Connecticut Free Fishing Day - Sept 11, 2013

If you have needed a reason to get outside and try your hand at some fishing, well then how does FREE sound?  That's right, free!  Connecticut's 2013 Free Fishing day is here!

The Connecticut Department of Energy & Environmental Protection (DEEP) has designated Saturday, May 11th 2013, as a “Free Fishing Day” in Connecticut where no fishing license will be required. Anyone, residents and non-residents, can fish any fresh or marine public waters without having to have a fishing license. Please note that all other rules and regulations including any closed seasons, size and possession limits and gear restrictions still apply. Please visit our 2013 Angler’s Guide for a summary of places to fish and key rules and regulations at www.ct.gov/DEEP/fishing.


There are a number of fishing events scheduled to take place on “Free Fishing Day.” A “Family Fishing Day” is scheduled as part of DEEP’s “Great Park Pursuit Spring Sprint” at Osborndale State Park (Derby). This event will run from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm, and there will be plenty of activities including fishing on Pickett’s Pond, fish sampling, fish stocking, a fish fry, games and prizes. The Great Park Pursuit is a part of the agency’s No Child Left Inside® initiative. For more information on “Family Fishing Day” email Rachael.sunny@ct.gov or call DEEP at 860-418-5981. More information on the “The Great Park Pursuit Spring Sprint” can be found at www.NoChildLeftInside.org.

Other fishing events on tap for this coming Saturday include:
Kent Falls State Park, Route 7, Kent CT- Fly Fishing Clinic. The Northwestern CT Chapter of Trout Unlimited will be providing fly fishing and fly fishing instructions (including proper fish handling) and fly tying demonstrations between 10:00 am and 2:00 pm. Please contact Jim Fedorich tel. # 860-482 4544 or cell # 860- 689-2735.

Merwin Meadows, Wilton CT- Fly Fishing Clinic. The Mianus Chapter of Trout Unlimited is offering a free Fly Fishing Clinic at Merwin Meadows Park in Wilton between 10:00 am and 2:00 pm. Fly casting, knot tying, aquatic insect identification and a late barbecue lunch are on the schedule here. More information can be found at www.mianustu.org. For reservations email jyates@mianustu.org or call 203-216-7078.

Chatfield Hollow State Park, Route 80, Killingworth, CT - Youth Education Day. The Hammonasset Chapter of Trout Unlimited is hosting its 11th Annual Hammonasset Chapter Trout Unlimited Youth Education Day event and many of the local youth throughout the area have participated in this exciting event in the past. It’s a great event and kids rotate thru three different stations (Fly Casting, Fly Tying, River Ecology) every hour on the hour from 8:30 am to 1:00 pm and at noon we have lunch, prizes and fishing. Please RSVP via email to Ron Graziani at rongraz70@sbcglobal.net.

Mirror Lake, Hubbard Park, Meriden, CT- Two events:
Children’s fishing derby. Annual children's fishing event sponsored by the Meriden Rod and Gun Club and the City of Meriden with prizes in various age groups for biggest fish and most fish caught. Each child also gets a free hotdog and soft drink. Some of the top prizes include bicycles. This event is rain or shine and starts at 10:00 am.

Introduction to carp fishing. A free talk and demonstration of carp fishing and fishing tackle will be hosted by Saxon Tackle. Youth carp fishing will also be available. Everyone gets to take a turn with loaner tackle. As there is a limited amount of tackle, plan on sharing so everyone has a chance to try carp fishing. It is suggested that all fish be released so they can be caught by another angler. Area experts will be available to help you try out carp fishing and to answer your questions starting at 10:00 am. Contact Bill Gerrish at 860-424-FISH for more information.

Jackson Update - 20 weeks old

Jackson and Hannah

Well our new pup Jackson is now 20 weeks old and weighs in at a trim 45 pounds.  The large snow falls have made getting any outdoor training completed with any consistency very difficult but we do our best.  We are still trying to explore new terrain and places as well as continue with our socialization to other dogs and people.  We continue to work on basic obedience with sit, down, kennel, heel and recall.  We started to introduce the whistle well.  He loves the bumpers with the duck wings on them, but we have yet to introduce live birds and guns but hopefully the snow will go away and stay away allowing me the opportunity.  Jackson is doing very well with his retrieves including singles and memory marks.  We have started increasing distance to these marks and birdmen (helpers).  He still has a bit of puppy ADD and gets side tracked by a leaf blowing along the ground or his check cord as it drags by.  Frustrating at times, but really funny as well.  Hannah is enjoying the extra work and training, but a little tired from being harassed all the time.  Hannah loves to role in the snow and every time she does, Jackson comes running across the yard and pounces on her.  Both get time alone outside as well which helps.  We need it to warm up before attempting any water work but it won't be long now.

Some additional pictures to enjoy!

Connecticut Fish Hatchery Victim to Budget Cuts

Taken from Pg 194 of the 2014 & 2015 proposed budget

The beginning of every year brings around the typical state budget issues and discussion that are sure to include items close to the sportsman's and sportswoman's heart and the recent proposal holds true.  Last year it was the states pheasant stocking program and while looking over the 2014 & 2015 proposed budget it looks like the state fish hatcheries are the target this year.  The proposed cut show a savings of $299,820 over two years  from closing one of Connecticut's state fish hatcheries, which realistically amounts to the tiniest piece of sand in comparison to the waste of state government.

Look, I'm tired of giving up more of my paycheck to support the overly fat programs that are part of our state spending and I agree cuts need to be made and making those cuts are never easy, but to me when they target outdoor related expenses they are relying on two things.  First is the uproar that the sportsman and sportswomen of Connecticut will most surely have and the hope of these sportsman groups proposing some type of license increase or new stamp to fund the program to keep it from being cut.

Considering that the majority of the money Connecticut sportsman pay out  each years ends up in the general fund, raising the licenses or creating new stamps are NOT something many of us would support.  If these new increases or funds where put directly into the programs and budgets they are meant to support, well many sportsman would most likely reluctantly agree.

Some numbers on effects of Recreational fishing here in Connecticut.

•  251,000 state residents take 5.4 million fishing trips and spend $198 million per year

•  51,000 non-residents take 457,000 fishing trips and spend $45 million per year in CT.

•  Recreational fishing supports over 4,400 jobs in CT. • Trout are the most sought after gamefish species in Connecticut attracting approximately 2.1 million fishing trips per year and generating ~$50 million per year in annual expenditures having a net economic impact of $67.5 million per year.

•  Approximately $2.8 million in annual license revenue is generated by trout anglers in Connecticut.

•  Approximately 100 lakes and ponds and over 200 rivers and streams are stocked annually with trout.

•  The overall benefit to cost ratio for Connecticut’s Trout Program is 25 to 1. 

The savings created by closing the hatchery in this case would be minor to the potential of costs in the future to reopen said hatchery or improve and grow others.  Also the loss or reductions in these outdoor programs will most certainly result in lost revenue as more and more sportsman stop spending the money on them or go spend their limited funds in other states that are more sportsman friendly.

No matter what side of the fence you are on with these budget issues, it is extremely for everyone to express your views to your elected officials.   Send an email, make a phone call, write a letter it doesn't matter as long as you do SOMETHING!  You can find your legislator and his contact information by visiting the CT CGA website or using this link:  Find Your Legislator

2013 Connecticut Trout Stocking has Begun

March is the traditional time here in Connecticut that most trout waters are officially closed for fishing and trout stocking for the upcoming season has begun.  There are plenty of opportunities to trout fish through out the year by visiting one of the open Trout Management Areas - TMAs.  Make sure you review the regulations for the body of water you are planning to fish before heading out.

This is directly form the CT DEEP Inland fisheries division, sent out yesterday, 2/28:  http://www.ct.gov/deep/lib/deep/fishing/weekly_reports/fishreport022813.pdf

 
SPRING TROUT STOCKING HAS BEGUN-  DEEP Inland Fisheries staff began the 2013 spring trout stockings this week. Among the areas scheduled to be stocked sometime in the next two weeks are many of the state's Trout Management Areas (TMA's). Note that early spring stockings are very dependent on weather and site conditions. 

2013 CT ANGLER'S GUIDES - The full print version 2013 CT Angler's Guide will be published and distributed in early April. An electronic version of the 2012 Guide continues to be available online at www.ct.gov/deep/anglersguide. There are no new regulations in effect for the 2013 season at this time, all regulations found in the 2012 guide remain in effect. 

FISHING SEASONS-Anglers are reminded that the fishing season will close after today (Thursday, February 28^th) on many rivers and streams and at a number of lakes & ponds. (Please refer to the  CT Angler's Guide for complete regulations). All sixteen of the state's Trout Management Areas remain open year round (and all are catch-and-release fishing during the winter and early spring). Class I Wild Trout Management Areas (WTMA) are also open year-round for catch-and-release fishing,

Great Backyard Bird Count 2013 Feb 15 - 18

It's that time of the year to get outdoors and count the birds as the Great Backyard Bird Count takes place this weekend for 4 days starting Friday Feb 15th and ending on Monday Feb. 18th.

What is the GBBC?

The Great Backyard Bird Count is an annual 4-day event that engages bird watchers from all over the world and of all ages in counting birds to create a real-time snapshot of where the birds are.

Everyone is welcome--from beginning bird watchers to experts. It takes as little as 15 minutes on one day, or you can count for as long as you like each day of the event. It’s free, fun, and easy—and it helps the birds.
Participants tally the number of individual birds of each species they see during their count period. They enter these numbers on the GBBC website.

Why count birds?

Scientists and bird enthusiasts can learn a lot by knowing where the birds are. Bird populations are dynamic; they are constantly in flux. No single scientist or team of scientists could hope to document and understand the complex distribution and movements of so many species in such a short time.

Scientists use the GBBC information, along with observations from other citizen-science projects, such as the Christmas Bird Count, Project FeederWatch, and eBird, to get the “big picture” about what is happening to bird populations. The longer these data are collected, the more meaningful they become in helping scientists investigate far-reaching questions

How to Participate?

Visit the GBBC website to learn more about the GBBC and how you can participate in this years Backyard Bird Count.

The GBBC offers up an opportunity to get the family together enjoy mother nature, even if you still ahve 2 feet of snow like we do in Connecticut. Count birds while sitting by your window watching the feeders or get outside and explore your local forest and parks. There are also photo contests, local events and plenty to learn by particpating.

You can read about our results from the 2012 count here: http://passinthruoutdoors.blogspot.com/2012/02/backyard-bird-count-results.html