Last Tuesday the Massachusetts Fisheries and Wildlife Board held its July meeting via Zoom.  In it there was a presentation by Dr. Rebecca M. Quinones, the MassWildlife Rivers and Stream Project Leader who is an expert in aquatic biology and climate change.  Much of the information used in her presentation was derived from an article in the June issue of Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment, which she co-authored.

The focus of her presentation was to help the Board understand and address the impact of climate change in Massachusetts and how it impacts streams, in particular cold-water habitat, and how those changes can be reflected by fish responses.  

Ultimately, the goal is to identify cold- water climate change refugia (areas where conditions can enable a species to survive after extinction in surrounding areas). She noted that it is necessary to think about these areas in order to develop specific restoration and land protection actions that would continue to provide good habitat in the future.

Generally, in the Northeast, there has been a 1 ½ degree Fahrenheit (F) temperature increase from 1970 to 2005.  The changes in temperature have some differences seasonally so, for instance, scientists know that winter temperatures are warming faster and in that same time frame they know that temperatures have increased about 4 degrees F.  That has implications for precipitation that we are seeing across the state, particularly the range of snow ratios. We are seeing much more rain and that has resulted in a 7% loss of snow and a 16% decrease in snow pack in March and April and that has heat implications for the hydrology.  We are now seeing more higher peak stream flows in the spring, about 2 weeks earlier than historically.  On one side of the spectrum we are seeing peak flows increase, but on the other side of the spectrum droughts are becoming more frequent and droughts that last a few months have become more frequent over the decade.

There are studies that project that the Northeast is feeling the impacts a lot faster than other parts of the world.  Studies show that a typical degree increase in Celsius (C) will be likely coming our way by 2040, in comparison, in the continental US, it will probably occur sometime in the mid 2040’s.  That still is much earlier than we would see it happen in the globe as a whole which is likely to happen around 2060.

It is anticipated that conditions in MA will be more like the southern states by 2099.  The weather here is likely going to be similar to what is being seen in South Carolina now. So, when scientists start to think about cold water climate change refugia and see what it looks like in SC, then they might have an idea of what kind of a characteristic we can expect.  The distribution of cold-water species will shrink to by 2099.

The changes they are expecting in cold water streams that stay pretty much intact, will remain fully functioning cold water streams. But we may have other systems that may transition and become completely transformed with different types of habitat available to them.

If you are a fish, you will have only 3 options – stay in the habitat you are in and try to adapt to the changes, move to more suitable habitat if there are no barriers  (dams, culverts, etc.) and you have the capacity to do that,  or you can stay in place and die.   We are seeing those responses already in all the cold-water fishes.  In several fish species in the northeast, in some areas we are seeing that trout can continue to do well.  They are able to deal with warmer conditions, but not so warm that it will impact their ability to assimilate foraging enabling them to grow.

In some areas we are seeing trout grow much faster in warmer conditions, but if we exceed the tolerance of the temperature that they can thrive in, the brook trout actually decrease in survival.  It becomes much more obvious in larger age classes particularly under drought conditions.  Because of the increased frequency of the droughts, we might see survival decrease across the state. We are also seeing changes to earlier upper migration which causes earlier spawning. 

So, if we are seeing changes in habitat, there is the likelihood that we will see changes in the assemblage.  In some habitats, you may see the species change from trout to warm water species.

Dr. Quinones is hoping that we move forward to where we are thinking about the exposure of species to climate change, their sensitivity and adaptability capacity (the 3 vulnerability elements where we think about climate change impact).

There are landscape characteristics that define what residual habitat could be and could act as climate change refugia. Refugia are not meant to be static.  They are still going to be impacted by climate change but its impact will be felt at a much lower pace. 

For cold water climate change refugia, you could look at elevation.  Habitats in higher elevations tend to be colder and might stay colder for longer periods of time.  Likewise, you have cold-water from deep snow, and snow-packs can mitigate warm water temperatures.  Likewise, being in a valley having a lot of canopy cover can increase the amount of shading, protect the streams from solar radiation and keep them cooler. 

There are other characteristics such as being on north facing slopes, ground water which can give some source of cold water and deep lakes which stratify with cold water bottoms which provide cold water habitat.

MassWildlife has put together a team which has been thinking about temperate change, on brook trout specifically, for many years.  Brook trout have been used as an emblematic species in the state, representing the suite of cold-water species.    They are already working with models trying to determine how the species might survive into the future.

They have charts and maps enabling them to see the range of the brook trout in MA.  Surveys have been conducted in MA fisheries from year 2000 and a data base, especially on larger rivers, has been created.  These models give them opportunity to think about climate change problems.

In the predicted 2-degree C increase in July temperatures by 2040, you might see a 42% decrease in streams that could support brook trout in summer.  Of course, there might be small pockets of cold water, while some areas might become warmer quicker than others.

A 4- degree C increase in temps which may occur by the 2070’s indicates another 28% decrease in the amount of cold waters available in July. If a 6 degree C increase in temperatures, which is projected by 2099, occurs there will be another 25 % decrease in cold water streams that are supporting brook trout in summer.  By 2099 there could very well be a 77% drop in the cold-water streams available for habitat for brook trout.

The projections indicate that perhaps some of the cold-water streams located primarily in north western MA could be cold-water climate change refugia.  Even with a 6 degree C temperature increase, they could still provide cold water habitat for brook trout.  The headwater streams will provide cold water habitat but there are also high risks of becoming dry during a fluctuation of flow.  High temps affect the high parts of the watershed as well as the low.

After Dr. Quinones’ presentation, the F&W Board conducted discussions regarding climate change.  DFW Directors Mark Tisa and other Division aquatic biologists assured them that they recognize the importance of cold-water streams and have spent more than 20 years finding out where they are. In their land acquisition decisions, they are high on their radar screen and give priority to lands with cold water streams.

Dr. Quinones noted that there are great trout habitat areas today that are likely not going to be in the future.  Those are areas where restoration would be really important. Groups like Trout Unlimited have been doing a lot of restoration on the ground and these are areas where she can see them moving work forward.  

Besides catching a few nice fish, Ashmere Lake anglers (in Hinsdale) had an added pleasure on the afternoon of July 4. They got to see a parade from their boats.  I’ll bet you thought there were no parades around here on that day this year, but there was…. a boat parade.

It’s a tradition that began years ago and is still going strong.  Under the direction of the Skyview Grove Lake Association, boat owners, especially pontoon boat owners, decorate their boats with flags and bunting, form up in a designated location and sail into each area of the northern basin of Ashmere Lake.(They can’t cross Rte. 143 to the south basin due to the size of the culvert).  All of the 20 or so boats tooted their horns and some of them provided patriotic music.  The weather was perfect and all of the passengers waived to the cottage owners and visitors who were out on docks and lawns and who eagerly awaited their sail-by.  Even though the ruckus may have put the fish down, the anglers received and returned enthusiastic waves…..and a few put down their fishing rods and took time to honor our flag..

After all our nation has had to endure lately it was a welcome respite.  While practicing social distancing, people were smiling and waving.  There were many shouts of “Happy 4^th”

Unfortunately, not all people choose to share the joy of Independence Day.  Although the Declaration of Independence holds certain truths to be self-evident, among them that all men are created equal, let’s face it, not all people in our country are treated equally.  We must correct that, and soon. 

Who doesn’t love the words of that old patriotic song “God Bless America.  “Stand beside her and guide her through the night with the light from above.”  There is another song, a country and western one, which carries another powerful message, too.  Entitled God Bless America Again, it goes like this: “God bless America again, you see all the troubles that she’s in. Wash her pretty face dry her eyes and then, God bless America again.   

Google it to hear the rest of it sung by country singers Loretta Lynn, Conway Twitty or Bobby Bare.

Antlerless deer permit application due by next week

If you want to hunt antlerless deer in 2020, you must apply for an antlerless deer permit by this Thursday, July 16.  You can check back after August 1 to find out if you have been awarded the ability to purchase the permit. Hunters can apply online using MassFishHunt on a computer or smartphone. You need a valid hunting or sporting license to apply for an antlerless deer permit. There is no fee to apply; a $5 fee is charged only if you are awarded a permit during the instant award period.

The instant award period begins on August 1 at 8:00 am and ends on December 31. Your odds of being awarded a permit are the same regardless of when you check your permit status. You can check the status of your permit through MassFishHunt.

Sale of surplus antlerless deer permits by Wildlife Management Zone will be staggered over the following days in September and October:

• Zone 11: Tuesday, September 29 at 9 a.m.
• Zone 10: Wednesday, September 30 at 9 a.m.
• Zone 9 (if available), 13, and 14: Thursday, October 1 at 9 a.m. 

Surplus Permits are first-come, first-served. Surplus permits must be purchased within 15 minutes after being placed in your shopping cart. The MassFishHunt online licensing system only allows 1 session per customer, so do not log in on multiple devices or you may be kicked out of the system and need to start over. 

You may purchase only one Zone 11, one Zone 10, or one Zone 9 permit per day; up to four permits per day may be purchased for Zones 13 and 14. 

2020–2021 Migratory game bird hunting

The MA Fisheries and Wildlife Board recently approved season dates, bag limits, and other regulations for the 2020–2021 migratory game bird hunting seasons. You can view  the 2020-2021 Massachusetts migratory game bird seasons dates and bag limits by clicking onto the MassWildlife website https://www.mass.gov/doc/2020-2021-migratory-game-bird-regulations/download.  There will be more in this column as the hunting dates get closer.  I do want to bring to your attention that new this year, there will be two special waterfowl hunt days for veterans. 

Two statewide Veteran Waterfowl Hunt season dates (October 3, 2020 and January 30, 2021) are open for waterfowl hunting by veterans and current members of the Armed Forces on active duty, including members of the National Guard and Reserve on active duty (other than for training). The term “veteran,” is defined, per section 101 of title 38, United States Code, as a person who served in the active military, naval, or air service, and who was discharged or released under conditions other than dishonorable. Proof of eligibility is required and must be carried on person while hunting.

All waterfowl hunting regulations and bag limits apply. Waterfowl that may be hunted include ducks, coot, mergansers, sea ducks, brant, Canada, Snow and Blue Geese.

COVID-19 and the 2020 Sportfishing Awards Program

There has been a change in the MA Freshwater Sportfishing Awards Program this year. The Catch and Keep category, both Youth and Adult categories, has been suspended until further notice. Fish in the Catch and Keep category must be weighed on a certified scale to be eligible for the program. Since most public certified scale locations are no longer open due to the COVID-19 State of Emergency, MassWildlife is temporarily halting this portion of the program. Consequently, fish caught or submitted on or after March 16 will not be accepted. Submissions are still being accepted for Catch and Release category since the only requirements for entry are a picture of the fish with a measuring device.

MassWildlife says, “Don’t let this disruption keep you off the water! Fishing is still open and it’s a great way to relax outdoors while social distancing. Remember to remain 6 feet away from other people while participating in outdoor activities”.

We are in a drought

The MA Secretary of Energy and Environmental Affairs Kathleen Theoharides declared a Level 2-Significant Drought in the Western, Connecticut River Valley, Central and Northeast EEA Drought Regions, on June 24, 2020, based on hydrologic conditions in May and June, 2020.  The Level 2- Significant Drought is more severe than the Level 1 – Mild Drought (formerly Advisory Drought). Based on the Secretary’s determination, a “drought” exists for purposes of Riverfront Area and Pond observations.

Wetlands Protection Act Regulations: For any Notices of Intent (NOI) or Notices of Resource Area Delineation (NRAD) filed on or after June 24, 2020, observation of rivers that have ceased flowing made on May 1, 2020 and thereafter, may not be used to prove a perennial river is an intermittent stream with no Riverfront Area since drought conditions. 

Drought for purposes of the Riverfront Area and Pond Observations will remain in effect until such time as the Secretary issues a written statement declaring that water resource conditions have returned to normal, ending the drought.  The written statement declaring the drought over will be posted at the Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs web site.

Fish & Wildlife Board Meeting

The July MA Fish & Wildlife Board meeting is scheduled for July 14 at 1:00 pm. The public is welcome to log in through Zoom and listen. The link is https://www.mass.gov/service-details/fisheries-and-wildlife-board-meetings. The presentation on trout this coming month should be very informative.  Many thanks to Western District Board member Steve Sears for the heads-up.

At its last Fish & Wildlife Board Meeting, Mass Wildlife’s John Scanlon, Habitat Program Supervisor, gave a presentation on Mass Wildlife Habitat Management Review 2015 – 2020,

So why does MassWildlife feel that it has to manage the habitat on its Wildlife Management Areas?  Because human infrastructure has greatly restricted natural disturbance processes that historically provided diverse open habitats for wildlife on portions of the landscape that are now developed.  In particular, flooding and fire are greatly constrained today on the portions of the landscape where they formerly occurred.  While control of flooding and fire is essential to protect human life and property, it also creates an obligation on their part to provide the dynamic habitats for wildlife that these natural processes formerly did.

MassWildlife’s desired landscape habitat goals for upland areas are:  Grasslands – 1-2%, shrubland 7-9%, young forest 10-15% full canopy forest 60-70% and forest reserve 10-15%.  MassWildlife feels that both shrubland and young forest habitat is needed. However; its work is under attack by those who want all state lands to be reserves.

So how does MassWildlife hope to attain the above goals?  Some habitat treatments are: mow/mulch, tree clearing, invasive control, water level management and prescribed fire. MassWildlife has been working on habitat projects for some time now.  During the period from 2015 to 2020, some 3,495acres of grasslands, 9,025 acres of shrubland, 625 acres of young forest, 7 acres of forest reserve and 1,374 acres of wetlands have been treated, or some 14,526 footprint acres.  The total treatment acreage is 17,300.

With active management practices, species that have suffered can be better supported by improving their habitat. For example, a closely managed fire policy will restore and promote resilient natural communities and landscapes for: oak forest, oak woodlands, pitch pine and oak barrens, Atlantic white cedar swamps, heathlands, grasslands and fens.

Hey!  These burns are not new.  For example, barrens were maintained for thousands of years by lightning induced and native-set fires that promoted berries and improved hunting grounds. Fire suppression was initiated in the early 1900’s to control wildfires, but in the absence of fire, trees that were minor components in health barrens expanded and changed habitat structure from dry, open, early successional conditions to mesic, closed canopy forests. Without fire, understory diversity is lost.

A couple of key points that Scanlon made were that, across all of Mass Wildlifes lands, for every 1 lb of carbon expended to perform habitat work, 17 lbs of carbon are sequestered and that currently, the average increased carbon storage per acre of MassWildlife lands is 0.8 tons/acre. The goals set by the board on various habitat types has stayed in place over the past 5 years as these goals are pursued.

Fish & Wildlife Commissioner Ron Amidon reported progress with interagency coordination in forestry habitat management. MA Energy and Environmental Secretary Kathleen Theoharides recently reviewed sites in western MA where significant improvements to habit is seen as a result of various management practices. Results have shown significant improvements in the number of non-game and game species. Much more needs to be done and the coordination across agencies could greatly impact the improvement of habitat across the state.

Update on the cyanobacteria outbreak on Plunkett Lake

First, I must correct information that I included in last week’s column.  The cyanobacteria was first discovered on June 16 after the herbicide treatment and not June 23 as reported.  My apologies for that error.  As of this writing, the lake is still closed, but it is anticipated to be open by this weekend.

So how did it get into the lake?  Scientists believe that, cyanobacterium, are normally found in the water but start to multiply very quickly, especially in warm, slow-moving waters that are rich in nutrients. Usually nitrogen phosphorous overload can trigger an outbreak or a dissolved oxygen problem from decaying weeds.  Some suggest that an over treatment of herbicides, warm temperatures, lower lake levels and wind blowing the herbicide into a shallow cove increases the chemical ratio in water and could end up with dissolved oxygen problems.

Is it harmful to the fish or humans? DFW Western District Supervisor Andrew Madden felt that generally it doesn’t affect fish directly during short blooms. However, prolonged severe blooms can have some impacts either directly physiologically or as secondary impacts to oxygen levels and water quality. Some scientists believe that certain species of cyanobacteria produce toxins that affect animals and humans. People may be exposed to cyanobacterial toxins by drinking or bathing in contaminated water.

Mahanna Coble Trail

In Wednesday’s Berkshire Eagle, readers probably read about the new Mahanna Cobble Trail in Pittsfield which was created by the partnership of Berkshire Natural Resources Council and Mill Town Capital (new owners of Bosquet Ski Area). BNRC President Jenny Hansell said  the new trail “embodies the core elements of BNRC’s work – our rich conservation history, efforts to open special places to all, and engaging in sustainable trail building for hikers now and long into the future.”

On it, hikers ascend approximately 600 feet to reach a stone bench which was dedicated to BNRC’s founding director, George Wislocki back in October 2010. There, you can enjoy the vista with a long view of uninterrupted forest.

The round-trip hike is 2.8 miles. There is an informational kiosk at the trailhead and blue-blazed path leads atop the northern reaches of the Yokun Ridge. The trail is classified as difficult—strenuous due to elevation changes. But the climb now is a lot better than it was.

My wife Jan and I attended the dedication ceremony at the stone bench in 2010 and the only way to it was to hike up the mountain on a ski trail or to ride up on a ski lift.  We chose to hike up.  Whew! It was at that time that I realized that I had become a senior citizen.  Thank goodness for that new trail.

Its hard to believe that that ceremony took place 10 years ago.  Where did the time go?

There were some 60 people there to celebrate the installation of the bench.  I wrote about it in this column.  With your indulgence, I would like to repeat some of the comments from that column.

Then BNRC Executive Director Tad Ames noted that in 1967, Wislocki had a vision and that was to save these special places that make the character of the Berkshires so unique.  In the early going George had some allies but for the longest time he was pretty much alone.  Some people might have been indifferent, ignorant or even hostile to his efforts but he was tenacious and did not stop.  His shepherding of the BNRC and the movement were measured in decades.

“In 1971 Wislocki knew there was a place called Lenox Mountain and a place called West Stockbridge Mountain”, said Ames.  “Not content, he unilaterally named the great 12- mile ridge line Yokun Ridge and in doing so, he understood that the whole is so much greater than the sum of all parts.  It included not just the mountains, streams and rivers but a community of people, of ideas and of cultures which his career of ongoing work in the Berkshires has stood for.  And that is something that the land trust movement nationwide has started thinking about in the last 3 or 4 years.”

At Mahanna Cobble, a large flat stone was set and inscribed “George Wislocki served the Berkshire Natural Resources as its first director from 1967 to 2001.  On October 18, 2010 his friends gathered here to thank him for his vision and determination to protect this ridgeline and many others throughout the Berkshires.”   Below that inscription, was another one that Wislocki selected from Henry David Thoreau. “If a person were to conclude that after all he is not lost but standing in his own shoes on the very spot where he is, and that for the time being he will live there, how much anxiety and danger would vanish.”

“These hills provided us so much comfort”, said Wislocki, “I hope people who love the Berkshires find this place.  This is a nice place to be and it belongs to all of us”. 

Recently Paul Knauth of Hinsdale, Allen Gray of Pittsfield and I spent a few days flyfishing for trout on the Ausable River in and around Wilmington, NY (near Lake Placid).  Like last year, Paul and I opted to bring along our bamboo rods. 

I chose to use my Orvis rod which was once owned by the late Russell Chenail of North Adams.  I purchased it from his niece in 2018.  The rod was built in 1967.  The reel I used was a Pflueger Medalist Model 1494 ½ which was once owned by the late Charles Lahey of Pittsfield. 

You may remember Charlie for he was a close friend about whom I often wrote.  At the age of 101, he was still casting a fly, more specifically, his Mad River Special bucktail that he created many years ago and was still catching fish. You may recall that Charlie was inducted into the Freshwater Fishing Hall of Fame in Hayward, Wisconsin.  After his death, in 2010, his daughter, Andrea Dimassimo of Pittsfield, gave me most of his fishing equipment, including that reel.  “He would want you to have it”, Andrea said.

I also took along a wading staff that once belonged to the late Robert Marsden of Stockbridge, MA.  A lot of his equipment ended up in my hands, thanks to his widow Jorja.  Most of that equipment will be put into raffles and fund raisers which are held by the Taconic Chapter of Trout Unlimited, the Berkshire County League of Sportsmen, and other worthwhile non-profit organizations.  But I digress.

Like last year, Paul brought along his Phillipson PaceMaker bamboo rod which was built sometime between 1946 and 1951.

Neither Paul nor I brought our old willow creels.  Last year we did but they were only used to carry water and our lunches.  We release all trout that we catch and really have no need for them anymore. 

Allen preferred to use his tried and trusted modern graphite rods and reel.

We rented one of the cabins at the Wilderness Inn in Wilmington, NY.  We weren’t interested in one of their larger cabins, simply one which could accommodate 3 anglers with a refrigerator, micro wave and TV. Thanks to Paul who prepared all of the food at home and then froze it, all we had to do was nuke it.  This was especially nice as we fished until after 9:00 pm and didn’t get to our cabin until around 10.  Who wants to cook at that time of day?

We practiced social distancing, wore masks, and constantly washed our hands as much as possible all during the trip. 

On the way to check into our cabin, we passed many popular fishing areas on the river with no one fishing.  It looked like we were going to be able to get onto the best fishing spots, but wondered why?  We found out the answer. The Ausable River was rather low, due to the drought that they also are experiencing*.  Perhaps Covid-19 had something to do with it also.

On the afternoon of arrival and into that evening, we fished what we considered one of the best spots on the river, and, with the exception of some very small fish got skunked.  There were mayflies, caddisflies and stoneflies flying around, but the fish, if they were there, didn’t show themselves. On the way back to the cabin we stopped and checked another usually productive area.  Same thing.

That evening after eating, Paul and I sat up discussed the fishing situation and other topics well into the morning, ending at 3:00 am, as I recall.

We didn’t resolve anything, for the next morning, we fished another area which usually provided excellent fishing action. The problem there was that the usually good runs were quite shallow and yielded no fish save a few caught below the dam of Lake Everest, which were caught on Charlie’s reel.    Once again there were flies hatching, but no fish were after them.  Around noon, it really got hot (80 degrees) and we went back to the cabin to take it easy until late afternoon/early evening.

We chose an area on the river which had two tremendous fishing holes, deep and fishy looking.  Once again, zilch!  We saw mayflies, including the rare Green Drakes, but the fish weren’t rising for them.  The Green Drake (Ephemera guttulate) only comes out about 2 weeks in the year.  It was as if we were fishing over fishless waters and we were perplexed. On top of that, we were roasting in our hot waders.  The Ausable is a fairly large river and anglers usually are in wide open areas, exposed to the hot sun and little shade.

On our last fishing day, we opted to get out on the river much earlier in the morning with the hopes that fish would be active in the cooler water. We fished an area far from the beaten path.  There we started picking up some fish. It was the first time we had seen any fish activity at all.

We quit around noon to get out of the heat, but returned to the same area that evening, and caught a few more fish.  We didn’t really catch any monsters, I think Paul and Allen each caught a fish measuring around 14 inches.  My biggest fish for the trip was no more than 9 inches.  I did hook two beauties on an imitation Green Drake mayfly but both of them spit the fly back at me.

In spite of being there in the prime fly fishing season (mid-June), the total take was probably 5 or 6 fish each for the 3-day trip. Why the fishing was so dismal?  Probably due to the warm, low water.  Most of the fish that I caught were on terrestrial flies (verses aquatic flies) such as the grasshopper and lady bug.  I expected a poor showing, but I didn’t expect the others to have similar luck. 

Why did I expect it?  Well, call it predestination.  It goes back to an old saying which I read in a fly-fishing book written by Douglas McGraith in 1929 entitled “By Dancing Streams”.  In the book’s preface, he wrote, “It has been said that with a certain degree of truth that, ‘Those who can fish can’t write, and those who can write, can’t fish”.  Hey!  That’s my excuse, assuming you buy into me being one of, “those who can write.”

In spite of the fact that the river was not producing as we would have liked, we had a wonderful, memorable trip, filled with good company, good food and plenty of nostalgia.  As I wrote in last year’s column, we were fishing in a gorgeous area, the foot of Whiteface Mountain.  It doesn’t get much better than that.

Incidentally, the whole trip cost less than $200 pp for the 3-day trip.  That includes the food, lodging and gas.  Cheap dates, ey?

*On June 23, the NY Dept of Environmental Conservation issued an alert stating that “The dry weather and warming temperatures have elevated the risk of fires statewide, particularly across eastern New York.  I encourage New Yorkers to use safety precautions to help prevent wildfire outbreaks. The last widespread rainfall we saw was more than a full week ago and over the last month, some parts of the state are 90 percent below normal rainfall levels”.NY DEC Commissioner Seggos said.

Cyanobacteria discovered in Plunkett Lake

If you are planning on fishing Plunkett Lake in Hinsdale, better check to see if it is open.  The day after the application of weed herbicide on Tuesday, June 23, an ugly looking algae appeared on the water.  Local bass angler Dan Miraglia, who was doing some work on a cottage on the lake saw it and immediately notified the Town Manager who also contacted the Board of Health.  After checking it out, they immediately closed the lake to swimming and fishing. It was subsequently identified as cyanobacteria.   Warning posters were immediately placed there.  As of this writing date, the lake was still closed.

To find out more about it and Board of Health recommendations, click onto the Town of Hinsdale web page.  Another good source of information about cyanobacteria is https://www.epa.gov/cyanohabs/causes-cyanohabs.

I hope to have an update on this in next week’s column.

Looking for an interactive way to learn more about the wild plants and animals in Massachusetts? MassWildlife may have just the thing.

Join iNaturalist—a worldwide, online community of naturalists working together to learn more about the natural world. The website connects you to a community of naturalists of all skill levels who are helping each other correctly identify wildlife and plants they have observed.

Using the camera on your mobile phone, you can post your observations to iNaturalist and get help with identification. You can also explore the species that others have observed in a particular location. Join MassWildlife’s iNaturalist project. It’s free, it’s fun, and you can help the agency discover and track what plants, animals, fungi, and other species are inhabiting some of our Wildlife Management Areas across the state.

To sign up, go to inaturalist.org, pick a username and answer a few questions to complete your profile. Next, visit the getting started section to learn about using the website. The short video tutorials are particularly useful to get you started. iNaturalist contains a lot of features that you don’t have to master all at once. 

MassWildlife believes that you can learn so much from using iNaturalist – and its fun.  You’re sure to make some mistakes, but you’ll learn from them.  Here are some additional tips for using iNaturalist:

• Like anything, iNaturalist gets easier the more you use it. Take your phone or camera with you every time you take a hike, and try to post a few photos every week.
• Take good photos. They don’t have to be perfect, but they should show the species you’ve observed as best as you can.
• Follow other people who make lots of observations, and see what they find.  Feel free to follow them on iNaturalist; their username is MassWildlife.
• If you’re going somewhere new, zoom to that spot in iNaturalist and see what other people have found there.
• Please document both common and exotic species, because, over the years, the ranges of these species are likely to shift and iNaturalist is one way to track those shifts.
• Join a project, such as MassWildlife’s All Wildlife Biodiversity Project, which is targeting the biodiversity of 15 Wildlife Management Areas across the state. 

The picture seen round the world

Readers may recall that a group of us local flyfishermen (Allen Gray of Pittsfield, Paul Knauth and Craig Smith of Hinsdale, Attorney Michael Shepard of Dalton and I traveled to Yellowstone National Park in Montana and Wyoming last year.  Readers may recall that Shepard and Smith hired a guide one day to float fish the Yellowstone River near Livingstone, MT.  Shepard had caught a large native brown trout which weighed 7 lbs and was 27 inches on his fly rod.  The battle with that fish, as he described it, was epic, something akin to the taking of Mount Serabaci on Iwo Jima.  Anyway, he landed the fish and released it to fight another day.

Fast-foward to last week.  Smith was looking to book another trip this year with the same outfitter and look what he saw on the guide’s web page.  None other than our own Mike Shepard shown with the guide and that big fish.  Apparently, that picture is being used to advertise the guide service and is probably seen around the world.

Perhaps because of some harmless jealousy, Mike took a ribbing from the other guys when they found out about the picture.  Some thought it was someone else who caught the fish, some said the fish was photo shopped enhanced, some said that the guide caught it, some said that it wasn’t even Mike in that picture with the guide and one said it was fake news.  Hey, what are friends for!

All kidding aside, Mike Shepard caught that fish and it was a great accomplishment, otherwise the guide wouldn’t use the picture for adverrtising.

Alice Christma, Youth Angler of the Year

As remarkable as Shepard’s accomplishment was, young Alice Christman of Pittsfield topped it.  I wrote about her in this column earlier this year.  She is the youngster who caught all of those gold pin fish last year.  You may recall that she caught the largest fish in eight categories of the Commonwealth, in the Freshwater Sportfishing Awards Program – Youth Division.  She caught the largest Brown Trout, 7 lbs 5 oz, Bullhead, 2 lbs 0 oz, Carp, 16 lbs 9 oz, Northern Pike, 14 lbs 5 oz, Sunfish, 1 lb 5 oz,  White Perch, 1 lb 13 oz,and Yellow Perch, 1 lb 9 oz.

She ended up getting 8 gold pins and plaques and 7 bronze pins out of the 22 species of fish included in the program. For her accomplishments, she was named Angler of the year Youth Division, 

Well, recently, she received all of her plaques and gold pins.  That’s her surrounded by all of the plaques and holding the large trophy.

You are encouraged to explore fishing opportunities

New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Basil Seggos recently announced a Free Fishing Weekend for June 27 – 28. The event is the second of six Free Fishing Days offered in New York State every year.

“This free fishing weekend could not have come at a better time,” Commissioner Seggos said. “Amid the uncertainty of these challenging times, being home together has allowed many families to get outdoors and experience new activities. Free fishing days provide the perfect opportunity for all New Yorkers-from Brooklyn to Buffalo and from Montauk to Mt. Marcy-to try fishing for the first time and encourage those who have fished before to dust off their fishing rods and get outside.”

DEC encourages all anglers, new and experienced, to recreate locally and seek out fishing opportunities close to home. DEC’s Places to Fish webpages are a reliable source for those ready to plan their next fishing trip. For beginning anglers interested in getting started, the I FISH NY Beginners’ Guide to Freshwater Fishing provides information on everything from rigging up a fishing rod, to identifying your catch, and understanding fishing regulations.

Additional Free Fishing Days in 2020/2021 include: National Hunting and Fishing Day (Sept. 26); Veterans Day (Nov. 11); and President’s Day Weekend (Feb. 13-14). During these designated free fishing days, New York residents and non-residents are permitted to fish for free without a fishing license. Free fishing day participants are reminded that although the requirement for a fishing license is waived during free fishing days, all other fishing regulations remain in effect.

Sign up for an online introductory fishing class!

Looking for a way to enjoy the outdoors this summer? Join MassWildlife for a free online introductory fishing class! This beginner’s class will teach you all the basics including what gear you’ll need and how to use it, rigging up your rod, where to find fishing spots, fish ID and anatomy, as well as the basic rules and regulations. Class times and dates are Tuesday, June 23, 4 – 6 p.m, Thursday, June 25, 5 – 7 p.m. and Friday, June 26, 3 – 5 p.m. Registration is required, space is limited to 50 people per class.

No equipment? No problem! All participants who are residents of Massachusetts and have a freshwater fishing license will be able to borrow a spin-casting rod for the summer. Class graduates will receive instructions on how to pick up the rods. Note: While fishing licenses are only required for those 15 and over, each household must have at least one licensed adult to borrow fishing rods; there will be a two rod per family maximum.

MassWildlife also has a Fishing Gear Loaner Program for groups who want to drop a line but don’t have equipment. You can borrow rods, reels, and tackle, and get instructional handouts.

Happy Father’s Day!

If you have been reading MassWildlife’s monthly newsletter and other material lately, you probably noticed the emphasis on birds.  They are probably most excited about the existence of a nesting pair of Bald Eagles in the town of Barnstable on Cape Cod.  This is the first time in 115 years since they have nested on the Cape.

The numbers of Bald Eagles in the United States crashed during the first half of the 20th century. Industry, which significantly increased during the first half of that century, produced harmful chemicals.  These industrial chemicals and pollutants, along with deforestation, raised havoc with their habitat.  Not only that, farmers hunted the birds because they thought they were killing live stock.  The spraying of DDT took its toll on them also.

It got so bad that Bald Eagles were listed as federally endangered species in 1967. In Massachusetts, they were absent from 1905 until 1982, when several eagles were discovered wintering in the Quabbin Reservoir area.

MassWildlife and its partners brought young bald eagles from Canada and Michigan to live in the reservoir area during the 1980s, hoping to restore their population in the state.  Well, it worked.  According to Marion Larson, MassWldlife Chief of Information & Education, the number of bald eagle nests in Massachusetts continues to grow and now they are up to 70 nests and growing.   MassWildlife reports that more than 845 chicks are known to have fledged in Massachusetts since their restoration.

Here in the Berkshires, it is quite common to see the Bald Eagle soaring high above, but it is a big thing on the Cape.

MassWildlife also recorded the first known nest on Martha’s Vineyard this spring, but the eggs were destroyed before they could hatch.  A Bald Eagle pair took over an Osprey nest on the island and laid eggs there, MassWildlife said. But when the Ospreys returned from their wintering grounds, they harassed the eagles and caused them to accidentally claw open the eggs while trying to defend the nest with their talons.

Bald Eagle chicks in two other nests in Massachusetts were also killed during attacks by intruding birds this spring. While sad, MassWildlife said these events are a sign of a thriving eagle population in the region. Sounds like we need a bird mediator here!

Interestingly, a Bald Eagle that hatched at the Quabbin Reservoir in 1997 migrated to New Hampshire and nested there between 2007 and 2014. The bird recently became the oldest Bald Eagle ever recorded in that state, according to NH wildlife officials. The previous NH record holder was a 19-year-old bird that had also hatched in Massachusetts. Thanks to the MassWildlife eagle reintroduction program that was conducted in the 1980s, other states in New England have also greatly benefited.

Incidentally, that NH bird is about 4 years older than the female bald eagle that photographer Mark Thorne of Pittsfield has been monitoring on Onota Lake in Pittsfield.

Thanks to conservation efforts, Bald Eagles were removed from the federal list of threatened and endangered species in August 2007. Their status was also recently upgraded from “Threatened” to “Special Concern” on the Massachusetts Endangered Species Act (MESA) list.

Incidentally, the year 2020 marks the 30^th anniversary of the MESA. To celebrate, MassWildlife will be highlighting one rare species each month as a Species Spotlight. Through the implementation of MESA, MassWildlife’s Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Program (NHESP) conserves and protects the most vulnerable animals and plants of Massachusetts and the habitats upon which they depend.

This month they are spotlighting the eastern Whip-poor-will which is classified as a species of Special Concern in Massachusetts.

They can be 19” long with an 18” wingspan.   Whip-poor-wills are nocturnal in that they migrate, call, court, and feed almost exclusively at night. Their primary foods are moths and other night-flying insects.

The Whip-poor-will’s life history is tied very closely to the moon cycle. Their signature call is most intense around the full moons of May and June. They lay their eggs so that the chicks hatch ten days before a full moon; that way, the adults will have the maximum amount of moonlight to forage as they feed their chicks.

Whip-poor-wills were once found in nearly every town in Massachusetts.  Their former ubiquitous presence, coupled with their mournful whistled call associated with moonlight, made them legendary features of folklore, superstitions, and omens. (Click on Wikipedia to learn more about the omens and superstitions.  Also, if you google the Whip-poor-will you can hear their call).

Habitat loss is the primary threat to Whip-poor-wills in Massachusetts. Habitat loss can be the result of land conversion through development, or lack of natural disturbance, such as the exclusion of fire from the landscape.

Whip-poor-wills rely upon habitats that experience regular disturbance events, such as fire. MassWildlife partners with conservationists to mimic these disturbance events using canopy thinning and prescribed fire in areas that historically saw regular fire. MassWildlife recently worked with the New England Forestry Foundation on a restoration project at Muddy Brook WMA in Hardwick and successfully saw the return of Whip-poor-wills to the site after a documented 30-year absence.

As ground nesting birds, Whip-poor-wills can be very vulnerable to the presence of dogs and cats, as well as unnaturally high populations of small predators, such as raccoons and skunks, often associated with residential development near their habitat.  Declines in nocturnal insects may also be a contributing factor to overall decline.

How you can help?

• Report sightings of Whip-poor-wills (especially calling Whip-poor-wills) to MassWildlife’s NHESP. These recorded observations help their staff to better understand the distribution and status of Whip-poor-wills in Massachusetts, can inform habitat management decisions, and may offer protection under MESA (Click onto  www.mass.gov/how-to/report-rare-species-vernal-pool-observations for instructions to submit rare species observations).
• Keep your cats indoors and dogs on a leash. This is not only a good practice to help vulnerable wildlife, but it’s also safer and healthier for your pets.
• Support restoration efforts by state agencies and non-profit organizations to conserve and restore the fire-influenced habitats that support Whip-poor-wills.

Natural Resource Settlement

State and federal environmental agencies will use $8.3 million from the Buzzards Bay oil spill natural-resource settlement to restore common loons and other birds throughout New England that were impacted by the 2003 spill.

They hope to return and increase loons to more water bodies in Massachusetts through the release of 45 to 60 common loon chicks from Maine and New York to historic Bay State breeding sites at Assawompset Pond Complex in Lakeville and October Mountain Reservoir in Washington.

In Massachusetts, common loons disappeared as a nesting bird for decades until 1975, and have since primarily returned to breed in the Quabbin and Wachusett reservoirs and a few other central Massachusetts waters. Some $2,684,500 in funds will be allocated to this project.

They hope to increase survival of nesting loons at many breeding sites across New England and New York.  Several types of projects will be selected through a competitive grant process, such as deploying nesting rafts to withstand fluctuating water levels and reduce disturbance from predators and people, installing educational signs and hiring seasonal wardens to watch over nests to reduce disturbance, and preserving land to protect loon breeding habitat. Funds allocated: $3,685,500.

It is hoped that funds will also be allocated to include projects benefiting common eiders and other coastal birds.

So, things are “looking up” for our feathered friends here in the Commonwealth.

Landlock salmon stocked

A couple of weeks ago, Mass DFW completed stocking the Quabbin Reservoir with its annual allotment of 10,000 Landlocked Salmon raised at its Palmer Fish Hatchery. It will take about 3 years for these fish to reach the 15″ minimum size for harvest.

Drivers please take note

If you are driving out and about the Berkshires after dark, may I suggest that you slow down and be careful.  There have been some moose sightings in rather unusual locations – the back yards of some Lenox residents. 

According to the MassWildlife Monthly Report for June, there was a record deer harvest in 2019.  Some 13,920 were taken, the second highest on record. For the first time ever, there were more deer taken during the archery season than the shotgun season. Harvest figures by season are:

• Youth Deer Hunt Day and Paraplegic Hunt: 94
• Archery Season: 6,149
• Shotgun Season: 4,956
• Primitive Firearms Season: 2,692
• Quabbin Hunt: 29

However, the Western District (Zones 1 through 4) bucked the trend of the rest of the Commonwealth. The total count was 2,199 which was down 418 or roughly 16% from the 2018 harvest.

I posed the question as to why the Western District had the reduction to DFW Deer Biologist, David Stainbrook. 

His short answer was that the poor shotgun harvest (which was likely driven by not as many hunters out in the deep snow), did cause the harvest for the whole season to be down in the western zones. The other factor is that ​deer harvests have been pretty high in the western zones over the past 3 years, which makes the drop in 2019 appear like a bigger deal that it is. But it is actually quite higher than what was seen 5-10 years ago. 

He felt that it is unlikely that the drop in 2019 harvest didn’t have anything to do with the deer population. Actually, when you look at harvest by season, the harvest didn’t drop in the other seasons, just shotgun. You can actually see that the 2018 shotgun season was an anomaly in many of the zones with pretty good weather for hunting, which makes the 2019 drop look even greater. 

It is best visualized in figures of harvest over time, he said. Total harvest is influenced by how many antlerless permits are given out, but adult male harvest is not, so it is a better indicator of population trends. But it can be influenced by hunter effort, especially poor weather on the big days like the shotgun opener and the Saturdays. 

Though Massachusetts is the 3rd most densely populated state in the country, it is a state where quality deer can be found anywhere. MassWildlife biologists estimate that there are over 100,000 deer statewide. Estimated densities range from about 12-18 per square mile in western and central Massachusetts to over 50 deer per square mile on Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket Islands, and certain areas of eastern MA where hunting access is restricted.

After analysis, the DFW recommended and the Fish & Wildlife Board approved that the 2020 antlerless permit allocations remain the same as in 2019.  (See graph)

Incidentally, don’t forget to apply for a permit by July 16. Then, check back any time between August 1 and December 31 to see if you won the right to buy a permit.

2020 spring turkey harvest

The spring turkey harvest for 2020 was 3,304, including the 73 turkeys taken on the Youth Day. This was the highest harvest ever recorded for the spring season. Harvests have totaled more than 3,000 on only two other occasions—2009 (3,027) and 2017 (3,181). Last year’s spring harvest was 2,740. This record harvest can most likely be attributed to the increase in hunter effort that resulted from COVID-19 closures.

You can find the number of turkeys harvested in Massachusetts for the last 10 years by clicking onto https://www.mass.gov/service-details/wild-turkey-harvest-data.

The final turkey harvest totals (after the fall turkey hunting season) will be added to this page at the close of 2020.

I couldn’t get out turkey hunting this year but while speaking with those who did, some commented that there were a lot of toms that managed to elude the hunters this spring.

Report wild turkey sightings

Sportsmen and women, birders, and other wildlife enthusiasts are encouraged to assist with MassWildlife’s Annual Wild Turkey Brood Survey.

MassWildlife conducts a Brood Survey from June 1 through August 31 each year to estimate the number of turkeys in the state. The brood survey helps its biologists determine productivity and compare long-term reproductive success while providing an estimate of fall harvest potential. Turkey nesting success can vary annually in response to weather conditions, predator populations, and habitat characteristics.

Citizen involvement in this survey is a cost-effective means of gathering useful data, and can be a fun way for people to connect with nature. Record sightings of hens, poults (newly-hatched turkeys), and males (both juvenile and adult).

For help identifying male and female turkeys and determining if a male is a juvenile (jake) or an adult (tom), click onto https://www.mass.gov/service-details/identifying-female-and-male-turkeys-in-the-spring. Be sure to look carefully when counting turkey broods, the very small poults may be difficult to see in tall grass or brush. MassWildlife is interested in turkey brood observations from all regions of the state, including rural and developed areas.

There are two ways to participate:  Report individual observations online or download and print a Turkey Brood Survey form to complete over the course of the summer.

Mail completed forms to: Brood Survey, MassWildlife Field Headquarters,1 Rabbit Hill Road, Westborough, MA 01581.

If you submit your observations online, you are asked to not mail in duplicate observations.

Free Fishing Weekend

You still have some time to enjoy what’s left of Free Fishing Weekend.  No license is required to fish any public lake, pond, reservoir, stream, or river in Massachusetts.  It began at 12:00 a.m. yesterday and will last until 11:59 p.m. tonight.  

Other than on Free Fishing Weekend, you need a license to fish in fresh water if you are 15 or older. If you’re 15–17 or 70 and older, your license is free. Funds from fishing license sales support MassWildlife’s fisheries research, fish stocking programs, and angler education programs. You can buy your fishing licenses at https://www.ma.wildlifelicense.com/Internetsales.  All other regulations, including catch limits, apply during Free Fishing Weekend. Before heading out on the water, make sure you know the rules.

For saltwater anglers, Free Saltwater Fishing Weekend is June 20–21.

MassWildlife to monitor fish using video

Cameras at fish passages on Massachusetts rivers capture anadromous fish traveling to their spawning grounds.

Each spring MassWildlife monitors fish passages at hydroelectric dams on the Westfield and Merrimack Rivers. Operations at these locations allow fish biologists to monitor the number of anadromous fish traveling upstream. Anadromous fish are born in fresh water but spend most of their adult lives in the ocean before returning to rivers and streams to spawn. Fish passage facilities, including fish lifts and fish ladders, allow fish to swim upstream of dams. Without these structures, anadromous fish would be cut off from their spawning habitat and populations would plummet. Through a federal permitting process, MassWildlife works with dam owners where hydroelectric power is produced to ensure safe, timely, and effective passage of anadromous fish. ​

This year, a new system was installed on the Westfield River to record digital video of fish traveling upriver. As fish exit the fish ladder, they pass an underwater window and are caught on camera. The American Shad run on the Westfield averages 4,000 but has been as high as 10,000. Sea lamprey, American eel, smallmouth bass, river herring, white suckers, carp and several species of trout also travel upstream using the fish ladder. To date, the camera has recorded all of these fish species and even a beaver on its journey upstream. Technicians will review the video footage and count fish at a later date. A similar camera system has been operating at the first dam on the Merrimack River in Lawrence, MA for several years. This technology is allowing monitoring to continue despite the COVID19 pandemic.

Questions/comments:  Berkwoodsandwaters@roadrunner.com.   Phone: (413) 637-1818

According to Leanda Fontaine, Division of Fisheries and Wildlife Western (DFW) District Aquatic Biologist, they liberated their allotted supply of trout last week.  Some 100,000 trout were allotted to the Western District.

The following Western District water bodies were stocked with trout during the weeks of May 4, May 11, and May 18:

Hoosic River (North Branch) in Clarksburg and North Adams, Hoosic River (South Branch) in Adams and Cheshire, Hudson Brook in Clarksburg and North Adams, Hemlock Brook in Williamstown, Green River in New Ashford, and Williamstown, Green River in Alford, Egremont and Great Barrington; Williams River in West Stockbridge and Great Barrington, the East, West and Mainstem of the Westfield River;  Cold River in Florida and Charlemont, Chickley River in Charlemont and Hawley, Clesson Brook in Ashfield and Buckland, South River in Ashfield, Stones Brook in Goshen, Mill Brook in Cummington, Bronson Brook in Worthington, Depot Brook in Washington, Factory Brook in Middlefield, Buck and Clam Rivers in Sandisfield, Dunbar brook in Monroe, Pelham Brook in Rowe, Housatonic River (East Branch) in Hinsdale and Dalton, Housatonic River (Southwest Branch) in Pittsfield, Hop Brook in Tyringham and Lee, West Brook in Great Barrington and Lee, Beartown, Greenwater, and Goose Pond Brooks in Lee; Konkapot River in Monterey and New Marlborough, Little River in Huntington and Worthington, Town Brook in Lanesborough, Walker Brook in Becket and Chester, West Branch Brook in Chesterfield and Worthington, Westfield Brook in Cummington and Windsor, and Windsor Brook in Hinsdale and Windsor.

Recent lake stockings include:  North Pond in Florida, Otis Reservoir, Lake Garfield, Stockbridge Bowl, Onota Lake and Goose Pond.

So, go catch a few of these fish.  Be sure not to crowd out your fellow anglers and continue to practice social distancing.  We don’t want to get careless and cause the Covid-19 virus to return and shut down things again.

Bass fishing is getting good now, too

On Thursday, May 14, at approximately 8:00 pm, 11-year old Michael Morrill of Lee was fishing in an undisclosed local lake with his father, Gregg Morrill.  He was casting a big metal spoon (spinning lure) named the Laker Taker along the shoreline.  It was getting late, so he made one last cast.  He hooked into something heavy, in fact, he thought it was a sunken log.  But then, his fishing rod bent sharply.  Fortunately, he had the drag set on his reel so that the fish wouldn’t snap the line.  He would reel it in a ways, and then the fish would make a run and pull some line off of his reel.  It happened a couple of times, sometimes the fish would jump out of the water.  Luckily the drag worked and the line didn’t snap.

Finally, he got the fish near the shoreline, but it was no way totally subdued.   His dad finally had to step into the water and net it.

It was a huge largemouth bass.  What a hawg! (bass fisherman’s term for a really large bass).  It measured 21 inches long.  They didn’t have a scale, but his dad guesstimated it to be around 10 lbs.  Judging from the accompanying picture, I wouldn’t be surprised.

Michael then let the fish go.  Later on, he began to have second thoughts for some of his friends and relatives felt that he should have kept it and had it mounted, or perhaps he could have gotten a bronze or gold medal from MassWildlife.

His mom Pamela Brown said that he felt better when he learned that at this time of year, the bass are on their spawning beds laying eggs and protecting them from predators.  If he kept that bass, yellow perch and sunfish would probably eat all the eggs and tiny bass.  In fact, back in the day, anglers could not keep a bass until after June 15, for that very reason.

Maybe the next time you catch that fish, Michael, you might want to keep it.  Or, you can bring a tape measure and camera along to take a picture of it to send to the State.  But in my book, you did the right thing that Thursday night.

Many thanks to Michael’s grandpa, Bill Brown, for giving me the heads up on this catch.

It’s also time for bull-heading

Bullhead fishing is best when the apple blossoms are in bloom.  The meat is firmer and sweeter.  That’s what the old timers used to say.

Dig up some worms or night crawlers and head for the pond just before darkness.  Weight the worms down with non-toxic sinkers, and toss your line out into the pond to settle to the bottom and let it sit there. Prop up your fishing pole with the bail open to let the fish run without feeling any resistance (and not pull it into the pond). 

Some anglers I know attach a little bell onto their fishing poles to indicate when a fish is biting.  Others have small lights that they can see when the pole bobs up and down.  I use longer shanked hooks as they make it easier unhooking them.  Bullheads don’t mess around and have a tendency to swallow the hook before you know they have even nibbled on your bait.

Open up your portable chair, light up your lantern, have some German cool-ade and relax.  Enjoy the sounds of the geese coming in for the night, the peepers and bull frogs and, depending on where you are fishing, the unmistakable eerie call of the loon.

Don’t feel like cleaning the fish when you come home at night?  No problem.  Fill a large pail of water and put the fish in there.  They should be fine the next morning, provided you didn’t leave them out of the water too long.  I usually put them on a stringer which allows them to stay alive until you leave.

Spring Turkey Hunting Season is over

The spring turkey hunting season ended yesterday.  Time to clean and oil up the turkey gun and lock it away until this fall. 

Good friend Robert (Gus) Murray of East Nassau, NY passed on some interesting information that he read in a recent issue of the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Hunting & Trapping Newsletter.  It mentioned Bill Hollister, formerly of Pittsfield, a veteran spring turkey hunter who now lives in New York that bagged a bird in 2018 with rare triple spurs

Retired DEC biologist and avid turkey hunter, Hollister knew he had found something rare after he bagged a gobbler in Columbia County. Once he had the bird in hand, he saw that it had three spurs on each leg!

According to NYDEC in general, most gobblers have spurs and the length of the spurs is an indication of a bird’s age. On rare occasions, a gobbler will fail to develop one or both spurs and even more rare still, is a gobbler with two spurs on a leg. A bird with triple spurs is almost unheard of.

Over the past decade, DEC staff have examined thousands of legs from turkeys killed by hunters in the fall and have seen missing spurs and double spurs, but never a triple spur.

From the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks: “Mature gobblers without spurs, or with only one spur, comprise less than two percent of the total harvest. It is more common for gobblers to be missing a spur on only one leg than to not have any spurs. Another abnormality is when gobblers have multiple spurs.

There are only two reports of birds with triple spurs – one of which is from Mississippi and the other is Hollister’s. A triple spur is quite the find!

Thanks to Gus for passing this information to us.

Memorial Day

This year, with the absence of Memorial Day parades due to Covid-19, you might have a little time to pick up the fishing rod and do a little fishing.  If you have a quiet moment, please take a moment or two to remember those servicemen and women who have served and made the ultimate sacrifice for our country.  You also might want to remember and thank the doctors, nurses, first responders and others who also suffered or lost their lives fighting this different, most recent enemy.

Needless to say, the pandemic has caused a lot of interruptions in our daily lives, especially with our local outdoor sports community.  They used to receive information from the Berkshire County League of Sportsmen on a monthly basis regarding DFW hunting, fishing, land acquisitions, etc., but with the social distancing, that had ended.  The various DFW District offices were ordered to close their offices to the public until it is over.

Now, at least until the ban is lifted, the League is able to meet with the DFW Western District (WD) Supervisor Andrew Madden face to face……..via Zoom.  Madden took the time to show up at his office and 7:00 pm Thursday night and coordinated the Zoom connections with the various League delegates at their homes.  It’s the next best thing to being there with him for we could see and hear him as well as the fellow League delegates.  Many thanks to Andrew for going that extra mile to keep the local outdoor sports folks informed.

Here’s what transpired at our first Zoom meeting.

DFW WD Staffing

Because the DFW is a State organization, they have been put on an altered work assignment.  Most of the DFW WD Office staff is still coming in to do essential work.  The office is still operational, although not open to the public.  But could be reached if the needs are there.  The ban will last at least until May 18 and then they will see what happens after that. It’s up to Governor Baker. 

During this spring, its main functions have been:

Trout stocking. 

Rumors have been spreading that due to Covid-19, the trout in the hatcheries were all stocked out, including the big ones, and the hatcheries were closed.  Andrew reported that they are not true.  At the beginning, not knowing what was going to happen with the pandemic, DFW moved a lot of the fish earlier than they normally would have from middle March until the end of April. Then they received directives to slow down for a while because they had moved a lot of fish into all of the ponds and some of the rivers, There was a lull in stocking, but now they are back to a point where they can safely go into the hatcheries with their own staff and started moving fish again. 

The DFW Web Page will show what has been stocked.  DFW personnel should be stocking through the week of May 11 and possibly the week after.

Regarding the big fish that many anglers have caught, Madden said that most of the big fish came from the Sandwich Fish Hatchery.  Every year the Western District receives one or two of them.  Most of the fish received from them were in the regular size range, but there were some doozies this year.  According to Andrew, there was nothing out of ordinary this year as far as emptying the hatcheries.  Fish have to be stocked in order to make room for next year’s fish and the year after.

Land Acquisition

Andrew noted that activity is still ongoing.  But due to the social distancing, it is more difficult to hold public meetings and have the right people present at the right places.  They anticipate the land acquisitions to be about the same as they have been in prior years and their projects should all get done.  DFG WD Land Agent Peter Milenasi has been working on them right through the pandemic.

Biological Stuff

DFW WD staff is still doing some of the biological projects during the spring – grouse surveys, woodcock surveys, counting duck plots, installing loon rafts, etc.  They still have one more loon raft to put out.  Andrew mentioned that in one of the sites, the loons were back and waiting for their raft.  Andrew is looking for other places to put in more rafts.  If anyone hears of loons anywhere especially in ponds that don’t get much use, please let him know. 

Stewardship

This year they have been able to do a lot more stewardship work.  There is a lot of pressure on the Wildlife Management Areas and other open spaces, with many more people looking for places to go.  Most of WMA’s don’t usually get a lot of people in the spring and summer, but this year they are seeing a substantial increase in them due to Covid-19.  They are having more than their normal issues with ATV’s because lots of people have more time. They are working on WMA boundaries.  The bear project is still up and going. Collaring of the bears went well this year. They are doing a little more work with kestrel boxes because numbers of them are coming back in the Berkshires.

Habitat Projects

Andrew reported that there is a big habitat project going on at the Stafford Hill Wildlife Management Area (WMA) in Cheshire, primarily mowing and mulching with big machines.  There is another habitat project planned in the town of Middlefield, presumably the Walnut Hill WMA, but it hasn’t started yet.

Turkey Season

Because of the closures and mandates, all check stations were closed.  DFW had a phone check-in at the Dalton office but very few people called.  Andrew felt that most people checked in on line.  Discussions ensued over the fact that some kids lost out turkey on hunting this year because they couldn’t get FID cards when they turned 15. (Offices closed).   In spite of that, Andrew felt that it was a good youth hunt for those who had licenses this year with a lot of people getting birds.  However, it was tricky with the Covid-19 mandates.

Future

Andrew thinks the mandates will continue until at least May 18.  If anyone has a question or needs to reach someone from his office, they are answering the phones. No person is working there all the time, but most of the time there will be someone there.  Phone calls will be returned.

Keeping tabs on our Onota Lake Bald Eagles

Did you happen to see Berkshire Eagle photographer Ben Garver’s excellent pictures of the bald eagle flying around Onota Lake?  It was on the front page of the May 12 Berkshire Eagle entitled Unfurled wings.  A lot of people have been watching that eagle and its mate for some time. 

One of them is photographer Mark Thorne of Pittsfield.  He is keeping us up-to-date with the eagle happenings on Onota Lake, too.  Mark has been kindly sending us amazing photos of an old couple that has resided there for some time.  He got a chance to check on them nesting at Onota Lake recently.  His pictures make it quite evident that the eggs have hatched and the adults are feeding chicks.  Over the 4 hours that he was there they swapped nest sitting twice, were extremely careful sitting on chicks, and occasionally fed them.  

Mark said that around 4:00 pm one day things got “a little dicey” due to an immature bald eagle flying way too close to the nest.  At the time the male was on the nest and the female was soaring low over it.  Possibly because he felt the need to protect the chicks, or maybe because he did not see the other bird as a threat, the male never left the nest.  The female joined him and soon after the immature eagle flew off.  A few years ago, Mark saw the male attacking an adult eagle that came too close to the nest.

Mark believes that the female is 18 and the male is 16 years old this year!  Unfortunately, he did not tell us their names.

Many thanks to Mark Thorne for sharing the wonderful pictures and the eagle updates with us. He is an excellent wildlife photographer and has some amazing pictures of a nesting pair of red tailed hawks that, with his permission, I hope to include in an upcoming column.

The following are guidelines for boating and various other and inland waterway related activities during the duration of Governor Baker’s stay-at-home advisory and essential services order.  Not listed here are the guidelines for marine (ocean) activities.

Inland boat ramps and canoe launches:

Inland boat ramps and canoe launches within state parks, forests, wildlife management areas, boating access facilities and other state owned properties managed by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts remain open for use by boats being launched by vehicles registered in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, except where the access has already been closed due to parking restrictions or other restrictions.

All other inland boat ramps that are currently managed by municipalities remain open subject to the discretion of the city or town. 

 User Guidelines: 

• Ramps remain open subject to available parking. A ramp will be considered closed if all parking is full. Illegally parked cars will be ticketed and may be towed. 
• All boat ramp and canoe launch users shall practice social distancing. Users should allow appropriate space for users of the boat ramp or launch and clear the ramp when users launch is complete. 
• Users should ensure they are ready to depart quickly from the ramp or dock as soon as their boat is put into the water. Users not actively launching their boat should clear the launch area.
• Upon return to ramp, users should load their boat as quickly and safely as possible and then clear the launch area. 
• Use of ramps for organized fishing tournaments, derbies, or any other type of gathering is prohibited.
• Loitering on ramps or use of ramps for any activity other than launching boats is prohibited.  Parking at ramps for activities other than launching boats is prohibited.
• Masks or face-coverings should be worn in public in accordance with the Department of Public Health’s advisory when social distancing is not possible. 

Recreational boating:  The safe operation of recreational boats is permitted under the following guidelines:

• Only persons from the same household should be together on a boat at one time.
• No gathering or groups of persons from multiple households will be permitted on boat ramps, docks, piers etc., and all users shall practice strict social distancing. 
• All recreational crafts shall remain a safe distance apart. Tying boats or other crafts together is prohibited.
• All recreational boating is subject to the discretion of local officials, harbormasters, and law enforcement. 
• All local rules, regulations, laws and Coast Guard requirements still apply.

For hire boating: For hire boating will not be permitted while the Governor’s stay at home advisory and essential services order is in effect. This includes:

• Charter and head boat fishing
• Sailboat rentals and lessons,
• Canoe, kayak, and stand-up paddleboard rentals,
• White water rafting and river tubing rentals,
• Whale watches and other pleasure cruises,
• Any other operation or use of a vessel that is not registered to the passenger.

Many thanks to Jim McGrath, Pittsfield Harbormaster, for passing this information onto us.

Some people are undoubtedly displeased with the Governor’s restrictions and mandates associated with Covid-19. From my perspective, I think he is doing the right thing. 

My parents lived through the Spanish flu pandemic of 1918-1920.  They had some interesting tales to tell, especially my mother Agnes. As a teenager, she was the only person on her street well enough to walk to town to obtain and deliver medicines and groceries for her neighbors.  Every other family on her street had the flu. 

Her own brother, my Uncle Clarence Cummings, had contracted it.  He recovered, but according to my mother never fully recovered and was as thin as a rail for the remainder of his life.  My Uncle Fred was on a troop ship headed for France during WW1 when after a couple of days at sea, it had to return to New York because many of the troops on it had died from the flu.  My uncle helped to stack the bodies “like cordwood” on the ship’s deck.  Boy, did he have stories.

I remember when the polio epidemic was on during the 1940-50’s.  People were frightened, and kids couldn’t go anywhere, beaches, movie houses, etc.  My own sister Emily was a victim of polio.  It affected her legs, and thanks to the Shriners Hospital in Springfield, was able to walk, albeit with a limp.

So, from my perspective, epidemics and pandemics are things to fear, and the governor can’t do too much to curb the spread of this one.

May is a good time to flyfish

While it is true that some diehard anglers fly fish all year long, many of them consider the month of May as the perfect time.  It is the time that many major insect hatches such as Ephemeroptera (Mayflies),Trichoptera (caddis flies) and Plecoptera (stoneflies) mature and rise from the stream bottoms and transform from bottom dwelling nymphs to dry flies.  Some rid their nymph shucks on the way to the surface while others swim to rocks, climb onto them and hatch there.  It’s the time that anglers call “the hatch”

Above picture is of Dwayne Anderson making a beautiful cast.

That’s not to say that insect life and flyfishermen are not active in April.  There are some hatches like the Epeorus pleurali) (commonly referred to as Quill Gordons named after Theodore Gordon who developed an imitation pattern of it, or the Ephemerella subvaria (commonly referred to as Hendrickson named after a fly fisherman in 1918…..long story),and other aquatic insects that hatch during that month.  However; most of the time anglers have to use sunken flies (nymph imitations) to catch them.  During that period of cold water, the trout are a little logy and prefer to pick off these insects before they reach the water’s surface.

But it’s when the water temperatures rise to the 50/60 degrees Fahrenheit range that the major hatching activities start. Some insects hatch over a period of a couple of weeks, while other hatches are over in 3 days.  Although some hatches may overlap a little, fortunately, they don’t all hatch at the same time.  To avoid insect traffic jams, Mother Nature has schedules when the various types hatch, all summer long and into the fall.  By doing so, there is a constant supply of food for the fish and birds throughout the warm weather months.  Pretty smart on Mother Nature’s part, ey?

It’s amazing when you think about it.  Most mayflies spend 360 or so days of the year on the river or streambed.  Based upon their biological clock, they hatch out as sub-imagos (duns), molt into imagos (spinners), mate in air, drop their eggs in the water, stretch out their wings and die.  Some insects like the larger stoneflies will spend a couple of years under water before hatching.

During periods of hot weather with water temperatures exceeding 70 degrees and with low water conditions, the trout activity slows down.  Trout find it difficult to survive in water temperatures warmer than that and seek colder water tributaries and river bottom springs to survive.  (That’s why it is so important to maintain trees and canopy vegetation along the banks of the streams to provide shade to cool the water and help them survive)

Successful anglers have learned when the various flies hatch out as well as their size, coloration, idiosyncrasies, etc.  Although trout brains are no larger than peas, they are not fools.  If they have been feeding on a brown colored size #12 mayfly for days and then are presented with a sized #16 tan imitation, forget it.  They will just give the angler the fin.

Volumes and volumes have been written about these aquatic insects and the fascinating sport (or art, if you prefer) of flyfishing over the last several hundred years.  Tradition abounds in this sport.  For me, the thought of casting a fly imitation, perhaps developed by Theodore Gordon and successfully fished by him in the 1800’s simply turns me on.

If staring at a bobber for hours no longer thrills you, you may want to step up your game and take up fly fishing.  Don’t let the Greek or Latin names of the flies discourage you.  There are thousands of species of each type and there has to be some scientific way to identify them.  Call them brown, gray or green flies if you wish.  Neither the insects nor fish care.  You really only have to know about a dozen or so of them.

Fly fishing is not necessarily easy, it can be challenging and downright frustrating at times, but with determination and practice, you can do it.  Any when you do, the only regret you may have is that you didn’t take up the sport earlier.

Tight lines!