RAFFLE WINNERS
1st Anne Zaniefski................ 2nd Dick Estey
3rd Kevin Najmowicz ............... 4th Phil Labrecque

Choice of colors Forest green or Safari tan.

Can be purchased at monthly meeting

Our Connecticut Trout Unlimited council has launched a website aimed at helping bring our chapters together statewide. The web site has a large amount of information and links to each chapter in the state. Take a look, it is well worth it.

Fall Mountain Sports, Torrington, CT........................................... Broner Hat
Classic & Custom Fly Shop, New Hartford, CT ...........................Tote Bag
Up Country, Pine Meadow, CT ...................................................Waders, Rain Jacket
Orvis, Avon, CT......................................................................... .Trout Bum Rod, Reel, Line
Fishing Factory, Southington, CT.................................................. $20.00 Gift Card
Viso Bella Day Spa, Middlebury, CT............................................ Facial
TU National Headquarters, Virginia.............................................. 2 Rod Outfits, Net, Fly Rod
TU National Headquarters, Virginia ..............................................Fly Tying Kit, Vest, Book
Jeff Stedner, Oxford, CT.............................................................. Assorted Bucket items
Joyce Stedner, Oxford, CT........................................................... 2 Avon Gift Bags
Dicks Sporting Goods, Meriden, CT............................................. (4) $25.00 Gift Certificates
Mario’s Pizza, Oakville, CT.......................................................... Certificate- One Large Pizza
O. Mustad & Sons, New York..................................................... Fly Boxes of Caddis
Newtown Bait & Tackle, Newtown, CT .......................................$50.00 Gift Certificate
Housatonic Outfitters, Cornwall, CT............................................. $100.00 Gift Certificate
Housatonic Meadows Fly Shop, Cornwall, CT.............................. ½ Day Guided Trip (2)
Dom & Louise Falcone, Oakville, CT............................................ Pasta Book, Gift Basket
J. Stockard Fly Fishing, Kent, CT .................................................$25.00 Gift Certificate
VRM Company, NJ ......................................................................Flip Focal
Dicks Sporting Goods, Pennsylvania ..............................................$50.00 Gift Certificate
Cabela’s, Nebraska....................................................................... Fly Vest, Tote Bag, Tools
Cabela’s, Nebraska....................................................................... Head Lamp
Denmo’s, Southbury, CT ...............................................................(2) $25.00 Gift Certificates
Marie’s Country Furnishings, Southbury, CT.................................. $25.00 Gift Certificate
Brookside Inn, Oxford, CT............................................................ $50.00 Gift Certificate
Fritz’s Snack Bar, Oxford, CT....................................................... $20.00 Gift Certificate
Shaw’s Market, Southbury, CT..................................................... $25.00 Gift Card
Clary Sage Day Spa, Southbury, CT.............................................. Manicure ($30.00 Value)
Stop & Shop, Southbury, CT .........................................................$20.00 Gift Card
Stop & Shop, Naugatuck, CT........................................................ $20.00 Gift Card
Salon DaSilva, Southbury, CT........................................................ $40.00 Gift Card
Gayle O’Neill Fine Jewelry, Southbury, CT.................................... $50.00 Gift Certificate
Southbury Food Center, Southbury, CT......................................... $20.00 Gift Certificate
Anglers Sports Group, New York.................................................. $50.00 Gift Certificate
Anglers Sports Group, New York ..................................................(2) $100.00 Gift Certificates
Anglers Sports Group, New York.................................................. $125.00 Gift Certificate
Mike’s Guns and Tackle, Oakville, CT........................................... Boot Foot Waders
L.L. Bean Co., Maine ....................................................................2 Rod Outfits, Fly Tying Kit
Bradshaw’s, Oakville, CT.............................................................. Oil Changes for 1 Year
Bob Perrella, Southbury, CT............................................................River Maps
James Prosak.................................................................................. Fish Print
Fast Frame Picture Framing, Southbury, CT......................................Frame
Marty Peterson, Naugatuck, CT...................................................... Spool Holder and Tools
Big-Y Supermarkets, Naugatuck, CT ..............................................$20.00 Gift Certificate
Wal-Mart, Naugatuck, CT.............................................................. $25.00 Gift Certificate
Stratford Bait & Tackle, Stratford, CT............................................ Albright Fly Rod
Joanne Battaglia.............................................................................. Avon Gift Basket
Peggy Nikituk, Seymour, CT……………………………………... Handmade Jewelry
Joanne LaFreniere…………………………………………………Wine & Candle

Some Anglers Don’t Quit
By Bob Gregorski

Most fair weather anglers have packed away their equipment for fishing in open waters. Some of them are awaiting safe ice to start the winter season of catching various species of fish through holes cut in the ice-covered waters. There are several fraternities of open-water anglers (Trouters, Atlantic Salmon Frosties, Tautogers and Cold Water Linesiders) who will fish into December and some beyond. These hardy, dyed-in-wool, brave sportsman fish in bad weather and water conditions for the sport and/or tableware.

Trouters concentrate the Farmington and Housatonic Rivers; two of the best trout fisheries in Connecticut. Atlantic salmon broodstock anglers have the Naugatuck and Shetucket Rivers to fish through March 31. They pursue salmon that weigh up to 24 pounds. Saltwater anglers target blackfish (tautog) for the fine taste and striped bass mostly for sport. There are schools of stripers that do not migrate southward for the winter. They remain in the Thames, Connecticut and Housatonic Rivers and other waters year round. There are a small number of anglers who fish off party boats for cod, Pollock and haddock during the cold weather

There are other species of fish available to be caught in open waters until the lakes and ponds ice over. The 2007 Angler’s Guide lists open seasons for major lakes, ponds, rivers and streams. When weather and water conditions are favorable for fishing - carpe diem!

Fish Catcher’s Journal
Here are some notes from My Fish Catcher’s Journal (FCJ) s for the Decembers 2000-2005. They are presented in periods of time. I have not given specific locations, types of lures or flies, time of day or weather and tide conditions. Note: * denotes total catch with fishing partner Frank McDonald.

12/01/00-12/15/05 Connecticut River * about 60 stripers 15”-18” and 15 hickory shad 14”-18”; Naugatuck River 8 lb. salmon; Naugatuck River 2 salmon 8-10 lbs.; Connecticut River * 20 shad to 18” and 1 striper 18”; Black Hall River 1 bass 16”; Connecticut River * 4 shad to 18” and 6 stripers 16”-18”; Naugatuck River 10 lb. salmon. 12/16/00- 12/31/05 Naugatuck River 12 lb. salmon; Niantic River 2 hickory shad 16”; Naugatuck River 10 lb. salmon.

Christmas Past
By Bob Gregorski

Recently I watched the movie A Christmas Story for at least the tenth time. For many years it has been shown on TV several times during the Christmas season. It included a BB gun Christmas gift to the younger brother and showed kids sledding on their Flexible Flyers. The movie made me melancholy and reflects on some of my boyhood outdoor related Christmas gifts and winters playing outdoors. What wonderful times!

We lived in an un-insulated, two story duplex company-owned house. An oil-burning stove in the kitchen supplied hot water, a cooking surface and some of the heat. A double burner oil space heater in the living/family room provided the rest. Grates in the ceiling were the conduits for heat to rise to the bedrooms upstairs. I don’t remember ever being cold.

We decorated a live tree and set up our Lionel electric train set up near it. I can still hear it distinctive whistle. I can’t determine what was my favorite gift over those boyhood years. They were all appreciated. Some that stand out are: Flexible Flyer sled, basketball, football, my first BB gun (a Daisy Red Ryder lever-action); later received a Daisy pump BB gun, duck boots, hip boots, fly tying vise and accessories, hunting knife and 410 gauge shotgun. Other gifts and who they came from include: a bamboo combination casting and fly rod set my Uncle Steve brought back from Japan, the Coast Guard knife from my uncle Frank, the .22 caliber automatic rifle from my uncle Mickey and the fishing vest that my dad made for me when I was eight-years old.

The Christmas season was an exciting and joyful time.