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

Monthly Meeting
In the past we dispensed with the June meeting. We were going to have a meeting this June, since the only time to get our speaker was in June. However he canceled since he was unable to get a substitute, therefore we will cancel the June meeting and continue the tradition of meeting at Linden Park on the first Wednesday in June(2nd) at 7:00 PM for a cookout, fishing the Naugy and camaraderie. Ed Manchiowsky will be available for our September meeting.

May 8, 2010 Kayak Festival at Beacon Falls-Al Concilio and John Ploski set the TU display and manned the booth. Photo by Bob Gregorski DEP hatchery worker stocks the Pomperaug River

TOUGH DECISIONS Bob Gregorski Where should I fish today? Mid-may through June is a difficult time or some of us anglers, particularly those who are retired. The DEP stocks the most trout of the year by Memorial Day. The American shad migration peaks in late May and lasts to mid-June. Pike have the feedbag on while waters are relatively cool. Resident and migrating striped bass are available in large numbers during this period. Largemouth and smallmouth bass are eager to grab lures. Too many choices! In a typical week, many of us fish for riverine trout and smallmouth bass, toss lures for pike in rivers or lakes, troll for kokanee, cast flies and lures in marine waters for stripers. As inland waters heat up and new saltwater species migrations are in progress, the angling decisions change. Should I wish for false little tuny, stripers, fluke or bluefish ? Or, troll deep for salmonids? Each angler has his or her fishing time preference during the year. The availability of the species being pursued has a lot to do with the choices made. But, with high gasoline prices, some fishermen will choose to fish closer to home and use their large power boats less. For some anglers, it doesn't matter what species they want to catch, we love to be out fishing. Recently, I took a break from fishing and strolled Rocky Neck Beach observing wildlife and breaking surf. Horseshoe crabs were mating, green crabs were scurrying about near the jetty, osprey were feeding on river herring and gulls were picking up clams, carrying them into the air, then dropping them on hard surfaces to break them open. About 20 others watched the wildlife scenes while I was there. Carpe diem! Atlantic salmon & American Shad (As of 5-2110) As of the last Diadromous Fish Report from the CT DEP Marine Division, two Atlantic salmon passed over the Rainbow Dam in Farmington and 22 over the Holyoke Fish Lift. A total of 86,103 American shad have been lifted over Holyoke and 1,589 over the Greenville Dam on the Shetucket River in Norwich. The Merrimack River reports 14 salmon back so far to the Essex Dam Fishlift. In Maine, 124 salmon have been trapped at Veazie and one passed at Cherryfield on the Narraguagus River. It is still very early for Maine.

TU NOSTALGIA 1999 Remember when? The following was printed in the SPRING 1999 issue of TROUT. DAM BUSTING ON THE “NAUGY” “In the partnership with TU’s Naugatuck Valley Chapter and others, the CT DEP unveiled a plan in December to restore the Naugatuck River, located in the Housatonic River Basin. The $4-5 million plan, to be completed over the next two years, involves the removal or breaching of eight dams and the construction of fish and boat passage facilities at three others. For the first time since 1800, 32 miles of free-flowing river will be restored for sea-run trout, American shad, alewives and herring. In the 1950’s, few organisms could live in the Naugatuck’s highly polluted water or along its banks, and several dams were not passable to fish. In 1985 the NAUGATUCK VALLEY CHAPTER based in Waterbury, spearheaded restoration work, conducting riverside clean-ups, pressing for improvement of area municipal water treatment facilities and advocating for dam removal. Later, the Northwest Chapter worked to improve the northern nine miles. The 32 miles of the “Naugy” will be restored to a natural freestone river. Fish habitat restoration and stream bank re-vegetation will follow dam removal and modification. State bonds will pay for the restoration effort, with additional money from the City of Waterbury and other sources. Robert Gregorski, Naugatuck Valley Chapter”

TROUT IN THE CLASSROOM

Tyrell Middle School in Wolcott that has been raising trout in the classroom for the last three years. Although this is technically within the Naugatuck Pomperaug borders it has been mentored by the Farmington Valley chapter of TU as well as the Hammonasset chapter of TU.

The releases have all been on Saturdays since the teacher (Jay Rocca) felt that if the kids or parents were interested they would come out to the release. On Saturday May 22nd Trout Unlimited and the Tyrell Middle School in Wolcott released approximately 200 beautiful brown trout fry into the mad river in hopes they would make it down to the big water on the Naugatuck river. It seems like the entire town of Wolcott turned out for the release and a great time was had by all. This school actually assisted the Hamden Middle School in their startup this year by providing 100 fry in March. Congratulations to the Tyrell Middle School and the teacher told the TU rep Ed Albrecht that since the program started the whole school has learned so much about trout and clean water; now that's what I'm talked about said Ed!