A raft donated by a group of Trout Unlimited members is helping MassWildlife biologists study trout and other fish in previously inaccessible areas.

This generous donation came from a group of Trout Unlimited (TU) members who have been working with MassWildlife and other scientists on studies of brown trout reproduction on the Deerfield River. The whitewater river raft is outfitted with a standing platform, booms, droppers, generator equipment, and livewell. “You run a reach of river with two people, one rower to navigate the river, the other biologist to stun and net the fish,” explains Adam Kautza, MassWildlife’s Coldwater Fisheries Project Leader. “After passing through a particular reach, we pull off to the side of the river, measure, weigh and gather other data from the netted fish, release them back in the water and then move on to the next river segment.”
MassWildlife biologists primarily use two different types of equipment to conduct fisheries surveys. For lakes, ponds and large, deeper rivers, a motorboat outfitted with a generator, booms, and “droppers” is the standard. In brooks, streams, and smaller rivers, a team of biologists navigate the streambed on foot carrying backpack shockers and electrical wands to temporarily stun and collect fish. But in rock-strewn fast-moving rivers like the Millers, Deerfield, and others, neither a motorboat nor backpack shockers are practical. As a result, numerous reaches of rivers are inaccessible and go unsurveyed.
MassWildlife biologists are already using the raft as part of a brown trout study that will answer an important question: Are wild-hatched brown trout surviving and successfully reproducing in the Deerfield River? The study will also give biologists an understanding of the abundance, growth rates and other important biological information on brown trout in the Deerfield River system. Multiple survey trips will be necessary over a large area of the river and the raft makes that coverage possible. In the future, the raft will be pressed into fish survey service on other rocky rivers such as the Hoosic, Westfield, and Millers Rivers.
The donation of the 12-foot raft, frame, and equipment such as oars, seating, anchors, etc. was donated by former fishing guide Jim Dowd, of Ashfield. MA, who is a member of the Deerfield River Watershed Chapter (DRWTU) . These donated items have a price-tag of about $3800.

Last May, at the Indian Hollow Campground in Chesterfield, the MA/RI Council of Trout Unlimited (of which the local Taconic Chapter is part) voted to spend up to $3,900 to help equip the raft with necessary shocking equipment, such as booms, paddles and related circuitry. The Greater Boston TU Chapter (GBTU) picked up the tab for a portion of the cost for a new frame. The raft will be used to study cold-water fisheries on colder rivers throughout Massachusetts. The TU logo will be affixed to the raft.

A variety of people, businesses, and groups were thanked for their contributions to MassWildlife’s new river raft. The raft’s custom-built standing platform was manufactured by Don Barnes, a Millers River TU member and president of Regal Vise, a family-owned business producing fly tying vises. The DRWTU and the GBTU chapters contributed fish tags, which will be used in the Deerfield River Brown Trout study. Kevin Parsons, President of the DRWTU chapter, Bill Pastuzek, President of the GBTU, MA/RI Council President Paul Beaulieu, Council Secretary/Treasurer Mike Vito and Gary Crago of the TU National Council were thanked by MassWildlife for making a key contribution to conservation, providing MassWildlife with the means to further its understanding of some of our most pristine rivers and the fish communities inhabiting them.
TU is a national non-profit organization with about 300,000 members and supporters dedicated to conserving, protecting and restoring North America’s coldwater fisheries and their watersheds. It is made up of some 400 chapters and 38 state councils. The MA/RI Council of TU is the umbrella organization for the 14 chapters in Massachusetts and Rhode Island totaling about 4,000 members. Members from all of those chapters contributed in some way to the Deerfield River project, either by funding or volunteering on Deerfield River trout surveys.
Guess who was the winner of TU National’s 2019 Gold Trout Award? DRWTU, who else? It also recently received $6,000 from TU National’s Embrace-A-Stream Program. Now it is eligible to compete for additional dollars through an online challenge grant. TU National and Orvis have teamed up to offer an additional $50,000. DRWTU hopes to qualify for at least a piece of that additional money.
Incidentally, at its Annual Meeting on November 19, the GBTU Chapter honored MassWildlife’s Adam Kautza, with its Conservation Advocate Award. The award recognized Kautza’s contributions to the understanding and preservation of coldwater fishery resources in Massachusetts. He was lauded for his efforts in working not only with GBTU but with the MA/RI Trout Unlimited Council and other Massachusetts Trout Unlimited Chapters. “Adam provided valuable assistance with the TU Brown Trout Spawning Study on the Deerfield River and has offered presentations and stream walks on the tributaries of the Neponset and Charles River,” said GBTU President Bill Pastuszek. “Through his outreach efforts, he has built stronger ties with the angler and conservation communities.”

Taconic TU honors Fran Marzotto

In order to recognize its deserving members, the Taconic Chapter of Trout Unlimited instituted its “Crooked Staff Award” about 35 years ago. Every year the Chapter selects one of its members to receive this coveted award. He or she is selected as the member who best represents the ideals of T.U. (conserving, protecting and restoring North America’s coldwater fisheries and their watersheds). This member holds the Crooked Staff for the following year when it is either passed on to another deserving member or is held, if none is deemed deserving.

On December 12, the Chapter honored Fran Marzotto of Pittsfield with this coveted award.

Fran grew up in West Stockbridge, spending his time in the outdoors, hunting, fishing, and playing baseball and hockey. At an early age, Fran tagged along with his father as they hunted for deer. He also fished with his dad and as he grew older, continuing to enjoy outdoor sports.
Fran graduated from Purdue University in 1977 and began his career at General Electric. Being a sportsman, he settled in the Berkshires where he could enjoy the 4 seasons and the sport that each season brought.
Three years ago, when Fran retired, he returned to a sport he had enjoyed before…fly fishing. He is now totally absorbed in fly fishing along with tying his own flies, as they both bring serenity to his life. He has fly fished in 16 states including Alaska, Colorado, Idaho, New Brunswick, Montana, Newfoundland, New Mexico, North Carolina, Tennessee, Washington, and Wyoming, as well as all of the Northeast states and has a trip planned to the Bahamas to fly fish for bonefish. Fran practices “catch and release”.
Fran’s wife Kay said he doesn’t only enjoy the sport he is into, but “becomes” it. At present his life is centered around fly fishing; no matter where they travel, he is always on the lookout for fly fishing streams. Good thing Kay is patient.
In addition to serving on Taconic TU’s Board and as its Secretary, Fran’s other conservation activities include participation in this year’s stream assessment of the Konkapot River with the Housatonic Valley Association. He also is a past member of the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, serving on its Annual Fund-Raising Committee. Congratulations Fran!
George “Gige” Darey Passed
It is with a heavy heart that I report that “Gige” Darey passed beyond the ridge on Friday afternoon. I hope to devote the bulk of next week’s column to this extraordinary sportsman and his amazing career.
Here’s wishing you a Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays.