VOLUNTEERS NEEDED SOON! – for Rock Rolling in the Housatonic River Trout Management Area!!!

We have an opportunity to help with a long-anticipated project to improve summertime trout survival in the Housatonic River. The thermal refuges on the Housatonic (mouths of cold water tributaries where trout gather in large numbers to avoid warm river temperatures) have needed restoration for years. Some of these areas have become shallow and, despite having cool water, of little use for trout survival. Five have been identified as potential projects this year.

Our joint plan with CT DEP and Housatonic Fly Fishermen’s Assoc. is to enhance the refuges by deepening them and also adding woody tree cover for trout so that significant numbers can shelter there during hot, dry spells. We’d like to do the work in late June or early July.

No skills are needed! It’s just going to be a bunch of guys rolling rocks. Nothing more than that – however – a bunch of guys moving rocks can do a lot! For years, just two or three people working one day at a time expanded, deepened and maintained the Furnace Brook refuge. You just need to have a willingness to give up some time and muscle power to help this first-class fishery. You’ll also need to bring is your work gloves and enthusiasm (and shovels, pry bars and crowbars if you have them).

Because the project depends on low water for success, we can’t select a date very far in advance. A single thunderstorm can stop the project for days. At this time, we need a list of names of potential volunteers. That will help Mike Humphries of CT DEP gauge the team’s readiness. When we have a date, we’ll contact them directly. If you think you can help, please contact (either me or Mike Piquette)

Jim Glowienka jimglowienka [at] optonline [dot] net
Mike Piquette leeniekate [at] aol [dot] com

What I’m asking each of you Chapter Presidents is to work up a list of names of potential volunteers that we can contact when Mike has a date to propose. Please distribute this document to your Chapter members and ask them to respond with their interest and availability on short notice. I will follow up with you on responses in a couple days.

If you are interested in a half day group spey/switch  casting class on the Housatonic River this fall with Andrew Moy of East Coast Spey, please contact Gary Whipple. Eight people are already committed, and another 4 or 5  can be added with additional student’s commitments. Date of the class is October 10. Class will run from 10 am to 2pm with lunch included for registration of $150 (preregistration required) . Loaner equipment may be available for those who don’t yet have a switch or spey rod.

Gary has quite a track record of coordinating great classes so if you’re interested in building skills or learning new ones I recommend you attend.

Please contact Gary Whipple garyw1948 [at] sbcglobal [dot] net if you are interested.

Our next meeting will be on Tuesday, May 11th at 7 pm at the Miry Brook Firehouse in Danbury, Connecticut. [directions]

Casting guru and award winning member of the U.S. Fly Fishing Team, George Daniel, will be speaking at our next meeting. If you’ve never seen this guy you must. He’s a expert caster (that’s an understatement). More importantly, he’s a fishing machine. He’ll be fresh off our course scheduled for Monday the 10th and available to answer any of your questions about fly fishing and dynamic nymphing.

Pizza will be served! Join us!

Next generation casters

Our Youth Education day scheduled for Saturday, May 8th has been canceled.

Unfortunately, enrollment for this year’s event was very low and we could not justify the volunteer time nor the financial cost for such a small class.  We’ll be regrouping on this program and hope to be able to offer it again in the future. Thanks to everyone who was interested. We hope we see you at our next event.

A couple of quick reminders. Our next chapter meeting is on April the 13th. We have a great speaker, there will be pizza, raffle items, swap-n-sell table and stories to be shared.

May 8th…the 3rd Annual CVTU Youth Day event. We need volunteers. Check your calendars. There is more information here on the site. You can also follow up with Steve Zakur at the next meeting.

A short trip report. I took a ride to the Mianus TMA this past Sunday. Riding shotgun was George “THE BLACK GHOST” Hansen. Neither of us had ever fished there before. I am not quite sure how to describe the trip other than an adventure.

The water was up but manageable. I landed 1 trout, was visited by a Conservation Officer, witnessed an epic canine hatch and came to the conclusion that some cyclists really should consider an alternative to spandex.

George was the high hook with 3 trout, all on the black ghost.

A neat little stream, but next time I am staying on the east side of the river to avoid the dogs.

For all you spey casting types out there (and those who are interested), a bunch of the guys will be attending Spey Nation III on June 19th. Check out the details at speynation.com   There is also a Skagit Clave at Pineville on May 1; Ed Ward is coming east and will be at the Clave and giving private instruction on May 2. 

Ask around at the next chapter meeting. Gary Whipple and Joe Hovious can fill you in on the sickness that is “Spey Casting”.