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.

Choice of colors Forest green or Safari tan.

Can be purchased at monthly meeting

Emails:
If you would like to be added to or removed from the e-mail list for the Naugatuck Pomperaug Newsletterplease email bobflybox@aol.com.

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

Jan. 08 Bob Gregorski

The success and enjoyment of hunting, fishing and trapping during the winter months depends greatly on the weather and conditions in our outdoor theaters. In January, some of the lakes and ponds in the northern half of the state may have safe ice. Thus, a host of on-the–ice activities including ice fishing. If there isn’t much snow depth in the woods and fields, hunters and trappers should experience good success. Hunters have deer, coyote, crow, pheasant, red and gray fox, gray squirrel, cottontail, European and snowshoe hare to hunt during their respective open seasons in January. Hunting rabbits and hares with out a dog or hunting alone is a challenge. Been there, done that! Jump hunting in thick, briar cover and beating on brush piles usually is full of surprises as a rabbit or hare comes bursting out at top speed. Lots of laughs try to hit one, that’s for sure.

I remember my first rabbit hunting experience. I was 12 years old when my dad bought me a Mossberg 410 gauge, bolt action, three shot shotgun. Dad, my brother Mitch and I were walking through good rabbit habitat when we came to a large brush pile with briar bushes about half way around it. Dad and Mitch stood on opposite sides of the brush while I began stepping on the edges and yelling aloud. I held the 410 straight up in the air. Suddenly a bunny came out from under the pile on Mitch’s side running a full steam. He had bushes in his way and could get off a clean shot, but I did. Nailed it on my first shot.

Looking back at Dad’s choice for my first shot gun, I think he figured my starting with a 410 and not a more powerful 20, 16 or 12 gauge gun and a bolt action was the safest initial one to begin the sport of small game hunting. An inexperienced hunter could fire two or more shots quickly with a double, pump or automatic. Dad was a National Rifle Association instructor and an expert shot with rifles, pistols and shotguns. He preached safety, and I mean preach safety, and I thank him for doing so. While hunting for more than 40 years I never shot anyone or had a close call.

Our dad was an incredible hunter and angler. We watched him shoot squirrels out of the top of a tree with a .22 pistol. We couldn’t even see them, never mind hit with a small bullet. Dad would down pheasants in an open field shot or rabbits in the bush with his 16-gauge Winchester pump with scope mounted. Yes. He is the only person I ever heard who had a scope on a shotgun. He was an expert at shooting 22 rifles with scope; a room full of trophies and medals attested to that. In later years, I tried hunting with his shotgun and did not hit and bird or animal that was in motion.
I treasure those years when we hunted together walking the woods and fields in pursuit of game. We harvested only what we or one of our close friends could eat fresh.

There are fraternities of trout and salmon anglers who pursue salmonids throughout the winter. The Naugatuck and Shetucket Rivers will provide action for anglers trying to catch broodstock

Jan. 08 Bob Gregorski..... continued

Atlantic salmon weighing up to 24 pounds. Traditionally, the focus of trout fisherman. Ice anglers greatly out number hunters, trappers and salmonids fishers. Pike, walleye, pickerel, perch (white and yellow), trout, bass and sunfish are the species sought. Connecticut has a number of excellent northern pike, walleye and trophy trout fisheries. Last year large pike (exceeding 38”) were caught and released in the Connecticut River, Bantam Lake, Mansfield Hollow Reservoir and Lake Lillinonah. Those fish are much larger now.

Walleyes weighing more than 10 pounds were caught in Squantz Pond and Gardner Lake last year. Those are the best winter walleye fisheries. According to DEP Fishery Biologists, there are good populations of legal size walleyes also in Batterson Park Pond, Beach Pond, Coventry Lake, Lake Housatonic and Marshapaug Lake. So, there are lots of big eyes to catch through the ice this winter.

Those popular lakes and ponds get lots of attention from anglers particularly on weekends. All locations are listed in the 2006 and 2007 Connecticut Angler’s Guides. Remember to purchase the required 2007 licenses, stamps and permits.

Playing on Safe Ice
Some of the northern and western coves of larger ponds and small lakes have ice cover.
First ice of the winter is one of the most dangerous types of ice to play on. Outdoor enthusiasts who enjoy frolicking on ice covered water better be aware that lakes, rivers and ponds this early in the winter are dangerous playing surfaces. And, conditions can be extremely hazardous when the frozen surface is snow covered. A half-inch of snow can hide areas of dangerously thin ice. Snow insulates the surface of the ice from the sub-freezing temperatures, which retards its formation. Traditionally, Northwestern Connecticut lakes and ponds have been the first to freeze in the state, and the climate in that area of the state has been colder than those that are more southerly. So, the ice formed in each lake, pond and river is different throughout the state. And, there are areas of lakes that freeze last. Springs at the bottom of a lake, wind, and swimming waterfowl inhibit the formation of ice in some sections of a lake. Ice formed when ice melted and froze again is weak ice. Sometimes a combination of rain and snow freezes on top of solid ice. Walking on that soft, crunchy mixture feels uncomfortable. Ice that is completely soft, honeycomb ice is dangerous.

The American Pulpwood Association published a table of ice thickness and safety. It's a guide, not a guarantee to safe ice. However, the use of the table and good judgment should provide some cerebral comfort to those who choose to walk on frozen water. Important Note: The table is based on clear, blue ice on lakes and ponds. A minimum of 4 inches is stated for a group in single file. I prefer to have at least 6 inches before I start drilling holes afar from.