Connecticut Hunting & Fishing Appreciation Day 2012

On September 22, 2012, the DEEP and Friends of Sessions Woods will be hosting Connecticut’s third Hunting & Fishing Appreciation Day at the Sessions Woods Wildlife Management Area in Burlington.
  
Fun activities for all ages are planned, along with educational programs and workshops about hunting and fishing. Best of all, the event is free to attend!

Why we're celebrating

Hunters and anglers have been at the forefront of the conservation movement for over 100 years. They showed their support by requesting taxes and special fees on hunting and fishing equipment to help pay for wildlife and fish management, habitat restoration, and other conservation programs through the Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration (WSFR) Program. 2012 marks the 75th anniversary of this very successful effort to conserve fish and wildlife in America. It is important to recognize the outstanding contributions that hunters and anglers have made and continue to make for fish and wildlife. Join us and celebrate 75 years of better hunting, fishing, and wildlife-related recreation through WSFR.

To find out more about activities, vendors, times and directions visit their website at:  http://www.ct.gov/dep/cwp/view.asp?a=2723&q=462388&depNav_GID=1655

Who's up for a Fish-A-Thon?

Have you ever fished for 24 hours straight?  I've spent 12 hours on the water before but never 24 hours straight.  Thanks to Recycled Fish for offering up an opportunity to fish for 24 hours straight by participating in their 24 hour Fish-A-Thon.

The concept behind the Recycled Fish 24 hour Fish-A-Thon is anglers fishing for 24 hours straight to raise awareness and money for problems facing our fisheries all around the country.

From the Recycled Fish Website

Our lakes, streams and seas are in trouble. It is the result of many things, from over-consuming water to over-harvest of fish to pollution to invasive species. Many of the main issues come from problems in our broader environment because “Our Lifestyle Runs Downstream.”

Anglers – people who love to fish – are the first to notice, because we spend time on the water observing our surroundings. Problems in our environment often show up first in our waters – it all runs downstream. We’re doing something about it with the 24 Hour Fish-A-Thon.

We’re standing up as not just users of our natural resources, but as stewards. We’re raising the flag for simple things anybody can do to ensure healthy waters for fish and wildlife – and for each of us.

You can get more information about this event or register your team or even doante to a team in your area by visiting the Recycled Fish website here:  http://www.recycledfish.org/our-programs/fish-a-thon.htm

I won't be able to fish this event due to a previous commitment,  but I will be making a donation for certain.

Summer Fishing Nibbles

The summer has been super busy for me and extremely hot with little rain so my fishing outings have been limited so not much to report on my end.  Here are a few summer fishing bits and pieces.

Catch and Release Summer fishing post from Greenfish.

The only sound is the water running over the rocks. The pool, the one you’ve been staking out for the past few days, is still, but for the gentle current seams coiling effortlessly downstream.

You know the fish are circling slowly in a pocket above a big sunken rock, facing upstream. You spotted them from up on the bank, before quietly walking up the shoreline and setting up for the cast.

Just as you pull the line off your reel, a rainbow trout bolts out of the water chasing an insect that just hatched. Low-hanging branches on both sides and a small pool means nailing the first cast is everything. You make an accurate back cast and get the drift right. Slight mend … wait … wait…
Read Entire Post.

For those New England Saltwater fisherman make sure to check out the July issue of On the Water Magazine for some great articles on Live lining scup for striped bass or some tube and worm tips and even some offshore articles.  Something to get your thinking and the blood flowing.  you can get the online versions by subscribing here:  http://www.onthewater.com/magazine/online/


For those within driving distance to the Housatonic River in Northwest Connecticut there is a site that must be witnessed and it is the arrival of the white fly.  The white fly hatch is underway and that means lots of Smallmouth bass looking up and some big boys at that.  When the hatch is in full swing it is similar to a white out in a snow storm.  It is a must event to see and fish for those in the area and worth the trip if you can make it.  Check out the Housatonic River Outfitters facebook page for some recent pictures and make sure to stop in to HRO on your visit for the latest information and some flies.  If you need a place to camp, check out the Housatonic Meadows State Park. Get to the river QUICK!

Photo courtesy of Bluecrab.info - click the image to visit them

It's also that time of year to chase some tasty blue crabs along the Connecticut shoreline.  Stop by the Blue Crab Blog for some great information on Blue Crabs and updated Blue Crab fishing reports local to Long Island Sound. Another great siteis the Bluecrab.Info page which is  loaded with information about Blue Crabs that covers everything from identification and anatomy, to how to catch, cook and eat them as well as a user forum dedicated to blue crab and those who chase them. Blue Crabbing is a great way to spend time with the family while enjoying the great outdoors and it doesn't take a large investment in equipment.  Just some string and a way to secure some bait to it and a net and you will have loads of laughs and some tasty crabs for dinner.

I hope everyone is enjoying their summer and taking advantage of the great weather and all the outdoor opportunities that exist right now.  Remember to get outside, be safe, have fun and Share the Passion!

Spring Creek Brown Trout

My Dad, Brother Steve and I headed out to Central Pennsylvania for our annual fishing trip with hopes of experiencing the Green Drake hatch on Penns Creek once again, but thanks to mother nature and all the recent rains and evening storms we had to go to plan B, which we made up on the fly.

We rented a great little cottage at Schafer's Country Cottages  located on Rt 45 in Aaronsburg, PA just a short ride from Penns Creek, Elk Creek and Pine Creek.  Daryl and Deborah Schafer own and operate these cottages and they were extremely helpful and responsive to our needs during our stay and the cottages were very clean and well stocked and offered up everything we needed.  We arrived around midday on Wednesday, a few hours before check in time, but our cottage was available and ready for us so we got unloaded, grabbed our fishing gear and headed out on a scouting mission to find some fishable water.   A quick stop at Penns Creek found the water running high and fast and way off color and Elk and Pine were no better.  We decided to head up over the mountain towards State College and check in on Spring Creek as this little creek is known for clearing up and getting back to fishable levels quickly and it was a good decision.

We made our way to the Fisherman's Paradise section of Spring creek around 4pm and it didn't take us long to strike up a conversation with a local fisherman who was more then willing to help us out.  He gave us some great information on the creek, the fish in it as well as bug activity.  He was so helpful and fun we spent almost an hour talking with him before realizing we needed to get on the water fast if we wanted a chance to land one of these Spring Creek wild browns.  This section on Spring Creek consists about a 2 mile stretch of river that is only accessible by walking in or taking your bike so even with plenty of cars in the parking area, we had no trouble finding a spot to fish. My dad talked my brother into doing some dry fly fishing, but I would have none of that and broke out the Euro Nymphing rig and about 3 casts into a little plunge pool I was hooked up and brought my first Spring Creek wild brown trout to hand.  I went on to land another 2 fish in a nice run just down river and even a  few branches as this little section was narrow and had me up against the brush and I quickly forgot I was swinging a 10 foot rod, but nothing could wipe the smile from my face.  We worked down river back towards the parking lot stopping at different spots to check out the water.  usually during these stops the rising fish would entice my dad and brother into a few casts which gave me the opportunity to pick the next open spot below them and to nymph up another fish or two. We finally headed back to the truck and off to find some dinner before heading back to the cottage for some sleep.

My first Spring Creek Brown Trout

Incredible colors and markings on these Spring Creek Trout

We got up Thursday and decided to head back up to Spring Creek for another run at those wild browns, once again parking at Fisherman's Paradise and heading up river.  This time I had talked my brother into doing some nymphing and stopped to fish a run that was just full of rising fish the night before only to get skunked in this run.  My brother was starting to second guess his decision to listen to me but he hung in there and was rewarded with a really nice brown that jumped out of the net before I could get a picture of it.  He claims I threw him back on purpose so there would be no proof of his fish, but that wasn't the case.  One thing for sure, when these wild browns are laying in the net all calm, it's just a ploy to get you to put the net in the water which causes them to explode out of the net as if they were shot out of a canon.  Well that is my story and I am sticking to it.  The best part of this fiasco was gentlemen taking a walk up the road stopped to see how we were doing and suggested we take up golf and just as they said that my brother was locked up.  They had a good laugh when the fish jumped the net and even were good sports and made sure to give my dad the business when they encountered him just above us. My brother and I continued to nymph up some additional fish while my dad stayed true to his desire to throw the dry flies.

My brother and Dad contemplating how to get their flies out of the trees.

Another spring creek brown that fell to a Frenchie style PT nymph

We headed out for lunch and a trip to one of the local fly shops - Fly Fisher's Paradise which is just minutes from Spring Creek were we were entertained by the shop owner and made sure to support him by making some purchases.  I told my dad that I bought him the secret flies that would finally catch him some fish, turns out they didn't work so well for him, but they worked fine for my brother and I.  See that evening they shamed me into working myself into frustration by flicking fleas and dry fly fishing.  I refused to leave my nymphing setup at the truck so I carried both just so I wouldn't explode from frustration.  I did nymph up a couple of fish, but I did put it on the bank just in time to take advantage of a spectacular sulphur spinner fall where I hooked into some nice browns, some when I couldn't even see my fly.  My brother and I landed some nice fish while dad missed about a dozen.  It was way too much fun.

Looks like this little guy survived something trying to snatch it up

one of three hefty little browns that couldn't resist my rubber leg stonefly

We woke up Friday and Penns was still high and off color so we decided to head to the Little Juniata, but dad wasn't paying attention and by the time I noticed we were in state college headed the wrong way so I had him bang a right and head back to Spring Creek.  Of course I was blamed for being a crappy navigator, but I was also blamed for giving my dad flies that don't catch fish.  I just can't win.  We decided to check out the stretch of Spring Creek by the Benner Springs Hatchery which offered up some wider stretches of water as well as some deeper pools and runs.  We walked a long distance down stream to get away from the parking areas and easy fishing access.  We can to an old bridge that ran across the creek and I noticed two large fish feeding below and it was long before I was down in the water trying to entice one of those two fish to biting.  My dad stayed up on the bridge and would give me a play by play and about the 4th cast into it, my coiled sighter jumped and I set the hook and new right away it was one of those larger fish and with in seconds, he came unbuttoned.    Man was I depressed and when my dad told me he saw the whole thing and it was a big fish I almost puked.  Oh well, we decided to work our way up the creek back towards the parking area.  I ended up with another 3 fish hooked up for short lived fight before they all came unbuttoned and I was starting to get discouraged but I stayed with it and just feet from where I lost my last fish, I set the hook on a beauty.  My dad kept telling me I was snagged on the bottom but he realized quickly that I wasn't.  I knew it was a nice fish and was expecting it to take me down into the rapids so I had my dad unhook my net and head down river.  He claims I was barking orders at him and expected him to sacrifice life and limb to net my fish and quite frankly I most certainly did.  Well i got calmed down a bit and concentrated on the fish and kept him locked up until the 17inch brown was in my net. Redemption felt good.  By this time we needed some lunch so we headed out.

This hefty brown was one heck of a fight - good net job dad

Love the colors of these fish

Another fish that couldn't resist the rubber leg stonefly

That evening we came back to the Benner Springs section and worked farther down river from the bridge to find even more great fishable water.  The sulpher hatch was one and my dad and brother starting throwing dries and proceeded to miss a few fish, so I jumped in and cleaned up a couple quick before they got frustrated.  We headed back to the truck only to stop and let my dad and brother fish to some rising fish.  My brother got into a zone and was hooking up while my dad missed a few fish.  When my brother caught his fourth fish I took my dads rod and decided I needed to get on these fish before he caught up to me and it wasn't long before I hooked into one on my dads rod with the same sulpher spinner that the fish were refusing just prior.  Needless to say my dad was not happy and almost drowned the two of us, but we had some good laughs over it later.  It was back to the cottage and a late dinner of venison burgers and bratwurst.

Saturday morning found us packing and heading down to Penns Creek to spend the last morning of our trip before heading back to my dad's house in the Poconos.  Penns was still high and off color enough that it was hard to see the underwater structure and it was like fishing blind.  There was little bug activity and no signs of fish and it wasn't long before the kayakers started showing up.  We left Penns with no fish, but we were not discouraged thanks to a little creek called Spring Creek.

Steve, Dad and I at the end of the trip before heading home

Can't wait for next years trip!

Someday Yellowstone, Someday!

I am standing waist deep in crystal clear cool water at the tail end of a wide, deep and slow running pool just watching fish after fish rise to the surface sipping bugs.  They sky is the most vivid blue I have ever seen and spattered with large white fluffy clouds.  The mountains in the background seem to extend all the way to heaven and the grassy meadows seem to welcome wildlife at every bend.  Any guess where I am?  I'm willing to bet many of you guessed somewhere out west maybe even in Yellowstone.

Yellowstone River - Bellow Yellowstone Lake  - Photo Courtesy of: Big Sky Fishing.Com

 

 

 

As much as I wish the above scenario was real, it isn't, but the above is something I find myself day dreaming about often as I am sure many of a fly fisherman or fisherwomen has done themselves.  For those that have actually had the opportunity to live out the above scenario, I envy you and hope you realize how special it was and how lucky you are.  When I hear the words like native, wild and pristine there are only two places that come to mind.  One is Alaska and the other is Yellowstone.  Both of these incredible places are on my wish list and reside at the top of that list. 

The nature and beauty of Yellowstone was so apparent to our ancestors that they were smart enough to see the need to preserve this area and protect it so it would remain as wild and beautiful as ever for many generations to come and in doing so Yellowstone became the first National Park in 1872 and started a new concept on keeping wild places wild and open for all to enjoy.

Defining what is natural and wild can be an interesting discussion as many groups in the past have tried to restore certain specifies of wildlife or fish to an area where it once flourished as well as try to improve the numbers and quality for those looking to recreate and spend time there.  This balance is always a struggle and as good as a plan seemed years ago, it may not be that good today.  As many people visit Yellowstone each year and enjoy in the glory it has to offer, we must remember that there is a constant battle to keep Yellowstone truly wild, native, pristine and open for all and it is programs like the Native Fish Conservation Program that will be used to keep it this way.

The Native Fish Conservation Program is based on a National Park Service plan, approved May 2011, which outlines the park’s increased focus on restoring native fish and creating resiliency in fish populations. It lays out a detailed management strategy to ensure that native fish are restored to sustainable levels, so that they can support the natural food chain, native biodiversity, and sport fishery purposes.

The top priority of the NPS plan is to decrease the number of predatory, non-native lake trout, which in recent years have dramatically reduced the number of native Yellowstone cutthroat trout in Yellowstone Lake. Yellowstone Park Foundation funding of the Native Fish Conservation Program will allow for a significant effort to suppress lake trout through private sector netters on Yellowstone Lake. The goal of sustained efforts is to recover Yellowstone cutthroat trout to mid-1990s levels. 

Yellowstone Cutthroat Trout - Photo Courtesy of: National Park Service

Maintaining that balance to what was truly native and belongs to that which isn't but thrived and brought tourists and dollars to an area is where our challenges remain today in keeping these wild places, truly wild and original.

Growing up in the city people are always amazed that I have such a passion for the outdoors and I always told my mother that I felt I was born to late and in the wrong state.  I know I will one day travel west and spend time in Yellowstone and hopefully try my luck at hooking and landing one of it's famed native cutthroat trout.  The real question is will I come back East or will I have a new home out West.  My wife knows the answer and it is one of the reasons she will not let me go alone.

Someday Yellowstone!

This is my submission for the Trout Unlimited, Simms, the Yellowstone Park Foundation and the Outdoor Blogger Network – Blogger Tour 2012 contest.