Mark McBeth
Info on New Freshwater Fishing Regulations - ...
Info on New Freshwater Fishing Regulations - from CT DEEP
Mark McBeth
President's Holiday Message
President's Holiday Message
Mark McBeth
Urgent Subject on CT State Fish Hatcheries - ...
Urgent Subject on CT State Fish Hatcheries - For Immediate Action
Mark McBeth
Neonics Bill Update: Time to Contact Your State ...
Neonics Bill Update: Time to Contact Your State Officials
Mark McBeth
Fishing for Students to Get Out and Fish!
Fishing for Students to Get Out and Fish!

Chapter Meeting Survey Results

Click on Charts to zoom image

Included here is an overview of the results of our Chapter Meeting Survey. We had 38 respondents to the survey. We wish to thank all of you who answered the survey questions. Your input is valuable to us as we plan the future of CVTU. We closed the survey on Monday the 16th.

The results of the survey indicate that the majority respondents would like the meetings to restart with the option of broadcasting the meeting live via Zoom. This would accommodate members that wish not to attend in-person (21% of respondents).

The best weekday for holding the in-person meetings is Tuesday, based on a convincing 60.5% majority. Tuesday would allow us to meet at the Reverie Brewery in private. Brewery ownership has offered to open the Brewery, one Tuesday per month and provide a bartender for our meeting. We would have the Tasting Room to ourselves for our meetings which will keep noise and crowds to a minimum. We’ll still be able to bring in Pizza and soft drinks, but beer would be for purchase. Additionally, the brewery has the necessary infrastructure to allow for presentation projection and a Zoom broadcast.

There was no clear majority on minimum COVID19 requirements. However 52% of respondents selected either masks optional or no precautions. Restarting our in-person will require us to follow TU, local, and CDC COVID guidelines, and we will keep abreast of those guidelines and any changes that may come with restrictions to public gatherings. Our goal is to reenergize our chapter happenings while keeping all members safe.

Stay tuned for an official announcement for our December meeting after Thanksgiving.

Enjoy the holiday!

Let's Re-Start our Chapter Meetings!

Chapter Meeting Survey

As we look to reenergize the chapter following the challenges of COVID-19, we would like the input of our membership. To that end we have created an anonymous survey with questions pertinent to future chapter meetings. I should take no more than 5 minutes to complete. The survey will be active until this Sunday, November 14th.

Your opinions on the structure, location and time for future meetings is extremely important. This is your chapter and your participation is what helps the chapter meet its goals. Over the past 18 months we have experienced challenges in maintaining member engagement and your Board is committed to restarting the monthly meetings in a way that satisfies all member wants and needs, in a safe environment.

The Survey is now closed

Pootatuck Cleanup, Conifer Revetment and CVTU Kiosk Update

Clear, cold water conservation starts with passion and commitment. In honor of celebrating “Trout Week”, October 25th through September 1st, Candlewood Valley Trout Unlimited Chapter volunteers, gathered on the banks of the Pootatuck River in Newtown, Connecticut to remove invasive weeds in and around critical riparian buffer plantings installed in the spring of 2020. In addition to the removal of invasive plants the group installed approximately 30 yards of conifer revetments. Conifer revetment work is the installation of discarded Christmas trees which trap sediment, leaves and other natural debris that over time create new banks which helps to keep erosion to a minimum. It’s this sort of chapter involvement that not only helps to restore key cold water habitat and critical spawning areas but strengthens our community.

In addition to the steam bank work on the Pootatuck, we were also able to update our two Kiosks on Al’s trail, at Commerce Street and behind the Newtown United Methodist Church. These Kiosks serve to inform visiters to the river and trail, about CVTU, our mission, how to contact us, and how to become involved in the chapter and TU national.

Thank you to all who participated in this event, and enjoy the pictures and videos.

CVTU September Chapter Meeting - YouTube Video

If you missed our Chapter Meeting last night, we’ve uploaded the Zoom Video to the CVTU YouTube channel. The video is about 2 hours in length and covers a lot of ground with regards to our upcoming chapter conservation work and fishing trips.

John Forlenzo with an Alaskan Dolly Varden Char

The central content of our meeting was John Forlenzo’s presentation on his recent trip to Alaska and the Bristol Bay region. He floated with Wild River Guides who presented to our chapter back in November 2018. His presentation focuses on the Northfolk Goodnews River.

We encourage you to find some time to view this video and enjoy John’s presentation. It may even inspire you to make the trip for yourself.

Link to Chapter Meeting Video

Stay tuned to cvtu.org for more news on upcoming events and meetings.

We Need Your Help!

Pootatuck River Stream Walk Surveys

PROJECT DESCRIPTION

HVA is looking for 1-2 volunteers who can provide support in the field during stream walk surveys. Stream surveys will occur in the Pootatuck River and its tributaries in the Town of Newtown. The surveys will provide key information to help identify stream restoration opportunities within the Pootatuck River watershed. HVA will train volunteers in the field and provide waders if necessary.

WE PREFER VOLUNTEERSWHO ARE:

  • Available during regular work hours(Monday-Friday, 9-5, actual survey hours will vary)

  • Comfortable working in inclement conditions

  • Capable of wading and walking in streams and rivers, especially among uneven terrain and slippery surfaces

  • Able to transport themselves to and from field sites

  • Able to commit to helping with multiple stream walks

VOLUNTEERS WILL:

  • Help carry gear

  • Assist with measurements

  • Assist with data collection and entry, using iPads and Trimble GPS devices

  • Learn about in-stream assessment protocol AND share their knowledge of the Pootatuck Watershed!

If you are interested or have any questions, please email Erik Hazelton at ehazelton.hva@gmail.com. Fieldwork will take place from late September to early December.

 

Penfield Reef 2021 Lives up to Promise

The annual summer trip to Penfield Reef in Fairfield certainly lived up to its promise. The weather couldn’t have been any better making the night a perfect one for wading the reef in search of Stripers and Blues.

Approximately 20 fisherpersons from both CVTU and Mianus TU made the trip. Between them 30 to 40 stripers were caught. Spin fishing was the choice for most but some fish were caught on the fly.

This is a trip that we may repeat in the fall as long as the weather cooperates, the tides are right and the fish are still prevalent. Look for additional information on future events at cvtu.org and via our regular emails.

Not subscribed? Go here and sign up; email subscription

Abbie Schuster Inspires All on March Chapter Meeting

Our March chapter meeting this past Wednesday was one of our best virtual meetings to date. Abbie Schuster of Kismet Outfitters on Martha’s Vineyard, gave a passionate presentation on fly fishing the waters around the “Vineyard”. The Zoom meeting was co-sponsored by the Naugatuck-Pomperaug TU chapter and topped out at almost 40 attendees.

Abbie graduated from University of Montana and is a certified guide in Montana and has guided in Alaska and Wyoming as well. Her small business, Kismet Outfitters, offers world class trips globally, teaching fly fishing and the life experiences that come with it. It is hard to imagine how much she has packed into her young career as a guide, captain, and even Yoga instructor. She’ll have you fishing from shore, fishing the flats or the rips, and chasing Stripers, Blues, Bonita and Albies. She inspired all meeting attendees to put Martha’s Vineyard and her guide service on their bucket lists.

CVTU gives special thanks to Beth Barber Peterson, President of Naugatuck-Pomperaug chapter, for co-hosting the meeting with CVTU.

For those that missed the meeting, it was recorded and can be found on CVTU’s YouTube channel here.

For more information on Kismet Outfitters or to book a guided trip visit Abbie on the web and social media at…

www.kismetoutfitters.com

www.facebook.com/kismetoutfitters

www.instagram.com/abbie.on.the.fly

Trout In the Classroom (TIC) & EverWonder Children’s Museum

CVTU partnered with Newtown, CT based EverWonder Children’s museum in 2020 to provide a TIC experience for the children, parents and grandparents visiting the museum.  CVTU chapter provided the equipment and supplies, set-up expertise, constructed a mobile tank stand with detachable insulation, and hand painted trout mobiles for this exhibit. A grant from Aquarion Water Company deferred some of the start-up and operational costs. Visit EverWonder’s website here

TIC Tanks with “Babies”

EverWonder’s first TIC attempt was cut short in 2020 due to COVID-19 as uncertainty around proper virus cleaning protocols and treatments meant the museum had to close in March, which was only a few weeks after the eggs hatched.  The fish were released between the dams on the Pootatuck River in Sandy Hook.

Happily, 2021 appears to be set for a great experience at the Museum with almost all CVTU’s TIC tanks now idle due to schools doing only remote learning. On January 7ththe CT State DEEP Hatchery provided EverWonder 388 fertilized eggs which have produced 359 babies as the Museum’s Executive Director Merredith Christos likes to think of them.  With so many young trout we expect there will be several release events to thin the tank population as they grow.  Check out our video of the EverWonder TIC Tank at YouTube here

Eggs in the process of hatching…

Randy Walker - CVTU TIC Coordinator

One unique opportunity of the EverWonder is that they are not limited to the school year and can keep a portion of the fish in the tank until next year’s eggs are delivered, meaning larger fish being released. EverWonder is also sharing via YouTube updates on its babies each Tuesday and Thursday. If you have young children or grandchildren and want to visit EverWonder, go to their website everwondermuseum.org. for reservations, times and admission information. Tell them CVTU sent you.

CVTU Happenings - Winter 2021

Even though we haven’t been able to meet in person, CVTU and our sister chapter Mianus TU have been active with member engagements. We began the new year with a fresh outlook and a drive to prepare for an active winter, spring and summer. Virtual fly tying sessions every Tuesday, and some great virtual chapter meetings already in the books and on the calendar.

“Tie One On Tuesdays” has been a great session with some really talented tyers demonstrating their favorite patterns. Members and friends from CVTU and Mianus have gathered every Tuesday via Zoom since the New Year, and there are more coming up on the calendar. Gerald Berrafati of Mianus TU will present this Tuesday, February 9th at 8:00 pm. He’s tying his version of the “Pat’s Rubber Legs” stonefly. I can personally attest to the effectiveness of this nymph, as I watched Gerald land several nice Browns and Rainbows on the Delaware.

Click link below to register for Gerald’s session: Pat's Rubber Legs paired with Lawson's Sip of Sunshine

All sessions have been recorded and can found at the following links on the Mianus TU YouTube channel..

Gustavo Castano - Marabou Leech: https://youtu.be/3jrCo5fUIBs

Dave Surowiecki - Pheasant Tails 57 Ways: https://youtu.be/3-9dUEBs69w

Rich Thibodeau - Zebra Midge: https://youtu.be/LCs3P9n_DNM

Mark McBeth - Klinkhammer: https://youtu.be/gy1vkFJMcYE

Jeff Yates - Killer Caddis: https://youtu.be/AYWwx72QLPs

John Hildenbrand - Galloup’s Cripple Spinner: https://youtu.be/FweGx0LeMhE   

Brown trout.jpg

This winter’s virtual chapter meetings will feature some outstanding presentations from well known Fly Fishing guides, bloggers and YouTubers. February’s meeting on Wednesday the 10th will feature Tim Camissa. Tim’s YouTube channel is loaded with excellent fly tying tutorials. He is a well know guide and blogger, and you can find a ton of great content on his website TroutAndFeather.com.

abbie_schuster.jpg

For our March meeting we have secured Abbie Schuster, owner of Kismet Outfitters on Martha’s Vineyard. Abbie is an accomplished Captain and Fly Fishing guide with experience in both salt and fresh waters. She’s even a Yoga Instructor. She’ll present on fly fishing Martha’s Vineyard. To learn more about Abbie and Kismet Outfitters, visit their website at KismetOutfitters.com.

tim_flagler.JPG

April’s chapter meeting on Wednesday the 14th, will feature Tim Flagler of Tightline Productions, L.L.C. Tim is a well-known fly tying instructor. His YouTube videos are some of the best in the business and his YouTube channel, practicalpatterns.com currently has over 80,000 subscribers and 24 million views. For our meeting he will be presenting on Fly Fishing at Night.

Our Rod Building sessions this winter will be virtual as well. For more information contact John Hildenbrand at jhildenb73@gmail.com


"Tie One On Tuesdays" is a big hit for Fly Tyers

The Mianus and CVTU chapters of Trout Unlimited have started the new year by holding Tuesday night Fly Tying sessions via Zoom. Some of the chapters best tiers have presented their favorite patterns through professionally choreographed presentations with high quality video. They’ve shared their secret materials and tying methods, while adding the “gotchas” and showing you how to avoid them. The result is a solid education in tying some very effective patterns for our local waters and elsewhere.

This past Tuesday January 26, Dave Surowiecki presented “57 variations of the Pheasant Tail”. While we didn’t see 57 flies, Dave gave us a close look at some of his favorite Pheasant Tail patterns. As Dave showed us, the Pheasant Tail can be tied in endless styles with different materials, and will always fish effectively. Hook size, bead size/color, tails, wire ribbing, dubbing collar and hot spots, are all important aspects of a good Pheasant Tail.

If you missed this week’s session live, we have uploaded it to CVTU’s YouTube channel and it can be viewed at the link below. Note that the video recording does start a few minutes into the presentation, but you won’t really miss a thing.

57 Variations of the Pheasant Tail - Dave Surowiecki