Meet at Upcountry Sportfishing in New Hartford at 10:00 am Saturday, December 14th.

Toss on your ugliest holiday sweater and join us for a fun winter tradition on the Farmington River! We have been running this holiday tradition now for the past decade. While the fishing isn’t always great, this gathering is always a great way to ring in the holidays. After the meet up at Upcountry, we’ll spread out to fish for a couple of hours, followed by a warm fire at the pavilion in People’s state park. There will be snacks and beverages so bring your appetite.

This event is always a partnership with the Mianus TU chapter. So please click the link below to register so we have an idea of how many people will be joining.

https://tu.myeventscenter.com/event/Ugly-Sweater-Farmington-River-Fishing-Trip-101260?redir=1

DEEP Encon Officer Dan Clancy patrols the South West sector of the Western District. He started as a game warden with the Utah Division of Wildlife and spent 3 years learning the ropes of conservation law enforcement before returning to his home state of Connecticut in April of 2024. Dan is an avid fisherman, both saltwater and freshwater as well as a bowhunter. Dan specializes in big game poaching enforcement and has enjoyed being back in Connecticut close to family.

Dan recently ran into Mike Fatse and Neil Baldino fishing the Housatonic, and agreed to present to our chapter gather for December. He will be a great follow-up presenter to his colleague Jordan Jacquo, who presented to our chapter last April. We always enjoy hearing from DEEP representatives to get their perspective on managing fish and game enforcement. Especially in our home waters.

Please don’t miss this last gathering for 2024. As usual we’ll begin with our pizza and beverages, followed by the 50/50 raffle and chapter business.

Blue Lines in Your Backyard – Chasing Wild Trout in Beautiful Places

There are dozens of streams within a short drive where native Brook Trout and wild Brown Trout hide in plain sight, quietly finning under the canopy of a large tree, or hiding among the boulders of a tumbling mountain stream.  Jeff Yates will lead us on a journey through some of the most scenic wild trout waters of Fairfield and Litchfield counties and share his knowledge on where, how and when to find wild fish on these small, “blue line” waters that often go unnoticed. Along the way he’ll cover the tools and resources available to help you scout out these waters in advance of an outing, and what to bring to make the most of your time on these small streams. You’ll leave knowing more about these headwater streams, and also how you can help Trout Unlimited care for and recover them to ensure these wild fish are here for generations to come.

Jeff is a guide, author and the national Director of Engagement for Trout Unlimited and has held nearly every volunteer TU position on the board of his local Mianus Chapter and the Connecticut Council. He has been fishing the waters of Connecticut for more than 30 years and has been guiding for nearly two decades. His book, Fly Fishing Fairfield County: Secrets of Suburban Streams, details the great trout fishing available in the southwest corner of the state. Learn more at www.flyfishingct.com.

Pizza and beverages will be available at 7:00 followed by our 50/50 raffle and chapter announcements.

Our September Chapter Gathering is on schedule for Wednesday, September 11th, at Stony Hill Fire House. We do not have a speaker on the schedule for this first gathering. Our agenda will include a recap of chapter activities over the summer and potential activities and projects for the future.

Updates will be provided on the temperature monitoring of Pootatuck/Deep Brook, and our chapter’s advocacy on the 296 Berkshire Road development. We will have an open discussion on future chapter activities and suggestions for fishing trips, fund raising ideas, and future conversation projects.

The chapter continues to encourage members to volunteer, when available, to assist with our ongoing projects with our home waters. We also continue to look for members that are interested in taking leadership roles with the chapter. Our Board is always looking for an infusion of enthusiastic members that want to participate in the future of Candlewood Valley TU.

As always, pizza and beverages will be provided at 7:00 pm followed by our 50/50 raffle. Don’t miss this first gathering to help us kick off the season.

CVTU member, Fred Madura, would like to lead a fishing trip to the Flat Brook River in the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation area. The Flat Brook is a 11.6 mile tributary of the Delaware River near Port Jervis, NY (see map below). Saturday, June 1st, is free fishing day in NJ so no license is required.

Fred has fished this river a lot, and it has always been well stocked. NJ only stocks rainbows but every year Fred says he catches a fair number of wild Brook trout . Fred Madura’s number is 201-638-7118

Directions to Flat Brook in NJ

TAKE RT 84 WEST APPROX 80 MILES TO EXIT 1 (LAST EXIT IN NY). TURN LEFT ONTO RT6 . A SHORT DISTANCE TURN LEFT ONTO RT 15. RT 15 WILL TURN INTO RT23 AND YOU WILL CROSS INTO NJ. YOU WILL PASS SOME GAS STATIONS, A McDONALDS AND A DQ. NEXT RIGHT AFTER THE DQ WILL BE CLOVE RD. TURN RT, ONTO CLOVE RD. FOLLOW CLOVE RD. ( IT MAKES SOME TWISTS AND TURNS) OUT TO RT 206. TURN LEFT ONTO RT 206. TRAVEL ABOUR 6.5 MILES AND YOU WILL SEE AN RV YARD ON YOUR RIGHT AND NONNO’S IS RIGHT PAST THE RV YARD. THE INTERSECTION WHERE NONNO’S IS LOCATED IS CALLED “TUTTLES CORNER “ ON THE MAP

TO LOCATION #1 SCHAFFER’S BRIDGE MEETING PLACE.

TURN RIGHT AFTER NONNO’S ONTO TUTTLES CORNER DINGMANS RD. RT560 GO .7 MILES , TO BRIDGE , PARKING LOT IS ON LEFT OVER BRIDGE. THERE IS A HORSE TRAIL THAT STARTS HERE AND MORE OR LESS FOLLOWS THE RIVER DOWN TO LOCATION #3 ABOUT ½ WAY THERE IS A LARGE POOL ALWAYS HAS A LOT OF FISH BUT NOT THAT EASY.

TO LOCATION #2 UPPER BRIDGE ABUTMENT.

TURN RIGHT AFTER NONNO’S ONTO TUTTLES CORNER DINGMANS RD. RT560 GO .7 MILES , TO BRIDGE ,CROSS BRIDGE TRAVEL .1MILE TAKE FIRST RIGHT ONTO FLATBROOK RD, THERE ARE A NUMBER OF PULLOFFS ALONG THE ROAD, AT THE END THERE IS AN AREA FOR 3 OR 4 ? CARS. THERE IS A POOL AT THE OLD BRIDGE ABUTMENTS, FOLLOW THE RIVER UPSTREAM TO THE RT206 BRIDGE. MANY GOOD HOLDING SPOTS.

TO LOCATION #3 THE FIELD.

TURN RIGHT AFTER NONNO’S ONTO TUTTLES CORNER DINGMANS RD. RT560 GO .7 MILES , TO BRIDGE ,CROSS BRIDGE TRAVEL .2 MILES TAKE FIRST LEFT. (THERE IS A SMALL BARRIER, GO AROUND IT) GO ABOUT .5 TO .75 MILES TO SECOND FIELD ON LEFT THERE IS A DIRT ROAD ENTRY. DRIVE TO END OF FIELD. WALK AROUND GATE TAKE GRAVEL ROAD TO LONG POOL. AT RIVER TAKE HORSE TRAIL TO LEFT (UPSTREAM) LOTS OF GOOD WATER. WILL EVENTUALLY TAKE YOU TO SHAFFER’S BRIDGE

LOCATION #4 THREE BRIDGES AREA.

TURN RIGHT AFTER NONNO’S ONTO TUTTLES CORNER DINGMANS RD. RT560 GO .7 MILES , TO BRIDGE ,CROSS BRIDGE TRAVEL 4.3 MILES FROM SHAFFER’S BRIDGE ON TUTTLES CORNER DINGMANS RD. RT560 , THROUGH LAYTON TO BEVANS RD, ( GO STRAIGHT AT INTERSECTION FOR DINGMAN’S FERRY , BECOMES RT 640) GO THROUGH PETER’S VALLEY , THE ROAD WILL MAKE A 90 DEGREE TURN TO THE RIGHT BUT YOU WILL SEE A DIRT ROAD STRAIGHT AHEAD, TAKE IT ! IT CAN BE A LITTLE MESSY BUT THERE ARE AREAS TO PARK ALONG IT. NEAR THE BEGINNING THERE MAY BE A TRACTOR ROAD TO THE LEFT THAT THEY USE FOR STOCKING, IT GOES UPSTREAM TO A LARGE AREA OF FLAT WATER . WALK DOWN ROAD CROSS 3 BRIDGES TO A PARKING LOT AND A HANDYCAP AREA. ( I DON’T KNOW HOW TO DRIVE TO THE LOT , IT IS A BUNCH OF UNMARKED DIRT ROADS, }. A FEW DEEP POOLS UPSTREAM TILL YOU HIT THE FLAT WATER. DOWNSTREAM A LOT OF GOOD WATER . IF YOU WALK DIAGONALLY ACROSS THE LOT YOU WILL FIND A FIRE ROAD THAT WILL BRING YOU ALONG SIDE THE RIVER AND WILL EVENTUALLY BRING YOU TO THE OPOSITE SIDE OF THE RIVER FROM THE RIFLE RANGE AREA AND THE PORT-A-JOHN ( LOCATION #5) THERE ARE A LOT OF GOOD POOLS AND RUNS ALL ALONG HERE.

LOCATION #5 RIFLE RANGE AND PORT-A-JOHN

FOLLOW DIRECTIONS TO AREA #4 BUT MAKE THE HARD RIGHT AND CONTINUE .5 MILES TO RIFLE RANGE ON RIGHT. THERE IS A PARKING AREA ON THE LEFT MIGHT BE JUST PAST THE RANGE . THE TRAIL FROM THREE BRIDGES ENDS HERE ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE RIVER. THERE ARE SOME GOOD HOLES DOWNSTREAM BUT NO REAL PATH.

Please click the button below to register, so we can have a headcount and deliver additional communications.

Our guest speaker this month is Hunter Bulak (@hunterbulak). Hunter is an avid angler who has no shortage of putting time in on the water. Though he currently resides in CT, Hunter grew up in and around the Quabbin watershed in Massachusetts, targeting any and all species that inhabit its multitude of waterways. However, his true love is targeting the prized trophy Native Brook Trout and Brown Trout that inhabit the Swift River. In this presentation, he will be discussing the Swift River system, as well as theories on targeting trophy Brook and Brown Trout that dwell in its depths.

Gathering starts at 7:00 pm with Pizza and Beverages, followed by our 50/50 raffle and chapter announcements

Invasive Species Cleanup 

Conifer Revetment Staging 

Saturday, April 27nd FROM 8:30AM TO 1PM 

COME SUPPORT THE CANDLEWOOD VALLEY CHAPTER OF TROUT UNLIMITED & THE POOTATUCK WATERSHED ASSOCIATION KEEP OUR LOCAL ECOSYSTEM HEALTHY. HELPING TO CLEAN UP WASTE, PREPARE FOR STREAM BANK STABILIZATION PROJECTS, AND PROTECT OUR RIPARIAN BUFFER. WORKING TOWARDS PROVIDING A CLEAN, CLEAR AQUAFER SYSTEM, A SUSTAINABLE TROUT HABITAT AND A HAPPY MOTHER NATURE!

MEET BEHIND “COVER TWO’ IN SANDY HOOK CENTER, THE BACK OF THE PARKING LOT TO GET ASSIGNMENT WHERE SUPPORT IS NEEDED (WEAR APPROPRIATE CLOTHING; LONG SLEEVES, LONG PANTS, GLOVES, STURDY SHOES…)

DETAILS ONLINE AT WWW.CVTU.ORG, http://pootatuckwatershed.org 

Also follow us on Facebook; 

https://www.facebook.com/candlewoodvalleyTU/ 

https://www.facebook.com/Pootatuck-Watershed-Association-387463168130862/ 

We're bringing back the International Fly Fishing Film Festival, this year hosting this fun night of fishing films on three consecutive Friday nights in three different towns in Fairfield County.

Whether you join us in Bethel on March 15, attend the screening in Stamford on March 22 or buy your tickets for the Fairfield show on March 29, you're sure to have a fun time meeting anglers and conservationists like you, catching some of the best and most exciting fly fishing videos from across the planet and enjoying a drink and a chance at some great raffle prizes.

Best of all, the $20 ticket price goes to directly support the important work of all three of our local chapters here in Fairfield County.

So be sure to grab your friends, snag your tickets and join us at one - or two or three - of the shows for a great night to celebrate and support conservation!

Our March chapter gathering will feature Chris Sullivan. Chris is currently a PhD Candidate at the University of Connecticut studying cold-water-dependent fish use of thermal refuges during heat events. Chris's research is centered around understanding the 'rules of the game' regarding how fish use these areas, and strives to transfer his research findings into practical conservation approaches. Prior to his current position, Chris conducted research on a suite of fish species in rivers and lakes throughout the Midwest, largely focusing on invasive species ecology. You can check out Chris's published work here; feel free to reach out for copies of papers of interest.

As usual we will gather at Stony Hill Fire Department in Bethel at 7:00 pm for pizza and beverages. Followed by our 50/50 raffle and monthly chapter update.

NOTE: Date Change, February’s Gathering is now Thursday the 15th

Same Time and Location

Join us for our February Chapter Gathering with Rowan Lytle of “Connecticut Fly Angler”

Connecticut Fly Angler

Rowan Lytle first picked up a fly rod at 13 years of age. It was a short bamboo rod with no reel and only one guide. With some heavy string and many hours of time in the yard he began to learn to cast, and when he got a real fly rod it didn't take long for it to become an obsession.

He went from bass fishing with conventional tackle three times a week to fishing for anything and everything every day possible. After a couple years of juggling conventional and fly fishing Rowan ditched his spinning rods and bass tackle and dedicated his time almost fully into fly fishing.

He has logged over 200 days on the water every year since 2013 and caught more than 150 species of fish on fly gear. Rowan particularly enjoys the challenge of multi species angling and targeting fish that conventional wisdom suggests are not really "fly catchable". He is the first angler to document catching two species on fly tackle: barrelfish (Hyperoglyphe perciformis) and lake chubsucker (Erimyzon sucetta).

The drive to learn anything and everything about fly fishing and the allure of aquatic biodiversity drives his obsession.

Join us at 7:00pm for Pizza and beverages and our 50/50 raffle. Stone Hill Fire Department 59 Stony Hill Rd. Bethel, CT 06801. We look forward to seeing you there!

We’re back at Stony Hill Fire House for the start of 2024 chapter gatherings!

Candlewood Valley TU will host their January monthly gathering at Stony Hill Fire House on Wednesday, January 10th at 7:00pm. This event is free and open to the public. We will be joined by Jesse Vadala, Regional Engagement Coordinator for Trout Unlimited’s Northeast Conservation Staff. CVTU would like to take this opportunity to welcome folks out who are interested in learning a bit more about the staff-led initiatives of Trout Unlimited in the Northeast, and how we can all lend a hand in expanding the outreach and efforts of our local chapter. Jesse will be leading a workshop discussion, with group participation, on the topic of “Local Resource Mapping for Community Conservation”.

As we eagerly await the warm days of Spring and the miracle of wild trout in cold flowing Eastern waters, we would like to take this time to plan and collaborate on some exciting events for the seasons ahead. CVTU has hosted outstanding programs in Connecticut for Youth Education, Local Conservation on streams like the Pootatuck River and Deep Brook, as well as partnering with community service organizations such as Project Healing Waters and Casting for Recovery. In 2024, we aim to welcome new ideas and encourage the participation of all individuals who are interested in lending a hand. Pizza and a raffle start at 7pm at Stony Hill Fire House in Bethel, CT.

We hope to see you there Wednesday night. Pizza at beverages at 7:00pm, followed by a 50/50 raffle, and then the workshop discussion

A fun, and silly way to usher in the holiday season, our annual Ugly Sweater trip to the Farmington with the Mianus Chapter is always a festive affair.

We'll meet at 10 a.m. at UpCountry Sportfishing, then head out on the water to fish. A warming station with fire, hot chocolate, coffee and snacks will be open and running at the People's State Park pavilion at Matthies Grove around noon.

Whether you swing by to say hi and flaunt your ugliest outfit, stop to fish for a few hours, or stay the entire time, you're welcome to join us whether you are a TU member or not. Family, kids and beginner anglers welcome - we can even lend gear to those who need to borrow it!

Please register for this event by clicking the button here.

Matt Devine and Drew Ransom of CTDEEP

Matt and Drew will be presenting on a variety of topics applicable to the mission of CVTU. This is a monthly gathering you won’t want to miss.

Matt Devine has over twelve years of experience sampling, studying, and enhancing cold and warm water fisheries. He has worked for state and federal agencies as well as non-governmental organizations specializing in fisheries conservation. After receiving his BA in Environmental Studies from the University of Redlands (CA), Matt’s fisheries career began in Litchfield, Connecticut as a Seasonal Resource Assistant for the CTDEEP Fisheries Division crew.

In 2009 Matt scratched his itch to move to the Northern Rockies. Matt held positions with the Wyoming Game and Fish Department, USGS (Wyoming), and Friends of the Teton River (Idaho), and spent the off seasons on the Snake River raft guiding and winters working at Jackson Hole Mountain Resort.

Matt returned to the Northeast and worked with the Vermont Department of Fish and Wildlife before returning to school. He completed an MS in Fish and Wildlife Conservation Biology at UMass Amherst in 2015 and is currently wrapping up his PhD, also at UMass, where he is part of the Massachusetts Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit. Now Matt, originally from West Hartford, has seen the light and has come full circle back to CTDEEP as a Coldwater Fisheries Biologist, and will be working out of the Eastern District Headquarters in Marlborough.

Matt’s graduate work focuses on the population dynamics and restoration ecology of anadromous river herring. For his MS Matt developed a sampling protocol for juvenile river herring in freshwater lakes and investigated factors that influence their density and growth. His PhD research expands sampling to large rivers and estuaries in an attempt to close the loop on understanding limits to production. His research also investigates the response of river herring to restored aquatic connectivity in coastal Massachusetts watersheds.

Matt is an avid outdoorsman and enjoys hunting, fishing, snowboarding, searching for antlers with his dog, and spending time on and around rivers and streams with his wife Vanessa, two young boys Wyatt (6) and Jamie (3), and trusty golden retriever May.

Drew Ransome is a CT native who started his career working with the University of Connecticut and as a seasonal with the CT DEEP Western District office. He holds a BS in Natural Resources from UConn and an MS in Environmental Science and Policy from the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay. He has gained experience working in multiple states and eco-regions throughout his career (Intermountain West and Great Lakes) and has also held fisheries technician positions with Idaho Department of Fish and Game and the US Fish and Wildlife Service. Before starting his new position with DEEP he held a fisheries research biologist position working with Bull Trout and Westslope Cutthroat Trout in Lake Pend Oreille, Idaho.

Drew is an enthusiastic and unsuccessful angler, and has enjoyed getting to fish in the salt again after moving back to Connecticut.

We will be providing a Zoom link for this gathering only. There is a great deal of interest in these two gentlemen and their presentation. Please click the button below to gain access to the meeting. Be sure to “rename” your connection with full name and TU chapter.

Fall Striper Fishing - Western Long Island Sound

Our November Chapter Gathering will feature Gerald Berrafati.

Gerald Berrafati, Mianus Chapter Coordinator and die hard saltwater angler will present on striped bass fishing in the western Long Island Sound. When he's not taking care of chapter activities and major projects, chances are you'll find Gerald somewhere on the shore chasing stripers, bluefish, and false albacore. Come learn all about what you need, where to look, and when to fish!

This presentation will cover wade fishing opportunities from Greenwich to Milford, fly & spin tackle, and coastal access. Discover exciting saltwater fishing opportunities right in your backyard!

Once again we will meet at Edmond Town Hall in Newtown. Pizza and beverage at 7:00 PM followed by our monthly raffle, chapter business, and then Gerald’s presentation.

Born and raised in Fairfield, Connecticut, Ben has over 25 years experience fishing on the Long Island Sound. Ben is a fully licensed Captain with a U.S. Coast Guard OUPV/6-pack merchant mariner credential.

A Graduate of Fairfield Prep and Indiana University. Ben worked as a Global Marketing Brand Manager in New York City for over 6 years. He led product development and advertising production for Nautica Fragrance and a few smaller brands, commuting daily from Fairfield to the Empire State Building.

After March 2020, he began working from home which allowed him more opportunity to fish, thus eventually leading him to pursue his life-long vocation of becoming a full-time fishing guide. Ben is now a full-time fishing guide, operating a fishing charter and guide service based in Fairfield, Connecticut. Fishing Western and Central Long Island Sound. Specializing in light tackle, fly fishing, topwater, and sight-fishing. Targeting Striped Bass, Bluefish, False Albacore and Atlantic Bonito almost exclusively using lures and flies.

Ben currently lives in Fairfield with his wife, Justine, and his 2 year old Beagle, Herman

Our monthly gathering will start at 7:00 pm with Pizza and Beverages, followed by our raffle and chapter updates. Ben’s presentation will begin around 7:30 with Q&A following.

Unfortunately we have to cancel this event due to circumstances beyond our control. We will update the status of this event if circumstances change.

“Come Make a Difference”​

“Be Part of Something Great!”​

We hope that everyone is getting excited to see some Fall colors! Speaking of Fall, it’s a great time of the year to plant trees in support of Candlewood Valley Trout Unlimited’s mission; Protect, Enhance, Rehabilitate and Educate on clean, clear water.​

On Saturday, October 7th, CVTU will be hosting a tree planting conservation gathering. We will be planting upwards of 30 trees to enhance a section along the Pootatuck River in Newtown.​

We need your support to make this happen!​

We will be meeting over at the Deep Brook kiosk, behind the “Park & Bark” dog park, off Old Farm Road in Newtown at 8:30am and work until 1pm (Any time you can give us is greatly appreciated!)​

CVTU needs to postpone our Macroinvertebrate Samplng until next Saturday, September 30th, due to Tropical Storm Ophelia.

CVTU has assisted CT DEEP with sampling the state’s rivers and streams for many years, to determine if the waters are “healthy”. One measure of cleanliness is the presence of macroinvertebrates in the stream. The number and variety of “most wanted” macroinvertebrate (mayfly, caddisfly, stonefly nymphs, etc.) along with other “bugs”, determine whether the water body is healthy. CVTU has a vested interest since healthy streams support trout populations. We gather and record our results and send the via samples to DEEP for their analysis and final determination. Results are eventually posted online. Besides CVTU, there are a number of other TU, educational, and NFP organizations who support DEEP in this effort across the state.

Just-in-time training will b provided before we depart for the streams on Saturday morning, and each team will be headed by an experienced and DEEP trained sampler.

In addition to supporting our conservation mission, this effort also supports our community outreach and educational goals. So please bring a friend, or a family member! It is an easy way to involve people who care about the environment, but are not necessarily interested in fishing. Everyone who has participated in the past has thoroughly enjoyed the experience.

When - Saturday , September 23, 8:30am until approximately 11:30am

Where - Meet at Dunkin Donuts @ Big Y Plaza in Newtown

What to Bring - Water bottle, tall boots or waders (2 people will be in shallow water). Hat, insect repellent, sunscreen, phone for pictures, and your intellectual curiosity. All sampling gear and equipment will be provided.

Questions - Contact Paul Shafer (203) 470-3510, Shafer.paul@att.net

Rain Date - Sunday, September 24 (same time and location). Paul will reach out to all registrants via email in the event that the event needs to be rescheduled.

Please click the button to register for the event

Bill Case of TU’s Farmington Valley Chapter, has respectfully invited our members to their annual riverside picnic. You can find details of picnic on their website at the link below.

https://www.fvtu.org/events/fvtu-annual-picnic-september-16-2023

This is an excellent opportunity to meet other TU members from a neighboring chapter. Looking at their website shows that their goals are similar to the goals of CVTU. They focus on conservation, TIC, Project Healing Waters and other projects that are the bedrock of TU’s mission.

If you would like to attend the picnic we ask that you register at the button below, so that we can provide Mr. Case and the FVTU board with a headcount from CVTU.

Our monthly chapter Gatherings will begin anew this September 13th, at 7:00 pm at Edmond Town Hall in Newtown. September’s presenter will be non other than Antoine Bissieux, “The French Fly Fisherman”.

http://www.bissieux.com/

If you’ve fished the Farmington regularly you have for sure seen Antoine’s silver Toyota FJ Cruiser park in some of the best Farmington access. Antoine is an Orvis endorsed guide. The Farmington River is his home playground. He teaches all levels of fly fishing from beginners to competitors. Every year he spends time in Europe, especially in France with members or ex-member of the French team, learning what’s new. Looking at the top 10 fly fishermen on the planet gave him a very different view of fishing.

You won’t want to miss this meeting and his presentation on how to fish our local waters using techniques established and employed by the European competition teams.

You can find more information on Antoine at the following link; http://bissieux.com/about.html

As usual we will gather together at 7:00 pm for pizza and beverages, followed by chapter updates and Antoine’s presentation at 7:30.

We won’t be setting up a Zoom link this season as it has become too difficult to manage. We would love to see you in person at Edmond Town Hall.

Board meeting to kick off the fall season

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Join us for a day of fishing, BBQ’ing, burgers and beers as we gather with our neighbor TU chapter members from Mianus TU to celebrate our friends, our fishing and our connections. Come early (or stay late) to fish or just come to catch up and chat, all are welcome including non-members, BBQ at approx 12 noon.
If you’ve never fished the Farmington before this is a great opportunity to come and pick the brains of some more experienced anglers and get some tips and locales!

Burgers and beers supplied.

Please register to help us calculate catering

Please click here to register

Earth Day Cleanup

Invasive Species Cleanup

Conifer Revetment Staging

Saturday, April 22nd FROM 8:30AM TO 1PM

Come support the Candlewood Valley Chapter of Trout Unlimited to keep our local ecosystem healthy. Helping to clean up waste, prepare for stream bank stabilization projects, and protect our riparian buffer. Working towards providing a clean, clear aquafer system, a sustainable trout habitat and a happy mother nature!

MEET BEHIND “COVER TWO’ IN SANDY HOOK CENTER, THE BACK OF THE PARKING LOT TO GET ASSIGNMENT WHERE SUPPORT IS NEEDED (WEAR APPROPRIATE CLOTHING; LONG SLEEVES, LONG PANTS, GLOVES, STURDY SHOES…)

DETAILS ONLINE AT WWW.CVTU.ORG

Please register for the event by clicking the button below. We need to determine how many volunteers will be coming out to help.

Earth Day Poster

Thank you for a great turn out for our March chapter meeting. We would like to keep that momentum going. As we planned our April meeting, the CVTU board became aware of a threat to our mission: protecting our local waters. A proposal for a 170-unit senior living development off Commerce Rd. in Newtown was going before the Inland Wetlands Commission (IWC) on March 22. The property borders Deep Brook, one of nine Class 1 wild trout rivers in the state of CT. We have been collecting temperature data from Deep Brook for over 15 years.

This river is already facing challenges from rising water temperatures that can periodically exceed temperature thresholds threatening the native trout of Deep Brook. The board jumped into action employing an environmental expert to support our mission. Our position is to protect the Deep Brook water course, not oppose the development. The goal is to ensure proper storm water run-off safeguards are in place ensuring the water quality of Deep Brook is not further compromised.

The Newtown IWC will hear more testimony relating to the proposed senior development proposal on April 12th. This conflicts with our April 12th monthly chapter meeting. We will not hold our scheduled meeting as several members of the CVTU board will be attending the IWC meeting with our environmental consultant.

If you would like to see CVTU work our mission in a real-life situation, the IWC meeting is open to the public at the Newtown Municipal Center, 3 Primrose St. starting at 7:30 PM. We will resume our monthly chapter meeting again on May 10th.

We will reschedule April’s previously scheduled presenter - Tim Cammisa - for a meeting later in the year so that we can still enjoy his enjoyable and informative presentation.

Thank you for your continued support.

CVTU Board

Links to recent articles on the development:

April 3rd, 2023: https://www.newtownbee.com/04032023/concerns-raised-for-commerce-road-housing-development/

March 21, 2023: https://www.newtownbee.com/03212023/commerce-road-senior-community-proposal-facing-upcoming-hearings/

Fishing the Hendrickson Hatch with Derrick Kirkpatrick

Please put our March Chapter Meeting on your calendars for Wednesday, March 8th, at 7:00pm at Edmond Town Hall. Our presenter this month is none other than Derrick Kirkpatrick.

Born in Milford Connecticut, Derrick picked up fishing at the age of 6. He started out hitting local ponds in the area and then moved on to a more skillful level of angling. At age 11, Derrick purchased a cheap fly rod and taught himself to cast. He expanded his species list targeting trout, striped bass, and carp; both spin and fly. He has been guiding the Farmington river and other CT waters since 1998.

Some of our members may recall his presentation with Zach St. Amand in December of 2020, when they presented Winter Fishing Tips to our chapter. Derrick is well schooled in all aspects of Fly Fishing and is an excellent presenter.

You won’t want to miss this meeting and his presentation on how to fish the Hendrickson Hatch.

You can find more information on Derrick at the following links

CT Fish Guides Instagram Facebook LinkedIn

At the core of fly-fishing is the pursuit of wild spaces and peaceful places. It is in these spaces where fish seem most willing, the water appears in its purest form and our community connects. It is in these places where the world’s best fly-fishing films come to life. The International Fly Fishing Film Festival (IF4), the world’s leading fly-fishing film event, is a curated collection of these stunning stories.

IF4 2023 features new films from RA Beattie & Jako Lucas, the Braker Bros, Capture Adventure Media, Black Fly Eyes and more. We are honored to have been chosen to feature a film from Hilton Graham, of Love Affair Creative, that honors the life and contributions of John Turner, former Director of the US Fish and Wildlife Service. Together with Orvis, Trout Unlimited and Backcountry Hunters and Anglers, we are on a mission to create community and we invite you to join us as we share the experience of fly-fishing on the silver screen.

The local screening of The International Fly Fishing Film Festival will be held February 24th at Edmond Town Hall in Newtown.

Find additional informaiton on their official website at www.flyfilmfest.com.

Due to circumstances beyond our control, Antoine Bissieux had to cancel his speaking engagement with us next Wednesday, February 8th. In his place we have scheduled a Zoom call with Chris Murphy of Trout Power. We will still meet at Edmond Town Hall, enjoy pizza and beverages, and our raffle. The Zoom presentation will be projected on our screen at the front of the room.

Trout Power is a 501(c)(3) non profit organization that relies on volunteers as citizen scientists. Learn how this grassroots organization is using citizen science efforts to identify, map, monitor and advocate for protection of wild and genetically unique brook trout populations in the Adirondacks and wherever they are found throughout New York. Chris Murphy, current president and high school science teacher in Vermont will be giving the presentation.

What is a heritage strain Brook Trout?

Brook trout are not only the state fish of New York, they are one of the few fish that is native to the state. As the last glaciers receded thousands of years ago, a pristine environment was left behind for these native fish. Today New York consists of 7,600 lakes and ponds, and over 70,000 miles of streams and rivers. To fill these waterbodies, the DEC in NY has had an active stocking program of brook trout beginning in 1879-1880. Over the past 140 years continuous stocking has lead to intraspecific breeding with native populations of fish by mixing the genetics and creating hybrids of stocked and native DNA. Within New York, there are a select few populations of genetically distinct brook trout that have not been influenced by stocking. These fish are titled "heritage strain brook trout". Each heritage strain is named according to the waterbody they were identified in and shows physical differences exemplifying the unique genetics of the native fish. In the past few years, Trout Power has identified a previously undocumented heritage strain of brook trout and continues to search for more.

On Wednesday January 11th at 7:00 pm, we will have our first chapter meeting of 2023. Our speaker will be Steve Culton of Currentseams.com. Steve has presented to CVTU before and we're excited to have him back to give for another educational presentation. 

Steve is an accomplished fly fishing guide, instructor, fly tyer and freelance writer. His work has appeared in Field & Stream, American Angler, The Flyfish Journal, The Drake, Flyfishing & Tying Journal, Eastern Fly Fishing and other publications. Steve likes to fish when, where, and how most other people don’t. His website currentseams.com is library of information from his articles & stories, to fly tying, fishing reports and videos.

You won’t want to miss this first chapter meeting of the year. We’ll kick the year off right with our usual pizza and beverages at 7:00 pm, followed our raffle. If you can’t make it out to Edmond Town Hall in person, you can join the Zoom call via the button below.

DETAILS ONLINE AT WWW.CVTU.ORG, http://pootatuckwatershed.org

Also follow us on Facebook

https://www.facebook.com/candlewoodvalleyTU/

https://www.facebook.com/Pootatuck-Watershed-Association-387463168130862/

(NO SYNTHETIC TREES OR TREES WITH TINSEL OR FLOCKING PLEASE)

A fun, and silly way to usher in the holiday season, our annual Ugly Sweater trip to the Farmington with the Candlewood Valley Chapter is always a festive affair.

We'll meet at 10 a.m. at UpCountry Sportfishing, then head out on the water to fish. A warming station with fire, hot chocolate, coffee and snacks will be open and running at the People's state Park pavilion at Matthies Grove around noon.