Publisher: Cathy Unger
Contributors: Dom Falcone, and Bob Gregorski

Monthly Meeting

The Meeting will begin at 7:00 pm at the in the Community Room of Naugatuck Savings Bank, 87 Church St., Naugatuck, CT. For further information call Dom Falcone at 860-274-4103 or dafalcone@snet.net or visit www.tunaugpomp.org.

TROUT UNLIMTED Program
Paul Dinice will be the guest speaker for the May 5 meeting of the Naugatuck-Pomperaug Chapter Trout Unlimited (N-PCTU). Dinice is an accomplished fly-tier and fly fisherman is a member of the Housatonic Fly Fisherman's Association and N-PCTU. His topic will be "Fishing for Stripers on the lower Housatonic". There will be pizza and soft drinks served. The Public is invited free of charge.

Dom Falcone stocks a breeder rainbow into the Pomperaug River. Photo by Bob Gregorski

TU May Newsletter 2010 CT RECORD FISH & TROPHY AWARD PROGRAMS of 2009 If you catch a fish that qualifies as a new state record or a trophy fish, consider entering the CT RECORD FISH & TROPHY AWARD PROGRAMS. The information is in the 2010 ANGLER'S GUIDE. Here's a summary of the new records and Trophy Awards for Inland Waters and Saltwater. Inland: One new state fishery record was established in 2009 and 141 Trophy Awards for 14 species of fish were granted. Steven Wasilewski caught a 40.5 pound common carp in the Connecticut River in Lyme for a new record. In 2008 there were no new records. Last year anglers received the most awards for brown trout, northern pike and rainbow trout (30, 23 and 22 respectively). The following are the heaviest fish caught for the five most numerous awarded species, its weight and (location): Brown Trout, 12.8 lbs. (Wononscopomuc Lake); Northern Pike 20.5 lbs. (Hopeville Pond), Rainbow Trout 12.0 lbs. (Shetucket River); Largemouth Bass 8.1 lbs. Beach Pond and Walleye 11.5 lbs. Mashapaug Lake. Saltwater: Six new saltwater State Fishery Records were established in 2009: Nearshore Category: American Eel 4.25 lbs. (Cedar Island, Clinton), Conger Eel 5.75 lbs. (Stonington), Summer Flounder 7.0 lbs. (West Haven Breakwater). Offshore Category: Black Sea Bass 7.4 lbs. (Block Island Sound), Blue Shark 120" - Catch& Release (Block Island Sound), Little Tuny 26.5"- Catch & Release (Block Island Sound). There were 79 Marine Trophy Awards in 2009 compared to 58 in 2008. The top six species awards were: 19 summer flounder, 11 Blackfish, 17 Scup, 10 Striped Bass, 5 Little Tuny and 5 Black Sea Bass. Note: The heaviest summer flounder weighed 10.0 lbs. Thanks to DEP Fisheries Biologists Dave Molnar and Bill Foreman who provided the information. The freshwater and the saltwater programs started in 1963 and 1983 respectively. Note--the length of the fish is measure in the new (2008) Catch & Release section of the program. The Trophy Fish Award Program has issued more than 7,000 certificates and pins. That has made a lot of anglers happy.

These are falls at Plume & Atwood on the Naugy in Thomaston. Photo by Bob Gregorski

By Bob Gregorski River Clean Up Great Success The Naugatuck River clean up in Waterbury, Naugatuck and Beacon Falls on 4/24/10 was a great success. Anglers, kayakers, canoers, wildlife observers and the general public owe a coalition of hard workers gratitude for making their "playground/outdoor theater" a better place to enjoy their recreational pursuits. Having been involved in at least 40 clean ups in the past, I was extremely pleased at the volume of shopping carts, bikes, tires and assorted "junk" (visual pollution) taken out of the Naugy and its banks last Saturday. I applaud the paddlers in particular. The majority of the volunteers were paddlers. Some used a truck to pull out a cart imbedded in the mud about 75' from the parking area. Others used ropes and shovels and manpower to extract carts and tires from the river bottom and its bank. Other volunteers included: members of Naugatuck Valley Outdoor Club, Lions/Leos, Scouts, the Beacon Falls Merchants Association, Trout Unlimited, Naugatuck River Watershed Association, Naugatuck High School ROTC and people from the general public. It was a great day for improving the quality of life in the Naugatuck River Valley. When we work in concert & harmony - we can accomplish anything. "A truly great combined effort, we hope to keep all the groups working together. I know that many of us are planning to return to the islands and try to remove the carts that we have on their banks. A great effort by all, together we removed about 20 more carts along the river below the Linden Park where there where at least 25 were piled up as we departed down stream, some of these we were just able to get on the river bank but have plans to winch them up and out in a couple of weeks. If you missed this one and want to help us with a rewarding day on the Naugy, please contact us and we will start a volunteer list for the next clean-up event." Said Dave Faber of Connecticut Outdoors in Oakville. Faber one of the cleanup organizers. The clean up was in preparation for the 3rd annual Naugatuck Valley River Race to be held on May 8, which has a race route starting in the Platts Mill area in Waterbury and continuing through Naugatuck and ending in Beacon Falls. Information about the River Race, 5K Road Race and Music Festival are available to be downloaded and printed off web-site www.4ctoutdoors.com and the official Race web-site www.thenaugatuckriverrace.com. Please join us for another great event this year. Three energetic men removed 10 carts, tires and other garbage. L-R: Curt Glidden, Joe Seminara and Travis Finnemore. There was no easy way to get tires & heavy metal to shore, however these paddlers made it look easy.

This is my grandson Ryan Gallary (age 10) who on his first fly fishing experience landed nine sunfish and one calico bass. His experience took place recently at Meadow Brook Park Pond in Middlebury. Providing a productive experience to those new to fly fishing regardless of age is important. Learn short distance casting, hooking, playing and releasing fish all in one outing. Suggest using tiny, floating "sponge" bug flies, so all the action can be seen.
Bob Gregorski