If you are an angler or fish enthusiast, there are several events coming up this month which you may find interesting. They are listed chronologically:
“Massachusetts Wild Trout Fisheries”
On Wednesday, August 9 beginning at 6:00 pm, Adam Kautza, MassWildlife Coldwater Fisheries Project Leader, will make a presentation at the August Berkshire Green Drinks event in person and online via Zoom.
The in-person gathering begins at 5:00 PM at Shire Breu-Hous inside The Stationery Factory, 63 Flansburg Ave in Dalton.
After giving some background on the wild trout found here in Massachusetts, Adam will discuss the status and distribution of the state’s wild trout fisheries, how MassWildlife manages these resources, and talk about some of the work the agency has been doing with wild trout over the last few years.
Adam Kautza has been the MassWildlife Coldwater Fisheries Project Leader since 2017. His role with the agency includes developing applied research projects to answer wild trout management questions and monitoring their cold-water fishery resources statewide.
Pre-registration is required to attend this event. Learn more and RSVP at: https://tinyurl.com/Aug2023-Berks-Green-Drinks
Berkshire Green Drinks is sponsored and organized by the Berkshire Environmental Action Team (BEAT). For more information regarding Berkshire Green Drinks, contact Chelsey Simmons, chelsey@thebeatnews.org, (413) 464-9402.
Hoosic River Cleanup
On Thursday, August 10, beginning at 6:30 pm, the Taconic Chapter of Trout Unlimited is sponsoring a Hoosic River Cleanup with Mountain Warrior Conservation Society, HooRWA, and others in North County to pick up trash, tires, etc. in the North Adams stretch of the Hoosic River. They will meet at the trailhead at the bend in Harding Ave. (Across from Clear Sky). Some gloves and bags will be available, as well as a few grabbers but bring your own gloves and cleanup tools, boots that can get dirty are a huge plus, and whatever tick prevention you use.
No need to RSVP
Berkshire National Fish Hatchery events
On Saturday, August 12, two events will be taking place at the Berkshire National Fish Hatchery in Monterey/Hartsville.
Running from 9:00 to 10:30 am they will be having their monthly kids fishing derby. Bring your children ages 13 and under so that they can learn to fish and compete for prizes. No child goes away empty handed. Its free!
Following that, from 11:00 am to 2:00 pm they will have an Open House where visitors have an opportunity to explore the fascinating facility, take guided tours and learn about the amazing work they do to support local fish populations and their habitats.
Enjoy complimentary hotdogs, chips, and water during the Open House. It’s their way of saying thank you for your support.
They’re also thrilled to have the following organizations joining them: Boy Scouts, Berkshire Bass, Berkshire Regional Planning Commission. Friends of Lake Garfield, and Taconic Chapter of TU. TU will have a table there and Peter Paulson and I will be teaching folks how to fly cast, tie flies, etc.
The Hatchery will be Introducing their new additions:
Fish Egg Separator: Curious about the process of separating fish eggs? Their innovative fish egg separator will be on display, and they’ll be providing a live demonstration of how it works. You don’t want to miss this presentation.
Also
A 270-Gallon Display Fish Tank: Marvel at the beauty of the Brook Trout in their newly installed 270-gallon display fish tank. Get up close and personal with these magnificent creatures, and learn about their habitats and behaviors.
You are invited to come and connect with fellow fishing enthusiasts, conservationists, and outdoor enthusiasts. Share stories, make new friends, and learn about other local organizations dedicated to preserving our natural resources.
Bring your family and friends along for a day of fishing, exploration, and community bonding.
American Museum of Fly Fishing Festival
Also on Saturday, August 12 from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm, the AMFF’s 16th annual Fly-Fishing Festival will take place on the museum grounds in Manchester, Vermont. This is its signature event of the summer, featuring a unique collection of vendors, including painters, appraisers, industry artisans and professionals, and other angling-related nonprofits. You are invited to enjoy fly tying and casting demonstrations, try your hand at casting vintage rods, learn how to tie a fly, and mingle with like-minded people as you share the joy of the great outdoors.
Activities include:
11:00 am: Casting competition
12:00 pm: AMFF Ambassador Steve Ramirez on fly fishing and mental health
2:00 pm: AMFF Ambassador Rachel Finn discusses “After You’ve Gone.” .She grapples with life after loss while showcasing an inspiring outlook on moving forward through trauma in an unapologetically true-to-herself way that brings a smile to everyone who crosses her path.
3:00 pm: Raffle drawing at admissions tent
Throughout the day, there will be: free tackle appraisals with Bob Selb, Fred Kretchman, and Carmine Lisella; free casting lessons with AMFF Ambassador Rachel Finn, free fly-tying demonstrations, book signings with Steve Ramirez and Steve Woit, children’s activities, and free museum admission
That evening, at 7:00 pm at the Burr & Burton Academy’s Riley Center, 57 Seminary Ave, Manchester, VT, there will be a special screening of the motion picture Mending the Line to benefit the American Museum of Fly Fishing and the Southwestern Chapter of Trout Unlimited. It is a new motion picture written by Stephen Camelio and directed by Joshua Caldwell—starring A-list actors Brian Cox, Sinqua Walls, Patricia Heaton and others. It tells the story of a U.S. Marine “Colt” (Walls) who returns from a traumatic tour in Afghanistan and is sent to a VA facility in Montana. There, he meets Vietnam veteran “Ike” (Cox) who connects him with fly-fishing to find healing. The time they spend together—especially interactions on beautiful Montana rivers—eventually helps Colt navigate through survivor’s guilt and replace his desire to die for something with a renewed sense of having something to live for.
Anglers will appreciate the film for several reasons. It’s true to the sport with legitimate substance, right down to the knots and flies. The cinematography and especially close-up trout “eats” are stunning. And while anyone who seriously fishes will sense where the story is headed (because they’ve felt redemption through fly fishing themselves), the picture gives pride and purpose to all who embrace fly fishing as more than a mere game for people who get their jollies by pulling on trout. It’s the kind of picture you want to take your friends who don’t really fish or don’t really understand why you fish to see, because the light bulb will undoubtedly turn on.
The characters are compelling and authentic, and the cast really pulls the whole thing together. The last time we saw a film that landed on the grace of fly fishing this well was Robert Redford’s screen adaptation of Norman Maclean’s benchmark novella A River Runs Through It, some 30 years ago. That changed the angling world as we knew it. Mending the Line is eye-opening and reaffirming on several levels and is bound to be another essential element of fly-fishing filmography. Tickets cost $20.
Deerfield River TU Annual Banquet
On Thursday, August 17 from 5:00 to 9:30 pm you are invited to join the Deerfield River Chapter of Trout Unlimited (DRWTU) to celebrate the Deerfield River and all who care for this valuable resource. Held at the Warfield House Inn’s scenic outdoor pavilion, this event will include a BBQ dinner featuring local produce, a cash bar, and an auction and prize giveaway to benefit the DRWTU.
Cocktails at 5:00, dinner at 6:00 pm. The Warfield House is located at 200 Warfield Road, in Charlemont, MA. The cost is $55 per guest.
Tom Rosenbauer will be the guest speaker. Tom has been a fly fisher for 50 years, and was a commercial fly tier by age 14. He has fished extensively across North America and has also fished on Christmas Island, the Bahamas, Belize, in Kamchatka, Chile, and on the fabled English chalk streams. He is credited with bringing Bead-Head flies to North America, and is the inventor of the Big Eye hook, Magnetic Net Retriever, and tungsten beads for fly tying. He has about 20 fly fishing books in print.
His presentation, “Taking Your Trout Fishing to the Next Level” will answer the questions, “How do I get better at my trout fishing?” and “What should I learn more about to have more fun on a trout stream?”
This should be a great presentation for novices and experts alike.