streams in the spring. Sea-run brook trout streams in Massachusetts are concentrated along the shoreline of Buzzards Bay, on Cape Cod and Martha’s Vineyard, and scattered areas along Massachusetts’ South Shore.

 

  • Wild, naturally reproducing brook trout are found in all but two of the major watersheds in the Massachusetts. While their current extent is reduced from the larger historic range, they still occupy over 1,100 streams across the state. Brook trout have disappeared from many urban and suburban streams due to the negative impacts on habitat from human development including dams, loss of riparian habitat, altered flow regimes, and increased sedimentation. Climate change also poses a major threat to them. When faced with poor habitat conditions, they often recede into smaller, colder, high-gradient headwater streams.

 

Local trout stockings

 

The following local waters were scheduled to be stocked last week by MassWildlife:  Westfield River Middle Branch in Chester, Huntington, Middlefield and Worthington; Housatonic River East Branch in Dalton and Hinsdale, Housatonic River Southwest Branch in Pittsfield, Housatonic River Catch & Release in Lee and Stockbridge, Hoosic River South Branch in Cheshire and Adams, Green River (north) in New Ashfield and Williamstown, Lake Garfield, Goose Pond, Greenwater Pond, Laurel Lake, Mansfield Pond in Great Barrington, North Pond in Florida, Big Pond in Otis, Otis Reservoir, Stockbridge Bowl and York Lake in New Marlborough.

 

Conte Memorial Dinner reminder

 

Don’t forget, the Berkshire County League of Sportsmen’s Silvio O. Conte Memorial Banquet will take place at the Cheshire Rod & Gun Club, 310 Curran Road, Cheshire, on Saturday evening, April 13. Doors open at 4:30 pm, ticket price is $40 pp.   A head count is due tomorrow.

This year’s award winners are:   Sportsman of the Year Award– Leanda Fontaine of Bernardston, MA, Lifetime Achievement Award – Ted Pointek of Housatonic, John Zuber Award – Rick French of Phillipston, MA, Sportsmen’s Appreciation Award – James Loughman of Adams, and Outstanding Achievement Award – the late Richard ‘Rick’ Theilig of Lee.

Massachusetts joins national coalition to promote accessibility and innovation in outdoor recreation 

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The Healey-Driscoll Administration recently joined the Outdoor Recreation Roundtable (ORR), a national coalition of state governments, non-profits, and businesses to promote the growth of the outdoor recreation economy and outdoor-related activities. The Massachusetts Office of Outdoor Recreation (MOOR) joins 12 other state departments and organizations dedicated to fostering the economic development of more than 110,000 outdoor businesses and accessibility of outdoor recreation across the nation. As a member of the coalition, MOOR will convene regularly to identify challenges and solutions through innovative research and collaboratively sharing information on best practices within the field.

“Massachusetts is thrilled to join our industry, academic, and other state partners as a new member of ORR,” said MOOR Director Paul Jahnige. (It) was instrumental in the creation of MOOR and has already provided incredible models and tools for us to use, including advocacy and rural development tools and training.”

“It is an exciting day to bring Massachusetts into the fold as an ORR State Member,” said ORR Vice President of Programs Chris Perkins. “Director Paul Jahnige has wasted no time in developing forward-thinking initiatives to bolster the Bay State’s $11.8 billion outdoor recreation economy, and we are looking forward to supporting the Office’s future development and growth with research and industry partnerships.”

Established in December 2022, MOOR collaborates with agencies to promote activities across the state, including hunting, fishing, horseback riding, paddling, swimming, and more. Outdoor recreation is vital to the Massachusetts economy, contributing $11 billion to the economy, creating over 102,000 jobs, and boosting tourism. MOOR looks forward to collaborating closely with the Outdoor Recreation Roundtable to implement strategic initiatives that drive economic growth, ensure equitable outdoor access for all, and improve public health in Massachusetts.  This announcement follows the hiring of Paul Jahnige as the state’s first Director of Outdoor Recreation

Trout Stockings

 

The following local waters were scheduled to be stocked last week by MassWildlife:  West Branch of Westfield River in Becket, Chester, Middlefield and Huntington; East Branch of Westfield River in Savoy, Windsor, Cummington and Chesterfield; Mainstem of Westfield River in Huntington, Russell and Montgomery; Konkapot River in Monterey and New Marlborough, Laurel Lake, Richmond Pond, Pontoosuc Lake and Windsor Pond in Windsor.

 

How is climate change impacting our Berkshire lakes and ponds? 

On Wednesday, April 3 from 2:30 to 4:30 pm, the Becket Conservation Commission and Becket Lakes & Ponds Association are sponsoring a free program that overviews how climate change is affecting our lakes and ponds, as well as other water resource areas, surrounding environment of trees and plants, and all wildlife that depend on them for their survival. The event will be held in the downstairs Community Room at the Becket Town Hall, 557 Main Street, Becket.

The panelists will be Bruce Winn – Berkshire Community College, Professor of Environmental Life Sciences, Emily Stockman – Stockman Associates, Owner and Senior Scientist and Joe Onorato – Water & Wetland owner Aquatic Specialist.

Refreshments will be provided.

Registration is required. Call Dave Johnson, Becket Conservation Chair: 978-424-5752

or email: CLIMATE PROGRAM or AIAINCDAJ@GMAIL.COM.  A zoom link will be posted on the BCC web page.

 

Basic Hunter Education course

 

Basic hunter education is mandatory for all first-time adult hunters. MassWildlife offers Basic Hunter Education in two formats. Each format covers the same material and students take the same final exam.

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.

An in-person course is being offered at the Worthington Rod & Gun, 458 Dingle Rd (Route 112), Worthington, MA.  It will run for 4 nights: Monday, April 15, Tuesday April 16, Thursday April 18 and Friday, April 19.  All classes run from 5:30 to 9:00 pm.

Two blended courses are also being offered nearby:  One is at the Ashfield Rod & Gun Club, 161 North Street Plainfield, MA.  It runs on Saturday, April 6 from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm.  The other is at Westfield State University Horace Mann Center, 333 Western Avenue, Westfield, MA.  It runs on Sunday April 17 also from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm.

To enroll, call 508-389-7830 or click onto:  https://www.mass.gov/info-details/basic-hunter-education-course for all the details.

Game dinner coming up

The Annual Popsie Goerlach Dinner is scheduled for Wednesday, April 3 at the Stationery Factory in Dalton. Doors will open at 5:00 and dinner is at 6:00 pm. Last year they had almost 400 people attend and they’re hoping to do that again this year. They have a great menu lined up and some great prizes to give away, including a four-day Illinois Whitetail hunt, a Ravin crossbow, a Bowtech compound bow, and many other prizes. Tickets for the dinner and the raffle can be purchased online at https://www.12thman-goblue.com/2024-game-dinner

Gala event planned

 

On Saturday, April 6, the Lee Sportsmen’s Association/Ducks Unlimited (LSA/DU) 7th Annual Youth Sports Gala will take place at the Country Club in Pittsfield.  There will be raffles and live and silent auctions.  Doors open at 4:00 and dinner served is at 6:00 pm.  Tickets cost $125 per person and can be purchased at leesportsmen.com or mail from Lee Sportsmen’s Association, PO Box 175, Lee, MA.

 

Coles Memorial Ice Fishing Derby results

According to information posted on the Coles Memorial Ice Fishing Derby web page, the derby raised over $1,200 this year for the Goose Pond Boat Ramp project.  It is now complete and there will be a stone with a plaque going in this spring. After that, the original project will be complete, and the committee will be putting their energy towards figuring out what’s next. They thanked everyone who attended, donated and supported the event this year.

The ice fishing derby which started in 2020 is dedicated in Evan Scott Colbert’s memory who passed away in 2019 at the age of 29. He loved the outdoors and spent his leisure time fishing and boating. He could often be seen enjoying the waters of Goose Pond casting his reel while watching the eagles fly above.

Support endangered species at tax time

More than 430 plants and animals are listed under the Massachusetts Endangered Species Act. These rare species play an important role in keeping the Commonwealth’s natural communities thriving. You can make a difference by supporting endangered species conservation while filing your taxes this year. Simply look for Line 33A for Endangered Wildlife Conservation on your state tax form and write in any amount. Your meaningful donation will go to the Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Fund which is dedicated specifically to the conservation of rare species in the Commonwealth, such as the Shortnose Sturgeon (pictured).

In Massachusetts, Shortnose Sturgeon are currently found in the Connecticut and Merrimack Rivers with historical occurrences in many coastal rivers around Massachusetts.

picture provided by Micah Keefer, USGeological Survey

Shortnose Sturgeon spawn in large freshwater rivers. They migrate from the mouths of rivers, traveling many miles to reach suitable spawning upstream. During non-spawning periods sturgeon often leave freshwater in pursuit of food resources in estuaries or along the coast and migrate between large river systems.  The migration of its population in the Connecticut River is restricted by hydroelectric dams making this population one of the few that lives only in freshwater.

Shortnose sturgeon can live up to 60 years and do not reach reproductive maturity until they are 10–12 years old.  That means their populations are likely slow to recover making them one of the most vulnerable freshwater fish species in Massachusetts

The major threats to this species are river habitat degradation and loss caused by dams, channel dredging, poor water quality, contaminants, fisheries bycatch, and incidental boating strikes.

Hydroelectric dams can alter water flow and sediment patterns impacting spawning success, fragment populations by limiting fish movement, and cause mortality if fish swim too near intake pipes and pass through turbines. Efforts to restore sturgeon migration and reconnect subpopulations are underway in the Connecticut River through the construction of fishways to aid upstream and downstream movement.

It is illegal to possess sturgeon. If you accidentally catch one while fishing, release it as gently and quickly as possible, even if you need to cut the line. Never take the fish out of the water.

Trout stocking has begun

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MassWildlife will stock over 500,000 brook, brown, rainbow, and tiger trout across Massachusetts this year.  About 455,000 will be stocked this spring and about 60,000 this fall.

According to MassWildlife officials, each year their hatcheries maximize trout production. They measure this as pounds of fish produced within the limits of the facilities. MassWildlife intentionally grows large trout to provide the best possible fishing for anglers. Their hatcheries raise the trout in five hatcheries in Sandwich, Palmer, Belchertown, Sunderland, and Montague

They have been very successful at getting outstanding growth rates so the fish have been heavier over time. Pounds of fish produced has less meaning to anglers, so MassWildlife describes the hatchery production in numbers of fish based on weight samples. When the individual fish weighs more, the total number is lower. Production by weight within the hatcheries has stayed relatively consistent over time. You may also see them providing annual totals on the website or social media where they combine both the spring and fall numbers to say they’re stocking over 500,000 trout this year.

This year, 75% of the trout will be over 12 inches, and 40% will be over 14 inches.  Some 800 retired brood brown trout 18”+ inches and 600 retired brood brook trout will be stocked.  About 2,900 tiger trout will be over 14 inches.

The Western District usually gets about 20% of them.  Stocking has already begun in our district with the following waters scheduled to be stocked last week: Deerfield River in Buckland, Charlemont and Florida; Farmington River in Otis, Sandisfield and Tolland; Lake Buel, Onota Lake and Stockbridge Bowl.  Please note: The stocking report is subject to change depending on staffing, equipment, and weather conditions.

MassWildlife has a map with all the fish stocking locations on its website.  There are red dots on the map indicating waters that will be stocked this spring. When stocking begins, the red dots will turn to black push-pins to show where trout have been stocked.

If you are looking for stocking information for a particular waterbody or town, use the table. Type the name of the waterbody or town into the search window to find all stocking reports for that location. You can also sort based on an attribute including town, waterbody, or type of fish.

If you prefer, you can get a list of all 2024 stocked waters.

The waters are cold this time of year.

If you fish from a boat and capsize or fall overboard, you can develop hypothermia within minutes. Hypothermia, the lowering of your internal body temperature, can make it difficult for you to swim, paddle, or stay afloat. A sudden, unexpected fall into cold water can also cause you to involuntarily gasp and ingest water, which can lead to death by drowning. Your life jacket may not prevent hypothermia, but it will help you stay afloat, and it can save your life. Boating fatality victims were often not wearing life jackets.

Safety advocates recommend all boaters and passengers have a life jacket and wear it at all times while boating, especially youths under 12 years old.

In Massachusetts, life jackets must be worn by canoeists and kayakers from September 15 to May 15

Black bears are here

MasssWildlife is warning residents that black bears are waking up this month and they’re hungry.  They urge people to take down bird feeders, secure trash bins, and watch out for their pets.

Governor Healey holding a bear cub.. Photo taken by Joshua Qualls of the Governor office

While we are on the subject of bears, Governor Maura Healey recently accompanied MassWildlife biologists during a visit to a black bear den that is part of ongoing research. Each winter, state biologists visit the dens of female black bears (sows) with radio tracking collars to assess the health and number of new cubs. The study provides critical information about the growing bear population in Massachusetts.

Governor Healey, First Partner Joanna Lydgate, Secretary of Energy and Environmental Affairs Rebecca Tepper, Department of Fish & Game Commissioner Tom O’Shea, and MassWildlife Director Mark Tisa were able to get an up-close look at the sow and her three cubs located at a den after trained staff immobilized the adult animal.

“We had a great time learning from our wildlife experts and getting to know our bear neighbors,” said Governor Healey. “Massachusetts is home to an impressive variety of habitats and wildlife. We are committed to using the best possible science to conserve biodiversity in Massachusetts. This black bear research is a great example of how we are making that happen.”

“MassWildlife’s black bear research program is the longest of its kind in New England,” said Secretary Tepper. “The goal is to understand bear behavior, population size, and movements across Massachusetts. We’re grateful to our skilled guides and experts who showed us how we care for our bear population.”

“It was an honor to have Governor Maura Healey join us to highlight MassWildlife’s important black bear research program,” said Department of Fish & Game Commissioner Tom O’Shea. “Despite Massachusetts being the third most densely populated state in the country, black bear populations are thriving and have expanded their range as far east as the Rte. 495 corridor. Collecting this vital data helps MassWildlife understand populations, educate the public, and minimize conflicts with these important creatures.”

“We know that bears will frequent neighborhoods where they find human-associated foods,” said MassWildlife’s Black Bear Project Leader Dave Wattles. “Our goal is to keep these impressive animals wild by understanding their movements and by encouraging people to take actions like removing bird feeders and securing trash in their yards.”

While at the den, biologists checked the health of the cubs and mother and replaced the sow’s GPS tracking collar. Signals from the collar are used throughout the year to see whether bears are using natural areas or developed, residential areas. After all the data was collected from the sow and cubs, biologists carefully returned the bears to their den and left the area. Many black bears are becoming more active during this time of year, but sows with cubs remain in their dens for several more weeks. Learn more about black bears in Massachusetts at www.mass.gov/bears.

Fly Fishing Film Tour

 

On Sunday, March 24 from 2:00 to 5:00 pm, the Taconic Chapter of Trout Unlimited will be presenting the 2024 Fly Fishing Film Tour at the Images Cinema, 50 Spring Street, Williamstown. Tickets which cost $15.00 can be purchased at (https://www.imagescinema.org/movie/2024-international-fly-fishing-film-festival).

 

Last year they filled the Cinema, so make sure you get your tickets early.  Also, get to the theater early to participate in the auctions and raffles.  The film starts at 2:00 pm.

 

Proceeds from this event help Taconic TU focus on conservation of our Berkshire County cold-water fisheries. This year they plan to monitor temperatures in the Hoosic River, add woody debris to strategic locations to encourage fish spawning and life, and joining the Hoosic River Watershed Association in continued bacteria sampling.

 

Following the film, there will be a Pizza Party sponsored by Cheeky Fly Fishing of North Adams.

 

Questions about the upcoming events:  taconictu@gmail.com.

 

Culverts and free flowing waterways

 

Free-flowing waterways provide better habitat for many wildlife species, especially cold-water fish species.  Culverts can be a detriment and obstacle to fish and other aquatic animals, often preventing them from freely moving upstream or downstream. A major problem with many culverts is that they were not designed with wildlife in mind or as a priority. They are often too small, restricting nutrient flow and causing flooding; other times, they might be “perched,” (elevated above the water’s surface), making fish migration difficult at best and sometimes impossible.

 

For this reason, the Berkshire Environmental Action Team (BEAT has been working to survey stream crossings in Berkshire County using the North Atlantic Aquatic Connectivity Collaborative (NAACC) protocol. This spring BEAT will offer training to anyone interested in conducting volunteer fieldwork by surveying culverts and road-stream crossings throughout the County. These surveys help determine what culverts and crossings need attention and prioritize those that need to be fixed sooner rather than later.

On Tuesday, March 19 at 6:00 pm BEAT and UMass Extension Professor Scott Jackson will host an online public info session dealing with hands-on volunteer fieldwork and why the NAACC was formed, the importance of doing this work, and what the training will entail. Register at: https://tinyurl.com/NAACC-info-session

Study shows trouble for Adirondack brook trout

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There are quite a few local anglers who travel to the Adirondacks to fish.  Some are fly fishermen who fish the rivers, such as the Au Sable, Saranac, Salmon and others.  Some fish the lakes such as Lake Ontario, Lake Champlain, Great Sacandaga, Lake George and others.  A few fish for brook trout in the smaller ponds in the Adirondacks.

Unfortunately, a study recently published by the National Academy of Sciences does not paint a rosy picture for the future of Adirondack brook trout populations in lakes.  The study, titled “Concurrent warming and browning eliminate cold-water fish habitat in many temperate lakes,” explores how trout habitat is impacted by two water quality variables — climate warming and lake browning.   Lake browning occurs when dissolved organic matter from forests turns the water tea-brown, thus making the bottom of most lakes in the Adirondacks unlivable for cold water species such as trout and salmon during the summer.

A research group from Cornell University and Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute learned that only about 5% of Adirondack lakes may continue to maintain water that is cold and oxygenated enough to support cold-water species given current trends. That is a significant decrease from the 1980s, when 23% of those lakes contained suitable habitat. The study provides insights into changes in key ecosystem dynamics with potential consequences for the future of temperate lakes in the Adirondacks as well as elsewhere in northeastern North America and parts of Europe.

This is not a problem in lakes categorized as “very clear.”   Little or no browning keeps the water column cool during the critical months of summer. Unfortunately, most lakes in the Adirondacks do not fall into the “very clear” category.

After a few more decades of browning, most Adirondack lakes will become either too warm or too deoxygenated to support trout populations,” said. Dr. Peter McIntyre,  associate professor in the departments of Natural Resources and the Environment and Ecology and Evolutionary Biology. “This is a radical departure from the past, when trout fisheries in numerous lakes were celebrated by locals and tourists alike.”

It’s imperative that we protect the modest number of buffered lakes in the Adirondacks from species invasions, nutrient and salt pollution, and other forms of environmental degradation,” said Stephen Jane. (former Cornell Atkinson Center for Sustainability Postdoctoral Fellow in the Department of Natural Resources and the Environment in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences).

“Increased browning is an unfortunate legacy of a century of acid rain, despite the prominent reduction in new acid inputs over the last few decades. As acidity has declined, ecosystems have become more productive at the same time that soils have suffered reduced capacity to absorb weak organic acids.  This leads to more dissolved plant matter flowing through the watershed into lakes, making them browner. Also, climate change has increased both the frequency of extreme precipitation events and the length of growing seasons, thereby promoting further runoff of organic matter.”

Browner water creates greater heat trapping at the top of a lake, as the sun’s rays are absorbed by the organic compounds in the water, leading to warming. At the same time, brown water blocks those rays from dispersing through the water column, which concentrates all solar heating in a shallow layer of warm, less-dense water that sits on top of the colder water layer below.

“In a recent study, sensors were placed in 15 Adirondack lakes which measured dissolved oxygen and temperature throughout each lake’s water column. The sensors collected measurements hourly from June through mid-October. “That enabled them to get really high-resolution maps of the habitat within the water column that would be suitable for brook trout,” Jane said.

“They measured rates of browning in a set of lakes with decades of historical data. These data enabled them to calculate relationships between browning and the gradients of temperature and oxygen levels with depth during the summer season. They applied their statistical findings to an existing database of 1,467 Adirondack lakes, and calculated which lakes contained potentially stressful conditions for trout over the summer period, based on understanding of the fish’s thermal and oxygen tolerances

For almost 95% of the lakes in the Adirondacks, any further browning is going to be harmful to these cold-water species,” Jane said.

During the summer, the water separates into different zones, with warm water on the surface and cold water on the bottom. The layer suitable for trout is called the oxythermal layer, and it is located somewhere in the middle. Oxythermal means warm and well-oxygenated, and the greater the span of this layer, the better it is for the trout.  The data suggests that future prospects of oxythermal habitat are bleak because deep lakes are rare and dissolved oxygen concentrations in most lakes were high enough to produce a substantial net loss of suitable oxythermal habitat under observed rates of browning.

The researchers determined that lakes are becoming increasingly “squeezed” by browning. This means that the deep, hypoxic bottom layer is expanding upward, cutting into the oxythermal layer and reducing the trout habitat.

According to the report, “Browning-induced heat trapping at the surface of Adirondack lakes has led to surface warming rates more than double the average rates reported for temperate lakes worldwide and more than 180% faster declines in deep-water dissolved oxygen.”

The study suggests that most Adirondack lakes right now are already poorly suited for trout, and further disruption of habitat will continue to threaten the future of trout populations.

Not good news for those beautiful brook trout.

Certain information was obtained from an article written by Krishna Ramanujan of the Cornell Chronicle entitled Most Adirondack lakes will likely become unsuitable for trout.

 

Identifying trees and shrubs in Winter

 

Do you find that identifying a tree during winter time to be a daunting endeavor? With the absence of leaves, flowers, and fruit, it can appear as though there are no distinguishable characteristics to help with identification. But according to Chelsey Simmons of Berkshire Environmental Action Team (BEAT) this is far from true.

 

Chelsey says that winter is an excellent time to learn how to identify woody plant species. The absence of leaves allows for the opportunity to take a closer look at the characteristics that are often overlooked, like the subtle features of a twig, the arrangement of buds, and the overall form and structure of a tree.

 

On Wednesday, February 14 at 6:00 pm, you are invited to join Chelsey for the February Berkshire Green Drinks virtual event to explore the buds, twigs, and bark of common trees seen in our New England landscape.  She will go over the steps to tree identification, break down twig morphology, and give helpful hints on remembering one species from another — all of which will aid in tree and shrub identification year-round.

 

The presentation will be live-streamed via Zoom.   Registration is required to receive the meeting link. Register at: http://tinyurl.com/Feb2024-Berks-Green-Drinks

 

For the past few years, she’s been working on an identification book of trees and shrubs found in western Massachusetts, meticulously drawing and painting each page by hand and sharing those pages with the public through BEAT’s “Tree of the Month” series with the hope of getting people excited about trees and interested in the native species found in our region.

 

Knox Trail Chapter Whitetails Unlimited Banquet

On Saturday, February 10, the Knox Trail Chapter of WU will be holding a fundraiser banquet at the Knox Trail Inn, Rte. 23, East Otis, MA.  Games/drawings/Social Hour begins at 12:00 pm and dinner at 1:30 pm.  Tickets cost $50 each.  The ticket order deadline is February 9. For more information, contact Bill Bailey at 413-244-2304.

The Grassroots Program provides the primary financial support for conservation projects funded by WU, and to date over $125.9 million has been expended on program services that enhance and foster their mission.  The Berkshires has often benefitted from their services.  Tickets can be bought and printed online at whietailsunlimited.com

Ice fishing derby rescheduled

The Lanesboro Volunteer Fire Association’s ice fishing derby which was scheduled for today (February 3) has been rescheduled due to possibly dangerous ice conditions.  It is now scheduled for Saturday, February 24 from 6:00am to 12:00pm on Pontoosuc Lake.  Entry fee is $15 for adults, kids 12 and under enter free.  You must register behind the park on Narragansett Avenue.  The entry fee includes a chance at a door prize.  There will be cash prizes and free coffee and cocoa.  The raffle ticket drawing follows the derby.

A look back at 2023 Berkshire Woods and Waters columns

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The year 2023 is now history.  So, what were some of the major articles this column covered last year?

Well, things started off on a sad note.  In January we learned that local flyfishing legend Fred Moran of Adams passed beyond the riverbend.

More than 700 lbs of venison were distributed and provided meals for people throughout the state in 2022.

A total of 223 black bears were taken during the combined 2022 bear hunting seasons. This was the second highest in the last 5 years and the 6th highest overall. Some 79 bears were taken in Berkshire County. The 2022 deer harvest set a record at 5,853 deer. That harvest highlighted the growing deer abundance statewide and increased access to permits. Some 3,067 turkeys were harvested statewide in 2022, 2,837 in the spring hunt and 230 in the fall hunt.

There was a 3-way tie in the MassWildlife Youth Catch & Keep Angler of the Year 2022, Carter Flagg of Gill, and Logan Middlebrook and Gabriel Christman of Pittsfield. Logan caught the gold pin brown trout weighing 3 lbs. 6 oz out of Onota Lake and Gabriel caught the gold pin 3 lbs. 5 oz rainbow trout out of Stockbridge Bowl.  Gabriel also caught a gold pin white perch weighing 1 lb. 4 oz out of Pontoosuc Lake.

Other gold pin fish that were caught out of Berkshire waters last year were:

  • Adult Catch & Keep Category – A 3 lbs. 5 oz brook trout was caught out of Goose Pond by Allan Armstrong of Lee.
  • Catch & Release Category – Two 44-inch northern pike were caught out of Onota Lake.  One was caught by Seth Davis of Oxbridge and one caught by Jake Burke of Pittsfield. Another gold pin fish caught out of Onota was a 23.25- inch white catfish which was caught by Jason Wingrove of Bernardston.

 

Four area outdoor sportspeople/conservationists received prestigious awards at the Silvio O. Conte Awards Banquet which was sponsored by the Berkshire County League of Sportsmen (BCLA):

  • Stephen Sears of Dalton received the Sportsman of the Year Award.
  • The late Fred Moran received the Lifetime Achievement Award posthumously.
  • Joel Miraglia of Ashfield received the Sportsmen’s Appreciation Award.
  • Eric Dupont of Lee received the John Zuber Award for all that he does for the youth programs at the Lee Sportsmen’s Association.

 

MassWildlife submitted comments to the Secretary of the Executive Office of Environmental and Energy Affairs and MA Environmental Policy Act Office regarding a proposed Pontoosuc Lake drawdown.  MassWildlife’s position is that it alters and causes harm to biological resources without substantive justification or full consideration of alternative approaches with less impact to the biological resources.

Governor Maura Healey made a campaign promise to pause logging on state-owned forest land

 

In March 23, Dan Aitken of Pittsfield caught a 16 lbs 14 oz tiger muskie that measured 45 inches.  Unbelievably, Dan had caught an even heavier fish, a Northern Pike, out of Onota Lake just the week before on March 17. That fish weighed 22 lbs 5 oz and measured 43 inches long.

Local fly fisherman Marc Hoechstetter wrote an article about his experiences fishing the Hideaway Pool on the Deerfield River.

 

Beginning in 2023 two new fish species (Fallfish and White Sucker) were included in the MA Freshwater Sportfish Awards Program.

In May we documented the tale of two youth turkey hunters 13-year old Hunter Lawson of Williamstown and 17-year old Matthew Melito, of Adams.  Both got two turkeys on their first day ever of turkey hunting.

 

In May, Tom O’Shea was appointed Commissioner of the MA Department of Fish & Game replacing outgoing Commissioner Ron Amidon.

MassWildlife added 125 acres in Cummington adjacent to Route 9.  They also partnered with Berkshire Natural Resource Council, DCR, and the Department of Conservation Services to protect more than 750 acres in the towns of Tyringham and Monterey.

A Commemorative plaque was dedicated…. after 49 years.  Appreciation was shown for a land donation which was made to the Town of Lenox in 1974 by the late Robert and Olga Weiss of Lenox

 

Governor Healey’s office announced $500,000 state grants to five coalitions and four individual non-profit watershed organizations across the state to support monitoring water quality. Three local organizations received them, The Housatonic Valley Association – $48,605, The Deerfield River Watershed Chapter of Trout Unlimited – $26,007 and The Farmington River Watershed Association – $13,378.

 “An unforgettable Opening Day on the River.” Bill Hollister, formerly of Pittsfield, narrated how he helped save a man from drowning in the West Branch of the Housatonic River in 1950.

 

MassWildlife led a cleanup of the George Darey Wildlife Management Area as well as certain areas along Roaring Brook Road in Lenox.

Based on studies, we learned that most brown trout in the Deerfield River are wild, not stocked

 

Changes in goose hunting season, one being the extension of its season date which would run from January 1 through February 15.

 

In June, the Pediatric Palliative Care Program, part of Hospice Care in the Berkshire, enjoyed the BCLS sponsored Youth Outreach Derby on Reynolds Pond in Cheshire.

The 2023 Harry A. Bateman Memorial Jimmy Fund Fishing Derby drew about 300 fishermen and raised over $10,000 for the fight against cancer.

 

In June there was an article about Paul Knauth (Hinsdale) and me chronicling a wonderful flyfishing trip to the Catskills and epic battles fought with large trout. None were landed.

 

Naturewatch columnist Thom Smith retired.

 

Wildlife officials wondered whether we could reverse the trend of dwindling hunting and fishing participants.

 

In recognition of his 35 years of dedicated and effective conservation work, an asteroid was named after Dr. Thomas W. French, the founding leader and former Assistant Director of MassWildlife’s Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Program (NHESP).

Local recipients of the Culvert Replacement Municipal Assistance (CRMA) Grant Program were: Egremont: $48,811 for Karner Brook Culvert Replacement, Richmond:  $55,200 for Sleepy Hollow Road Culvert Replacement, Great Barrington:  $55,933 for Housatonic River Tributary Culvert Replacement, Berkshire Clean, Cold, Connected Restoration Partnership, Housatonic Valley Association, awarded $199,899.

Environmental Police Officer Lt. Tara Carlow received the Outstanding Officer of The Year Award in Conservation Law Enforcement and Public Safety.

 

New proposed gun control law (HD.4420) drew fire from hunters and legal shooting enthusiasts.

 

Alice Christman of Pittsfield caught a 42 1/2 inch pike weighing just short of 14lbs.

 

It was a great hunting year for young Hunter Lawson.  In addition to the two turkeys that he got earlier in the year, he also got a black bear

 

In October a column heading was “Back to Battle on flyfishing trip to the Catskill.  This scribe’s attempt to catch a big brown trout that defeated him in June.  After it cleaned my clock again, it took on the name of Iron Mike. (Named after Heavyweight Champion boxer Mike Tyson who trained in the Catskills).

In October we learned about local MassWildlife firefighter Jacob Morris-Siegel’s trip to Montana to fight the wildfires.

 

here was an article about a new turkey license plate that is on the horizon.

Sportsmen and women were recognized by New England governors as America’s true conservationists.

 

The 2023 MA paraplegic hunt harvested 10 deer, only 1 in the Berkshires

 

In November, four instructors from MassWildlife conducted a Field Day for its Basic Hunter Education Course at the Stationery Factory in Dalton.  49 students passed the course.

In November over 30 individuals participated in a fly tying/fly fishing event at the Berkshire National Fish Hatchery

picture provided by Peter Paulson

In December, the Healey-Driscoll Administration announced an investment of $25 million to remove eight aging dams in Central and Western Massachusetts, including the abandoned high-hazard Bel Air Dam in Pittsfield

Charles Wohl of Lenox was

Charles Wohl photo provided by Gene Chague

awarded Trout Unlimited Crooked Staff Award.

In December, local photographer Mark Thorne reported that T98, the 21 ½ year old female bald eagle, went missing.

Many thanks for reading this column last year.  I look forward to continuing writing about our woods and waters in the new year.

Local MassWildlife firefighter returned from Montana

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Massachusetts Division of Fisheries & Wildlife (MassWildlife) Western District Stewardship Biologist Jacob Morris-Siegel of Dalton is a member of the MassWildlife Prescribed Firefighter Team. The 43-year older lives in Dalton and has worked in the Dalton office for 16 years.

Jacob Morris-Siegel. Picture provided by Jacob

On August 17 he volunteered to join 89 other members of the Massachusetts Interagency Wildfire Crew going out to Montana to fight their wildfires.  There were 2 people from MassWildlife and 17 from DCR, (mostly DCR forest fire control folks).  They were sent to western Montana to the Bowles Creek area which is 27 miles southwest of Philipsburg or about an hour south of Missoula, MT. It was a 14-day deployment with 2 travel days.

 

He said they stayed in tents at the fire camp which was set up outside of Philipsburg. When they got there the fire activity was very high but then they got rain and it reduced the fire intensity drastically.  For the most part he was not near an active flame at all because of the rain.

 

On the first day they were close to an active line where a burnout operation had recently been completed. Then they did contingency line construction for a couple of days, cutting brush.  After that, they were moved over to a spike camp on the other side of the fire where they were prepping for a burn out.  (A spike camp is a temporary or secondary campsite for the firefighting crew closer to the fire).  They hauled hoses up a mountain (His pack weighed over 60 lbs.) and then did some patrolling along the black doing mop-up of smoldering stuff along the line. (A black is the area already burned.) They patrolled the line putting out smoke and burning materials along it.

 

The rest of the week they ended up doing fire line construction (cutting brush before the fire hits it) and clean-up along roads. They were trying to reduce fuel like brush along the fire lines before the fire got there. They did line construction over half of the trip.

 

For a burnout they have a section of unburned fuel against the line, they burn that essentially trying to get the fire to burn away from the unburned stuff.  That’s generally how they fight most fires.

 

They worked in mountains and valleys, but they were never in a dangerous situation where they could be hurt. For a few days they were on the west side of the fire where it was very hilly with deep terrains, the other side was more gradual. They worked mainly with hand tools and they had to have a certain number of certified chainsaw people in the crew.

 

There was no fire backtrack and, thankfully, he didn’t see anyone suffer any injuries.  After the first couple of days the fire intensity went down with some smoke but nothing terrible.  He wasn’t worried about getting injured because he generally had an idea of what to do. Pretty much he just stuck with his crew.

 

Crew Members came from Cape Cod to the Berkshires.  He was the only person from the Berkshires.

Days were up to 16 hours long.  Sometimes it took an hour to get where they were assigned.  They went to their assigned areas, came back, ate dinner and went to bed.  They had a mess (meals) at the main camp and at the spike camp on the other side of the fire. The main camp had internet, showers, meals provided, medical tent, – everything you might need.

 

As far as animal survival, he didn’t know, for it all depended on how fast the fire was moving.  If its moving really fast, they can’t outrun it.  Regarding future erosion, he said that there will be some, but they are used to it out there.

 

“It wasn’t that exciting, but it was interesting and I learned a bunch.  You get out with a whole group of people for 2 weeks” he said.

 

Fall trout stocking ended last week

 

Unless there was an unexpected change, the following local waters were stocked with trout last week:  Deerfield River in Buckland, Charlemont and Florida; East Branch of the Westfield River in Cummington, Chesterfield and Huntington; Goose Pond, Laurel Lake, Lake Buel, Otis Reservoir, Onota Lake, Stockbridge Bowl and Windsor Pond in Windsor.

 

Many thanks to Deb Lipa, DFW Clerk out of the Dalton Office for taking the time and effort

to prepare the listings of trout stockings for us.

 

Pike stocking

Incidentally, MassWildlife also recently stocked over 2,000 northern pike into Lake Buel and Quaboag Pond. These yearlings averaged 12″ long and will take 2–3 years to reach the 28″ minimum harvest size.

MassWildlife does not have a warm water hatchery in which to rear pike (esocids) but usually it obtains a small number of 3–12″ fish each year from the New Jersey Division of Fisheries and Wildlife through a cooperative exchange program.

Learn To Hunt Programs

 

MassWildlife offers hunting classes and online resources that teach safety and skills to beginning and intermediate hunters.

 

Upcoming programs include:

Virtual Deer Hunting Q&A – Looking for advice about deer hunting? Get answers from a panel of experienced hunters at one of MassWildlife’s virtual mentoring sessions. These events are designed for new hunters. Feel free to join for a few minutes or for the entire session. Register to receive a link to the event. https://www.mass.gov/learn-to-hunt

 

  • Friday, Oct. 20, 12–1 p.m.
  • Thursday, Nov. 2, 6–7:30 p.m.
  • Tuesday, Dec. 5, 6–7:30 p.m.

 

A Small Game Hunting – On-line Class will be presented in January.

A presentation on snakes

 

Tom Tyning, an expert on amphibians and reptiles and an authority on New England’s natural history, will make a presentation entitled “Snakes Are More Interesting Than You Can Imagine.”  It will take place at the Berkshire Green Drinks event on Monday, October 16, in person and online via Zoom.

 

The in-person gathering begins at 5:00 PM at The Barn at Williams Inn, 103 Spring St, Williamstown. The presentation and Zoom meeting start at 6:00 PM. If the weather permits, the in-person gathering will take place outdoors.

 

The life histories, annual behaviors, and evolutionary story of snakes are incredible, fascinating, and remarkable. Tom will focus on our Berkshire/New England snake species, highlighting their diversity, survival complexity, conservation status, and overall natural history. Coupled with that, the remarkable reality of just how little is known about even common species will be covered.

 

Pre-registration is required to attend this event. Learn more and RSVP at: https://tinyurl.com/Oct2023-Berks-Green-Drinks

 

Tom knows his stuff.  He has been a Professor of Environmental Science at Berkshire Community College since 1999. Previously, he was a Field Biologist and Master Naturalist for the Massachusetts Audubon Society for 24 years. Tom also served for 15 years as an Adjunct Professor in the Environmental Studies Program at Antioch New England Graduate School, as well as Springfield College and MCLA. For 25 years, he wrote a weekly Nature column for the Springfield (MA) Union-News. As an authority on New England’s natural history, Tom’s main research interests are amphibians and reptiles. His book, A Guide To Amphibians and Reptiles, is published by Little, Brown and Co. As a member of several professional natural history societies, he served for fifteen years as Managing Editor of the scientific journal Herpetological Review.

 

Tom also received the Berkshire County League of Sportsmen 2017 Outstanding Achievement Award.

 

Brake for Wildlife

MassWildlife reminds motorists to be mindful of increased deer and moose activity, especially during early morning and evening hours. Moose, found in central and western parts of Massachusetts, breed in September and October. White-tailed deer breed from late October to early December.

Moose on the road are especially hazardous. The dark color and height of moose make them difficult to see in low light; moose eyes rarely shine like deer eyes because their eyes are above headlight level. In addition, long legs and heavy top bodies make moose very dangerous to motorists when struck. Observe road signs for moose and deer crossings and slow down. Do not swerve to avoid hitting a deer because it may lead to more risk and damage than hitting the deer. Moose are less likely to move from the road than deer, so stay alert and brake when you see a moose in or near the road.

Deer and moose/vehicle collisions should be reported to the Environmental Police at 1-800-632-8075.

Various hunting seasons are opening soon

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The Woodcock hunting season opens on October 2 and runs to November 22. The bag limit is 3 per day and the possession limit is 9. Because there tends to be some confusion with the woodcock regulations, here is the following:

  • All migratory game bird hunters must register with the Harvest Information Program (HIP) each calendar year. Licensed woodcock and waterfowl hunters must complete a HIP survey online at mass.gov/massfishhunt or anywhere hunting licenses are sold.
  • A woodcock is a migratory game bird so the following regulations apply: Migratory game birds may be hunted with shotguns no larger than 10 gauge, fired from the shoulder. Shotguns capable of holding more than 3 shells may not be used unless plugged with a one-piece filler which limits the gun’s total capacity to 3 shells and which cannot be removed without disassembling the gun.
  • The head and one fully-feathered wing must remain attached to each migratory game bird while it is transported to the hunter’s home or preservation facility.
  • Non-toxic shot is not required for hunting woodcock.
  • Waterfowl stamps are not required for hunting woodcock.

 

Please note:  The column next week will be about my flyfishing trip to the Catskills in early September.  I was hoping for a rematch with that “submarine like” big trout that I tangled with and lost to twice last spring.  (Sorry, no side bets). Therefore, I will touch upon the upcoming small game, upland game and waterfowl hunting in this column a little earlier than usual.

 

Pheasant hunting season opens on October 14 and runs to December 30.  Ruffed Grouse (partridge) season opens on October 14 and runs to November 25.

 

The fall wild turkey hunting season in Zones 1 – 9 opens on October 16 and runs to November 25.

 

Cottontail and snowshoe hare seasons open on October 14 and runs to February 29, 2024.

 

Coyote hunting opens on October 14 and runs to March 8, 2024.

 

Even though the Fish & Wildlife Board recently approved the early extension of archery deer hunting season, such a change will not go into effect until 2024.Therefore, for this year, the season still opens on October 16 in Zones 1 – 9 and ends on November 25.

 

Incidentally, if you use a tree stand, be extra careful.  It seems like every year we hear about a hunter who has fallen to his death or sustained serious injuries caused by falling out of a tree stand.

 

The specific regulations for all of the above hunting seasons are listed in the MA Hunting & Fishing Regulations, commonly referred to as the Excerpts.

Monday, October 9 begins the duck hunting season in the Berkshire Zone and it runs until November 25.  It reopens again on December 11 (after shotgun deer hunting season) and runs until December 30.  The new bag limit for mallards has been increased from 2 to 4 (only 2 can be females).

 

The regular goose hunting season in the Berkshire Zone (except Snow & Blue) runs from October 10 to November 25.  It reopens on December 11 and runs until December 14.  This year the bag limit has been increased from 1 to 3.  The late Canada goose hunting season opens on January 1, 2024 and runs until February 15 with a daily bag limit of 5.

 

It is important that you check the waterfowl regulations for there are a myriad of regulations.

 

All of the above hunting seasons are closed during shotgun deer season except for coyotes   No hunting of any bird or animal is allowed in Massachusetts on Sundays.

 

At the September meeting of the Berkshire County League of Sportsmen, Environmental Police Officer Kolis reminded hunters to abide by the allowed hunting hours. (The 2023 Sunrise-Sunset Table is displayed on page 51 of the MA Hunting & Fishing Regulations.) For example, if you enter the woods earlier than one half hour before sunrise during deer hunting season with a loaded shotgun or an arrow in your cocked bow, you are considered hunting and in violation of the law.  The same with the sunset rule if you are walking out of the woods after one-half hour after sunset with loaded hunting implements.

 

It is the hunters’ responsibility to exercise safe hunting procedures and set-back, tree stand, wanton waste, and other hunting regulations. It is the non-hunter’s responsibility to be cognizant of existing hunter harassment laws.

 

The woods are busy at this time of year so be careful. Bring along a fully charged cell phone as well as a tick protection spray.  The wearing of florescent vests and/or hat is also advisable for hikers and other non-hunters.  Keep your dogs restrained and put florescent colors on them, too.

 

Here’s wishing you hunters out there a safe, successful and enjoyable hunting season.

 

Fall trout stocking has begun in the Berkshires

The following waters were scheduled to be stocked with trout last week.  As usual, it was subject to change:

Deerfield River in Florida, Buckland and Charlemont; East Branch of the Westfield in Chesterfield and Chester, Littleville Reservoir in Huntington, Pontoosuc Lake, Laurel Lake, Goose Pond, Lake Buel, Otis Reservoir, Onota Lake, Richmond Pond, Stockbridge Bowl and Windsor Pond in Windsor.

The up-to-date report can be found at www.mass.gov/trout.

 

Federal funds blocked for schools with archery and hunting programs

The Biden administration’s Department of Education is withholding federal funding from hunting and archery programs in schools, citing a bipartisan law passed last year that tightened restrictions around gun purchases in the wake of a deadly school shooting in Texas.

The prohibition went into effect on June 25, 2022, and applies to all existing and future awards under all Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA). The Department is administering the bipartisan law as written by Congress.  It prohibits federal funds from going to programs that “provide to any person a dangerous weapon or training in the use of a dangerous weapon.”

Organizations like the National Archery in the Schools Program, which boasts 1.3 million students from nearly 9,000 schools, have expressed worries about the negative impact on children’s engagement and access to shooting sports, which can foster valuable skills and relationships. Tommy Floyd, President of the National Archery in the Schools Program, lamented the new restrictions. “It’s a negative for children.  As a former educator of 30-plus years, I was always trying to find a way to engage students. In many communities, it’s a shooting sport, and the skills from shooting sports, that help young people grow to be responsible adults. They also benefit from relationships with role models.”

Several schools here in the Berkshires that have successfully run Archery-in-the-School programs will be affected. Too bad, for it has generally been well received by the school administrators, parents and students.

Dynamic Forest Walk

 

The National Wild Turkey (NWTF) is a national conservation organization based around the wild turkey and preserving the hunting heritage.  In the New England region and Massachusetts specifically, it is focused on providing good nesting and brood rearing habitat for turkeys.  As part of its efforts, it is working with several other conservation partners to promote healthy and resilient forests in MA and the application of forest management to increase the diversity and structure of forests for wildlife, forest products and climate benefits.

 

Healthy forests are important for clean water, wildlife habitat, wood products, and providing climate benefits.

 

On October 8, the Tunxis Club in Tolland MA will be conducting a Dynamic Forests Walk from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm that will be led by foresters and biologists from NWTF, Dept. of Conservation & Recreation, Ruffed Grouse Society and others.  The goal is to show private landowners, Conservation Committee members, and the general public different examples of forest management projects and to explain the benefits of these practices for wildlife, clean water, and even carbon storage and sequestration.

 

You will have the chance to see several different forest treatments that were completed at various points in time over the last 20 years.  They will provide excellent opportunities to see how these woodlands have responded and how these projects complement the larger forest and the needs of wildlife.  It’s a great learning opportunity if you are curious about how forests are managed and how you can approach forest planning on your own woodlot or community forest.

The workshop is free but you are asked to RSVP by contacting Matt DiBona at  mdibona@nwtf.net or call/text 302-943-3239.