Oh!  That knot nemesis

Charles and Alba Wohl .

In the April 2024 issue of The Backcast, the Taconic Chapter of Trout Unlimited’s newsletter, Charles Wohl of Lenox wrote an interesting article about bonefishing at Ambergris Caye, Belize and an embarrassing incident with which most anglers are familiar.  With his permission, I am relating his story, entitled “The Knot” to you.

“If I had one last day to fish, it would be on a bonefish flat. I love the challenge of walking in calf-deep water, spotting bonefish, and trying to make accurate casts to place my fly in the path of cruising fish. In the unlikely event that everything goes right, and I hook the fish, the reward is several sizzling runs across the flat before the fish can be brought to hand and released. However, most of the best bonefishing destinations, such as the out islands of the Bahamas, are not particularly attractive to those who don’t fish or even to those who do fish but do not wish to spend hours traipsing across saltwater flats in search of fish.

One exception is Ambergris Caye, Belize, which features tropical beaches where you will be served any drink you want, kayaking, snorkeling on the second largest barrier reef in the world, excellent restaurants, paddle boarding, trips to the rain forest and Mayan temples on the mainland, ubiquitous reggae music, and very nice places to stay.  You know – the stuff normal people like. Our friends Paula and Herb stayed there for three weeks a couple of winters ago and cried when it was time to leave. So, we weren’t surprised when our friends Barbara and Brian suggested that we all go down there for a couple of weeks in February. Shortly thereafter, our good friend Mary signed on. None of them fish, so I didn’t think it important to mention that on Ambergris Caye there are bonefish on the flats, snook in the mangroves, tarpon and permit on the deeper flats and good guides to take you to them. Going there had special appeal for me because Belize is where I caught my first bonefish forty years ago. My wife Alba fishes, but has never caught a bonefish, so I thought this might be the time.

Our apartment, which was among the palms on a heartbreakingly beautiful beach, was more luxurious than we expected or needed. We unpacked quickly, and, as soon as politely possible, I walked to the water’s edge and surveyed the very fishy looking flat. The clear turquoise water was a couple of feet deep, and there were patches of turtle grass that harbored the crabs and shrimp that bonefish and permit eat.  A dock extended about one hundred feet out from the beach. A man raking grass off the beach told me that he frequently saw bonefish and permit on the flat early in the morning. A young couple with fly rods walking nearby said that there had been some bonefish around the dock earlier. They had caught a couple of small bonefish, weighing about a pound (Bahamian bonefish average two to four pounds).

The next morning, I walked to the end of the dock and shortly spotted a pod of about a half dozen bonefish swimming about thirty feet away. I would have preferred wading, but the water was about three feet deep so spotting fish would have been difficult. I cast a fly called a Gotcha ahead of the cruising fish, and one took. The fish made a couple of decent runs before I was able to lead it to the beach where Barbara, Brian and Mary were lounging. The fish was small, about sixteen inches, but it was a bonefish. As the others had never seen one, I pointed out the position of the mouth under the prominent snout which made it easier for the fish to root out shrimp and crabs from the sand and the large eyes for spotting such critters. I showed them how the greenish back with its subtle vertical bands and its silver sides provided near perfect camouflage. Brian took the obligatory “grip and grin” photo.

By then Alba had emerged from the apartment, and we walked quickly to the end of dock in hopes that the fish were still there so that she would have a chance to catch her first bonefish. Brian joined us to watch the show. Alba wore polarized sunglasses and a long-billed fishing hat, so she was able to locate the pod of fish cruising about forty feet from the dock. She put the Gotcha just ahead of the fish.

“Nice cast, Alba,” I said. “Now count to ten while the fly sinks to the bottom where the fish are feeding. Good. Now strip in line with short pulls.”

On the third strip, a nice fish grabbed the fly. Alba drove the hook home with a firm strip set, whereupon the fish sped off in the general direction of Mexico. And then the line went slack. The fish and the fly were both gone. We let out a collective groan, and I buried my forehead in Brian’s right shoulder. I inspected the leader, and, to my horror, there was a curlicue where the fly had been, a sure sign that the knot had failed. Alba had lost what would have been her first bonefish because my knot had failed. I have been tying flies to leaders since the Ford Administration, and rarely had one come undone. Why now!?  I had tied the fly on the same as always, wetting the knot with saliva before tightening it, as instructed by the late fly fishing guru Lefty Kreh, and pulling on it to test its strength.  I had no idea what went wrong. Nonetheless, my soul was crushed, or at least dented, by my sense of guilt.

“Oh my god, Alba, I am so sorry!” I lamented.

Alba replied, “Don’t worry about it,” not sharing my anguish.

But I did worry about it until I remembered the words of my grandmother when something untoward happened, “This should only be the worst thing that ever happens to you!”

She was right, of course. Considering all the misery in our world and the truly bad things that could happen to a person, it was ridiculous to fret about a failed knot. I felt guilty about having felt guilty.

Still, I wanted to make up for the lost fish, so I arranged for a guide to take Alba and me to some good flats between Ambergris and the mainland. The bonefish were larger there, and we might run into some permit. Our guide Ricardo picked us up at our dock in his skiff. He was middle-aged with a bushy mustache and had lived and fished on Ambergris his whole life.

He took us to flats adjacent to uninhabited mangrove islands. The water was only about a foot deep, so the fish would be more skittish than in the deeper water around our dock. Our casts would have to be longer and more accurate. The bottom was too soft for wading, so Alba and I took turns on the casting platform at the bow. Ricardo, with his trained eye, would almost always spot the fish before we did and would point them out to us.

“Bonefish at two o’clock, sixty feet!” which meant that some fish were about thirty degrees to the right of straight ahead and sixty feet from the boat.

We would cast as soon as the fish were within range. Alba made some nice casts but, for unclear reasons, the fish would change direction before seeing the fly, spook for no obvious reason, or just not want to eat. Those things happened to me as well, but I did manage to catch several Bahama-size fish. Although Alba did not catch her first bonefish, it was clear that she had the skills to do so.

She wanted a rematch, and, upon arriving back at our dock, announced, “We’re coming back here next year and getting Ricardo to guide us again.”

Elated, I replied, “Great idea! And Ricardo’s tying the knots.”

Trout stocking

The following waters were scheduled to be stocked with trout last week:  Deerfield River in Buckland, Charlemont and Florida; Housatonic River C&R in Lee and Stockbridge, Westfield River East Branch in Windsor, Cummington, Chesterfield and Huntington; Westfield River West Branch in Becket, Chesterfield, Huntington and Middlefield; Otis Reservoir, Goose Pond, Ashfield Pond, Upper Highland Lake, Lake Buel, Laurel Lake, Windsor Lake and Windsor Pond.

Changes proposed for 2024-2025 Migratory Game Bird Regulations

 

A public hearing will be held on Wednesday, April 17 at 2:30 pm., at MassWildlife’s Field Headquarters, 1 Rabbit Hill Road in Westborough, MA. The hearing will establish rules and regulations relative to the 2024–2025 migratory game bird hunting seasons.

Due to the migratory game bird season filing requirements of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Fisheries and Wildlife Board must vote to finalize and approve the 2024–2025 migratory bird seasons at the close of the hearing. Therefore, there will be no written comment period after this public hearing. Written comments may be submitted prior to the hearing via email to susan.sacco@mass.gov, Subject: Fisheries and Wildlife Board, or by mail to the Fisheries and Wildlife Board, MassWildlife Field Headquarters, 1 Rabbit Hill Road, Westborough, MA 01581. Written public comments will be accepted until Tuesday, April 16, 2024, 4 p.m.

Interested persons can review the proposed changes and provide written comments prior to the hearing and oral comments during the public-comment portion of the hearing. Here is a summary of the proposed changes:

  • Woodcock Season: October 3 – November 30
  • Youth Waterfowl Hunts: September 21 and October 5
  • Veteran’s Waterfowl Hunts: September 21 and October 5
  • Early Goose Season (statewide): September 2 – September 21
  • Regular Goose Season
    • Berkshire Zone: October 14 – November 16 *
    • Central Zone: October 12 – November 30 and December 17 – January 4
    • Coastal Zone: October 12 – October 19 and November 26 – January 25
  • Late Goose Season
    • Berkshire Zone: December 18 – February 15 *
    • Central Zone: January 16 – February 15
    • North Coastal Zone: January 27 – February 15
  • Duck Season
    • Berkshire Zone: October 14 – November 30 and December 16 – January 4 *
    • Central Zone: October 12 – November 30 and December 17 – January 4
    • Coastal Zone: October 12 – October 19 and November 26 – January 25
  • Falconry Season: October 19 – February 19

Most of the date changes are just by one or two days, however, I wish to point out the following changes:

*The regular goose season for the Berkshire Zone last year ran from October 10 to November 25; then from December 11 to December 14.  Then the Berkshire late goose season ran from January 1 through February 15, 2025. The new proposed dates are from October 14 to November 16 and the late season will run from December 18 through February 15, 2025.

*The Berkshire Duck hunting season last year ran from October 11 to November 25 and December 12 to January 6.  The new proposed season will run from October 14 to November 30 (which is the Saturday after Thanksgiving) and then from December 16 to January 4, 2025.

Local trout stockings

 

The following local waters were scheduled to be stocked last week by MassWildlife:   Ashfield Pond in Ashfield, Chickley River in Charlemont and Hawley, Farmington River in Otis, Sandisfield and Tolland; Green River South in Alford, Egremont and Great Barrington; Hoosic River North in Clarksburg and North Adams, Hudson Brook in Clarksburg, North Pond in Florida, Norwich Pond in Huntington, Plunkett Reservoir in Hinsdale, the Williams River in Great Barrington, Pontoosuc Lake and Richmond Pond.

 

Due to the nasty weather last week, the schedule could have changed. The web site at https://www.mass.gov/info-details/trout-stocking-report will contain the most accurate info:

 

Spring break is nearing, help stock the trout

The public is invited to help MassWildlife stock trout during school vacation week. Meet MassWildlife fisheries staff, view trout up close, and learn about places to fish near you.  Join them on Wednesday, April 17 at 12:30 pm at Onota Lake Burbank Park on Lakeway Drive in Pittsfield.

Children stocking trout, picture provided by MassWildlife

A few trout are placed in empty 5-gallon pails and the tots run with them to the lake front and heave the fish out into the water.  According to MA DFW Western District Supervisor Andrew Madden, we needn’t worry about hurting the trout for the sudden splash into the water does them good.  They found, over many years of stocking, that the trout respond better when they are stimulated by a toss into the water. This triggers them to begin swimming right away and speeds up adjustments to any differences in water temperature or flow between the truck environment and the pond or river.

“For the children’s event the fish do great, even though the handling may not always be perfect. These events also provide an opportunity to see and handle fish that many would never experience otherwise. There is no substitute for real life experience to inspire future anglers and conservationists” said Madden.

 

This is quite an enjoyable event, so parents, grandparents be sure to bring your cameras.

 

Kids Fishing Derbies beginning at the Hatchery

The 2024 kids fishing derbies are starting up at the Berkshire National Fish Hatchery.  Put on by the Friends of the Berkshire National Fish Hatchery, they will run the second Saturday of each month beginning in April and running through September.  The first derby will be next Saturday, April 13 at the Hatchery’s Derby Pond. It will start at 9:00 and run to 10:30 am. What a great opportunity for kids ages 13 and under to learn how to fish while competing for prizes.

Board member Dean Hutson promises an action-packed day with lots of exciting activities: New derby shirts for the kids, tagged fish in the pond with thrilling prizes and new merchandise available for sale.  No child goes away empty handed.

But wait, there’s more. The Friends of the Berkshire National Fish Hatchery are thrilled to reintroduce Fly Casting on Saturday April 20, following its Fly Tying class.   Hutson encourages you to, “Dive into the art of fly tying at 10:00 am, and then cast your creations into Derby Pond around 11:30 am! It’s a double-header you won’t want to miss!”

 

Don’t forget to bring eye protection  (sunglasses or safety glasses) for a safe and enjoyable casting experience.

 

Email them at info@hatcheryfriends.org beforehand, so they can prepare for your presence, specifying if you’re joining the fly tying class, fly casting session, or both.

 

Timberdoodles!

A Senecan Indian myth says God made the woodcock (aka timberdoodle) from the leftover parts of other birds. Large eyes are located along the sides of the bird’s head, allowing it to see in all directions, including directly behind. A long, thin bill that averages nearly three inches in length permits woodcock to probe in soft earth for worms, slugs and other invertebrates. Nostrils lie high against the skull so the woodcock can feed and breathe at the same time. Its ears are located beneath the eyes. Woodcock stand about eight inches tall, appear to bob when they walk, and weigh about a half-pound each.

photo provided by MassWildlife

On Thursday, April 11, from 5:00 to 6:00 pm, you are invited to join a Berkshire Natural Resources Council (BNRC) hosted online event with Kayleigh Filkins to learn about Timberdoodle ecology and fun facts as well as a scientific roundup from the Eastern Woodcock Migration Research Cooperative. Kayleigh is a graduate student at SUNY Brockport doing her master’s work on American woodcock habitat selection during the breeding season in New York.

The Zoom link will be emailed to RVSPs on the day of the event. The event will be recorded and shared with RSVPs and on BNRC’s YouTube channel.   For questions contact Mariah at mfogg@bnrc.org.

Beagle Club Field Trials

 

On the April 20 – 21 weekend the Berkshire Beagle Club on Sleepy Hollow Road in Richmond, MA is having its Small Pack Option (SPO) Licensed spring field trials.  Some of the best beagles in the northeast will compete and the best dogs are awarded ribbons for excelling in their natural tracking ability, high desire, quick thinking, and speed and endurance while following the scents of snowshoe hares and/or cottontail bunnies. All dogs are AKC registered.  .For beagle lovers, there’s no finer sound than that of a beagle singing its heart out while following the scent of a bunny.

 

Males will run on Saturday, April 20 and the females on April 21, starting at 8:00 am. They will be judged in the following categories:  13” and 15” males and 13” and 15” females.

The club welcomes folks to come and just listen to the dogs and observe the judges.

 

There will be breakfast and lunch available on both days and probably a 50/50 raffle.

 

Questions:  Chris Wilser (845)489-6554 or Jefferey St. John (413) 441-0744.

 

Tales with Rex

 

On Thursday evening, April 11 at 6:30 pm you are invited to join Rex Channel for a night of an unforgettable “eating , drinking & fishing” trip he recently took to Chile, Argentina & Tierra del Fuego.  Entitled “tales from South America with Rex, it is full of photos and tales and, of course, the people he met along the way.

 

It will be held at the Berkshires Hills Country Club, 500 Benedict Road, Pittsfield.

 

Rex is a valued member of the Taconic Chapter of Trout Unlimited

Teaching with Trout

 

 

At the March 20 MA Fish & Wildlife Board meeting, a presentation was made by Adam Kautza, MassWildlife Coldwater Fisheries Resource Project Leader about its Teaching with Trout Program.

 

Here is some background information on MassWildlife’s Teaching with Trout program and brook trout:

  • The Division of Fisheries and Wildlife (MassWildlife) is responsible for the conservation—including restoration, protection, and management—of freshwater fish and wildlife resources in Massachusetts for the benefit of and enjoyment by the public. Part of the agency’s mission is education. MassWildlife’s Teaching with Trout Program can be utilized across all grade levels as a basis to develop an appreciation for the aquatic environment through raising trout in the classroom.
  • This is a popular educational program that enables students to raise brook trout from eggs during the winter and then release them into approved lakes and streams in the spring.
  • The program strives to connect students to their local environment; teach about water quality and habitat health; and, introduce conservation concepts related to local aquatic resources and population biology. Brook trout eggs are provided with a permit from MassWildlife’s fish hatcheries.
  • A tank is kept in the classroom for several months, and over that time students are engaged in a curriculum about conservation. As part of the program, teachers can also arrange hatchery tours with MassWildlife.
  • Teachers can adapt the program to fit their curriculum needs and students’ levels. Teaching with Trout has applications for science, math, language, arts, and social studies. The program is designed to teach Massachusetts students about conservation concepts related to their local aquatic resources. Using resources available online or those a teacher may develop, students in primary grades can be introduced to topics like life cycle, anatomy, and food webs. Students in higher grades can be introduced to concepts including ecology, population biology, water quality, and conservation.
  • There are currently 64 schools across the Commonwealth participating in the program, engaging over 5,100 students in elementary, middle, and high schools. Participating schools in the Berkshires include: Pittsfield High School and Taconic High School in Pittsfield; Wahconah Regional High School in Dalton; and Mount Everett Regional School in Sheffield.
  • The fish released by students at the end of the Teaching with Trout Program, and the hundreds of thousands of trout stocked by MassWildlife each spring and fall, are not meant to restore or repopulate waterbodies. Aquaculture and stocking activities are meant to ensure abundant fishing opportunities in waters open to the public. In contrast to stocked trout fisheries, wild brook trout populations are protected and restored through habitat restoration projects (e.g. dam removal), land protection, harvest regulations, along with outreach and education efforts.

 

Teachers will have to buy, or borrow, an aquarium set up. This costs roughly $1,300. Once a system is bought, maintaining it costs very little. If you are interested in Teaching with Trout, but the cost is prohibitive, please contact MassWildlife. An aquarium system includes:

  • 55-gallon tank
  • Water chiller
  • Water filter
  • Water pump
  • Air pump
  • Water chemistry test kits
  • Reagents

MassWildlife staff are available to help with aquarium questions and troubleshooting. Hatchery field trips may also be arranged.

This program is quite similar to a program that dates back to earlier days of the ASERP (Atlantic Salmon Egg Rearing Program) when Becket grammar students raised Atlantic Salmon fry and released them into nearby Yokum Brook. I shall never forget covering the fish release days for this column.  Students actually gave some of the salmon fry names.   When the day came for their liberation, they released them into the brook a few at a time in paper cups. They held a going away party for them, sang songs and wished the salmon a safe journey.  Those fish, after spending a couple of years in the brook, become salmon smolt which then embarked on a journey of thousands of miles into the Atlantic Ocean.  In 4 or 5 years they would attempt to come back to their home waters to spawn.

 

When state and federal funding for the ASERP program ran out, schools then switched to raising brook trout.  Taconic Trout Unlimited members assisted the schools and teachers wherever they could, acquiring tanks, chillers, etc.  That new program was called the Trout in the Classroom program.  Readers may remember in the past when I covered the liberations of the classroom raised brook trout into our local waters such as the Yokum Brook in Becket, Westfield Brook in Windsor and others.  TU members such as Paul Knauth, Karen Karlberg, Dave Oclair, Ron Wojcek and others helped out.

 

Its so nice to see MassWildlife still advocating for this program in our schools.  Lets hope many local schools participate in it.

 

Following that presentation, Kautza gave a second presentation about Brook Trout, pointing out the following:

 

  • Brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis) are technically not even trout. They are charr, more closely related to lake trout (Salvelinus namaycush) and artic char (Salvelinus alpinus) than they are to other species of trout like the introduced brown trout (Salmo trutta) and rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss).

 

  • Brook trout are the only remaining native salmonid (Family Salmonidae) in Massachusetts. Brook trout are true coldwater fish and are unable to tolerate water temperatures much over 20o C (68F) for extended periods. They thrive in waters between 11–16o C (52–61o F). They do best when in streams with moderate pH and high alkalinity. Great brook trout habitat consists of areas with lots of pools and cover, relatively stable stream flows, and a substrate that is free of silt.

 

  • Brook trout reproduce in the fall, usually from mid-October until late November. Eggs hatch in the early spring. In the southern portion of their range (which includes Massachusetts), most brook trout live up to three or four years and achieve a maximum length of 200–250 mm (about 8–10 inches).

 

  • There are exceptions where brook trout have access to more food and/or optimum habitat. For example, in the Swift River in central Massachusetts, the water temperature and stream flows stay in the optimal range, and brook trout grow much larger.

 

  •  Sea-run brook trout also have the tendency to reach greater size than inland populations because of their ability to access the rich food resources in saltwater. Sea-run brook trout in Massachusetts tend to migrate from freshwater streams to inshore saltwater habitats in late fall following reproduction and then move back into streams in the spring. Sea-run brook trout streams in Massachusetts are concentrated along the shoreline of Buzzards Bay, on Cape Cod and Martha’s Vineyard, and scattered areas along Massachusetts’ South Shore.

 

  • Wild, naturally reproducing brook trout are found in all but two of the major watersheds in the Massachusetts. While their current extent is reduced from the larger historic range, they still occupy over 1,100 streams across the state. Brook trout have disappeared from many urban and suburban streams due to the negative impacts on habitat from human development including dams, loss of riparian habitat, altered flow regimes, and increased sedimentation. Climate change also poses a major threat to them. When faced with poor habitat conditions, they often recede into smaller, colder, high-gradient headwater streams.

 

Local trout stockings

 

The following local waters were scheduled to be stocked last week by MassWildlife:  Westfield River Middle Branch in Chester, Huntington, Middlefield and Worthington; Housatonic River East Branch in Dalton and Hinsdale, Housatonic River Southwest Branch in Pittsfield, Housatonic River Catch & Release in Lee and Stockbridge, Hoosic River South Branch in Cheshire and Adams, Green River (north) in New Ashfield and Williamstown, Lake Garfield, Goose Pond, Greenwater Pond, Laurel Lake, Mansfield Pond in Great Barrington, North Pond in Florida, Big Pond in Otis, Otis Reservoir, Stockbridge Bowl and York Lake in New Marlborough.

 

Conte Memorial Dinner reminder

 

Don’t forget, the Berkshire County League of Sportsmen’s Silvio O. Conte Memorial Banquet will take place at the Cheshire Rod & Gun Club, 310 Curran Road, Cheshire, on Saturday evening, April 13. Doors open at 4:30 pm, ticket price is $40 pp.   A head count is due tomorrow.

This year’s award winners are:   Sportsman of the Year Award– Leanda Fontaine of Bernardston, MA, Lifetime Achievement Award – Ted Pointek of Housatonic, John Zuber Award – Rick French of Phillipston, MA, Sportsmen’s Appreciation Award – James Loughman of Adams, and Outstanding Achievement Award – the late Richard ‘Rick’ Theilig of Lee.

Massachusetts joins national coalition to promote accessibility and innovation in outdoor recreation 

 

The Healey-Driscoll Administration recently joined the Outdoor Recreation Roundtable (ORR), a national coalition of state governments, non-profits, and businesses to promote the growth of the outdoor recreation economy and outdoor-related activities. The Massachusetts Office of Outdoor Recreation (MOOR) joins 12 other state departments and organizations dedicated to fostering the economic development of more than 110,000 outdoor businesses and accessibility of outdoor recreation across the nation. As a member of the coalition, MOOR will convene regularly to identify challenges and solutions through innovative research and collaboratively sharing information on best practices within the field.

“Massachusetts is thrilled to join our industry, academic, and other state partners as a new member of ORR,” said MOOR Director Paul Jahnige. (It) was instrumental in the creation of MOOR and has already provided incredible models and tools for us to use, including advocacy and rural development tools and training.”

“It is an exciting day to bring Massachusetts into the fold as an ORR State Member,” said ORR Vice President of Programs Chris Perkins. “Director Paul Jahnige has wasted no time in developing forward-thinking initiatives to bolster the Bay State’s $11.8 billion outdoor recreation economy, and we are looking forward to supporting the Office’s future development and growth with research and industry partnerships.”

Established in December 2022, MOOR collaborates with agencies to promote activities across the state, including hunting, fishing, horseback riding, paddling, swimming, and more. Outdoor recreation is vital to the Massachusetts economy, contributing $11 billion to the economy, creating over 102,000 jobs, and boosting tourism. MOOR looks forward to collaborating closely with the Outdoor Recreation Roundtable to implement strategic initiatives that drive economic growth, ensure equitable outdoor access for all, and improve public health in Massachusetts.  This announcement follows the hiring of Paul Jahnige as the state’s first Director of Outdoor Recreation

Trout Stockings

 

The following local waters were scheduled to be stocked last week by MassWildlife:  West Branch of Westfield River in Becket, Chester, Middlefield and Huntington; East Branch of Westfield River in Savoy, Windsor, Cummington and Chesterfield; Mainstem of Westfield River in Huntington, Russell and Montgomery; Konkapot River in Monterey and New Marlborough, Laurel Lake, Richmond Pond, Pontoosuc Lake and Windsor Pond in Windsor.

 

How is climate change impacting our Berkshire lakes and ponds? 

On Wednesday, April 3 from 2:30 to 4:30 pm, the Becket Conservation Commission and Becket Lakes & Ponds Association are sponsoring a free program that overviews how climate change is affecting our lakes and ponds, as well as other water resource areas, surrounding environment of trees and plants, and all wildlife that depend on them for their survival. The event will be held in the downstairs Community Room at the Becket Town Hall, 557 Main Street, Becket.

The panelists will be Bruce Winn – Berkshire Community College, Professor of Environmental Life Sciences, Emily Stockman – Stockman Associates, Owner and Senior Scientist and Joe Onorato – Water & Wetland owner Aquatic Specialist.

Refreshments will be provided.

Registration is required. Call Dave Johnson, Becket Conservation Chair: 978-424-5752

or email: CLIMATE PROGRAM or AIAINCDAJ@GMAIL.COM.  A zoom link will be posted on the BCC web page.

 

Basic Hunter Education course

 

Basic hunter education is mandatory for all first-time adult hunters. MassWildlife offers Basic Hunter Education in two formats. Each format covers the same material and students take the same final exam.

Blended: Students complete the online MA hunter study guide before attending one in-person Field Day.

 

In-person (traditional): Students attend an entirely in-person, instructor led course that is offered over multiple days.

 

All courses are free of charge and open to the public.

An in-person course is being offered at the Worthington Rod & Gun, 458 Dingle Rd (Route 112), Worthington, MA.  It will run for 4 nights: Monday, April 15, Tuesday April 16, Thursday April 18 and Friday, April 19.  All classes run from 5:30 to 9:00 pm.

Two blended courses are also being offered nearby:  One is at the Ashfield Rod & Gun Club, 161 North Street Plainfield, MA.  It runs on Saturday, April 6 from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm.  The other is at Westfield State University Horace Mann Center, 333 Western Avenue, Westfield, MA.  It runs on Sunday April 17 also from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm.

To enroll, call 508-389-7830 or click onto:  https://www.mass.gov/info-details/basic-hunter-education-course for all the details.

Game dinner coming up

The Annual Popsie Goerlach Dinner is scheduled for Wednesday, April 3 at the Stationery Factory in Dalton. Doors will open at 5:00 and dinner is at 6:00 pm. Last year they had almost 400 people attend and they’re hoping to do that again this year. They have a great menu lined up and some great prizes to give away, including a four-day Illinois Whitetail hunt, a Ravin crossbow, a Bowtech compound bow, and many other prizes. Tickets for the dinner and the raffle can be purchased online at https://www.12thman-goblue.com/2024-game-dinner

Gala event planned

 

On Saturday, April 6, the Lee Sportsmen’s Association/Ducks Unlimited (LSA/DU) 7th Annual Youth Sports Gala will take place at the Country Club in Pittsfield.  There will be raffles and live and silent auctions.  Doors open at 4:00 and dinner served is at 6:00 pm.  Tickets cost $125 per person and can be purchased at leesportsmen.com or mail from Lee Sportsmen’s Association, PO Box 175, Lee, MA.

 

Coles Memorial Ice Fishing Derby results

According to information posted on the Coles Memorial Ice Fishing Derby web page, the derby raised over $1,200 this year for the Goose Pond Boat Ramp project.  It is now complete and there will be a stone with a plaque going in this spring. After that, the original project will be complete, and the committee will be putting their energy towards figuring out what’s next. They thanked everyone who attended, donated and supported the event this year.

The ice fishing derby which started in 2020 is dedicated in Evan Scott Colbert’s memory who passed away in 2019 at the age of 29. He loved the outdoors and spent his leisure time fishing and boating. He could often be seen enjoying the waters of Goose Pond casting his reel while watching the eagles fly above.

Support endangered species at tax time

More than 430 plants and animals are listed under the Massachusetts Endangered Species Act. These rare species play an important role in keeping the Commonwealth’s natural communities thriving. You can make a difference by supporting endangered species conservation while filing your taxes this year. Simply look for Line 33A for Endangered Wildlife Conservation on your state tax form and write in any amount. Your meaningful donation will go to the Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Fund which is dedicated specifically to the conservation of rare species in the Commonwealth, such as the Shortnose Sturgeon (pictured).

In Massachusetts, Shortnose Sturgeon are currently found in the Connecticut and Merrimack Rivers with historical occurrences in many coastal rivers around Massachusetts.

picture provided by Micah Keefer, USGeological Survey

Shortnose Sturgeon spawn in large freshwater rivers. They migrate from the mouths of rivers, traveling many miles to reach suitable spawning upstream. During non-spawning periods sturgeon often leave freshwater in pursuit of food resources in estuaries or along the coast and migrate between large river systems.  The migration of its population in the Connecticut River is restricted by hydroelectric dams making this population one of the few that lives only in freshwater.

Shortnose sturgeon can live up to 60 years and do not reach reproductive maturity until they are 10–12 years old.  That means their populations are likely slow to recover making them one of the most vulnerable freshwater fish species in Massachusetts

The major threats to this species are river habitat degradation and loss caused by dams, channel dredging, poor water quality, contaminants, fisheries bycatch, and incidental boating strikes.

Hydroelectric dams can alter water flow and sediment patterns impacting spawning success, fragment populations by limiting fish movement, and cause mortality if fish swim too near intake pipes and pass through turbines. Efforts to restore sturgeon migration and reconnect subpopulations are underway in the Connecticut River through the construction of fishways to aid upstream and downstream movement.

It is illegal to possess sturgeon. If you accidentally catch one while fishing, release it as gently and quickly as possible, even if you need to cut the line. Never take the fish out of the water.

Trout stocking has begun

MassWildlife will stock over 500,000 brook, brown, rainbow, and tiger trout across Massachusetts this year.  About 455,000 will be stocked this spring and about 60,000 this fall.

According to MassWildlife officials, each year their hatcheries maximize trout production. They measure this as pounds of fish produced within the limits of the facilities. MassWildlife intentionally grows large trout to provide the best possible fishing for anglers. Their hatcheries raise the trout in five hatcheries in Sandwich, Palmer, Belchertown, Sunderland, and Montague

They have been very successful at getting outstanding growth rates so the fish have been heavier over time. Pounds of fish produced has less meaning to anglers, so MassWildlife describes the hatchery production in numbers of fish based on weight samples. When the individual fish weighs more, the total number is lower. Production by weight within the hatcheries has stayed relatively consistent over time. You may also see them providing annual totals on the website or social media where they combine both the spring and fall numbers to say they’re stocking over 500,000 trout this year.

This year, 75% of the trout will be over 12 inches, and 40% will be over 14 inches.  Some 800 retired brood brown trout 18”+ inches and 600 retired brood brook trout will be stocked.  About 2,900 tiger trout will be over 14 inches.

The Western District usually gets about 20% of them.  Stocking has already begun in our district with the following waters scheduled to be stocked last week: Deerfield River in Buckland, Charlemont and Florida; Farmington River in Otis, Sandisfield and Tolland; Lake Buel, Onota Lake and Stockbridge Bowl.  Please note: The stocking report is subject to change depending on staffing, equipment, and weather conditions.

MassWildlife has a map with all the fish stocking locations on its website.  There are red dots on the map indicating waters that will be stocked this spring. When stocking begins, the red dots will turn to black push-pins to show where trout have been stocked.

If you are looking for stocking information for a particular waterbody or town, use the table. Type the name of the waterbody or town into the search window to find all stocking reports for that location. You can also sort based on an attribute including town, waterbody, or type of fish.

If you prefer, you can get a list of all 2024 stocked waters.

The waters are cold this time of year.

If you fish from a boat and capsize or fall overboard, you can develop hypothermia within minutes. Hypothermia, the lowering of your internal body temperature, can make it difficult for you to swim, paddle, or stay afloat. A sudden, unexpected fall into cold water can also cause you to involuntarily gasp and ingest water, which can lead to death by drowning. Your life jacket may not prevent hypothermia, but it will help you stay afloat, and it can save your life. Boating fatality victims were often not wearing life jackets.

Safety advocates recommend all boaters and passengers have a life jacket and wear it at all times while boating, especially youths under 12 years old.

In Massachusetts, life jackets must be worn by canoeists and kayakers from September 15 to May 15

Black bears are here

MasssWildlife is warning residents that black bears are waking up this month and they’re hungry.  They urge people to take down bird feeders, secure trash bins, and watch out for their pets.

Governor Healey holding a bear cub.. Photo taken by Joshua Qualls of the Governor office

While we are on the subject of bears, Governor Maura Healey recently accompanied MassWildlife biologists during a visit to a black bear den that is part of ongoing research. Each winter, state biologists visit the dens of female black bears (sows) with radio tracking collars to assess the health and number of new cubs. The study provides critical information about the growing bear population in Massachusetts.

Governor Healey, First Partner Joanna Lydgate, Secretary of Energy and Environmental Affairs Rebecca Tepper, Department of Fish & Game Commissioner Tom O’Shea, and MassWildlife Director Mark Tisa were able to get an up-close look at the sow and her three cubs located at a den after trained staff immobilized the adult animal.

“We had a great time learning from our wildlife experts and getting to know our bear neighbors,” said Governor Healey. “Massachusetts is home to an impressive variety of habitats and wildlife. We are committed to using the best possible science to conserve biodiversity in Massachusetts. This black bear research is a great example of how we are making that happen.”

“MassWildlife’s black bear research program is the longest of its kind in New England,” said Secretary Tepper. “The goal is to understand bear behavior, population size, and movements across Massachusetts. We’re grateful to our skilled guides and experts who showed us how we care for our bear population.”

“It was an honor to have Governor Maura Healey join us to highlight MassWildlife’s important black bear research program,” said Department of Fish & Game Commissioner Tom O’Shea. “Despite Massachusetts being the third most densely populated state in the country, black bear populations are thriving and have expanded their range as far east as the Rte. 495 corridor. Collecting this vital data helps MassWildlife understand populations, educate the public, and minimize conflicts with these important creatures.”

“We know that bears will frequent neighborhoods where they find human-associated foods,” said MassWildlife’s Black Bear Project Leader Dave Wattles. “Our goal is to keep these impressive animals wild by understanding their movements and by encouraging people to take actions like removing bird feeders and securing trash in their yards.”

While at the den, biologists checked the health of the cubs and mother and replaced the sow’s GPS tracking collar. Signals from the collar are used throughout the year to see whether bears are using natural areas or developed, residential areas. After all the data was collected from the sow and cubs, biologists carefully returned the bears to their den and left the area. Many black bears are becoming more active during this time of year, but sows with cubs remain in their dens for several more weeks. Learn more about black bears in Massachusetts at www.mass.gov/bears.

Fly Fishing Film Tour

 

On Sunday, March 24 from 2:00 to 5:00 pm, the Taconic Chapter of Trout Unlimited will be presenting the 2024 Fly Fishing Film Tour at the Images Cinema, 50 Spring Street, Williamstown. Tickets which cost $15.00 can be purchased at (https://www.imagescinema.org/movie/2024-international-fly-fishing-film-festival).

 

Last year they filled the Cinema, so make sure you get your tickets early.  Also, get to the theater early to participate in the auctions and raffles.  The film starts at 2:00 pm.

 

Proceeds from this event help Taconic TU focus on conservation of our Berkshire County cold-water fisheries. This year they plan to monitor temperatures in the Hoosic River, add woody debris to strategic locations to encourage fish spawning and life, and joining the Hoosic River Watershed Association in continued bacteria sampling.

 

Following the film, there will be a Pizza Party sponsored by Cheeky Fly Fishing of North Adams.

 

Questions about the upcoming events:  taconictu@gmail.com.

 

Culverts and free flowing waterways

 

Free-flowing waterways provide better habitat for many wildlife species, especially cold-water fish species.  Culverts can be a detriment and obstacle to fish and other aquatic animals, often preventing them from freely moving upstream or downstream. A major problem with many culverts is that they were not designed with wildlife in mind or as a priority. They are often too small, restricting nutrient flow and causing flooding; other times, they might be “perched,” (elevated above the water’s surface), making fish migration difficult at best and sometimes impossible.

 

For this reason, the Berkshire Environmental Action Team (BEAT has been working to survey stream crossings in Berkshire County using the North Atlantic Aquatic Connectivity Collaborative (NAACC) protocol. This spring BEAT will offer training to anyone interested in conducting volunteer fieldwork by surveying culverts and road-stream crossings throughout the County. These surveys help determine what culverts and crossings need attention and prioritize those that need to be fixed sooner rather than later.

On Tuesday, March 19 at 6:00 pm BEAT and UMass Extension Professor Scott Jackson will host an online public info session dealing with hands-on volunteer fieldwork and why the NAACC was formed, the importance of doing this work, and what the training will entail. Register at: https://tinyurl.com/NAACC-info-session

Massachusetts Angler Award Winners Announced

 

Since 1963, MassWildlife’s Freshwater Sportfishing Awards Program has recognized anglers who catch exceptional freshwater fish across Massachusetts.

Today, I am listing all of the 2023 Angler of the Year winners, new state records and gold pin fish caught out of local waters or local anglers who caught gold pin fish in other waters.  To view the entire listing of gold pin winners, some 102 of them, go to the MassWildlife web site at Freshwater Sportfishing Awards Program | Mass.gov.

The Catch & Keep Angler of the Year Award is given to the person who weighs in the largest number of species that meet the minimum weight requirements for the previous calendar year.

 

2023 Adult Catch & Keep Angler of the Year was Cam Tucker of Gill, MA.  Cam caught bronze or gold pin fish in 10 species.  He caught the gold pin fish in the following species:  A carp weighing 30 lbs. 8 oz and a Channel Catfish weighing 12 lbs. 2 oz out of the Connecticut River in Northfield, Fallfish weighing 1 lbs. 15 oz out of the Connecticut River in Montague, Sunfish weighing 15 oz out of the Connecticut River in Deerfield; and a Yellow Perch weighing 1 bs 9 oz out of Plainfield Pond in Plainfield. He also got a couple of gold pins in the Adult Catch & Release Category (see below).

2023 Youth Catch & Keep Angler of the Year was Logan Middlebrook of Pittsfield. Logan caught bronze or gold pin fish in 17 species.  He caught the gold pin fish in the following species:  Bowfin weighing 6 lbs. 14 oz out of the Connecticut River in Northampton, Carp weighing 16 lbs. 8 oz out of Pontoosuc Lake in Pittsfield, Fallfish weighing 11 oz out of the Westfield River in Huntington, and White Catfish weighing 3 lbs. 15 oz out of the Connecticut River in Agawam, MA. He also got a couple of gold pins in the Youth Catch & Release Category (see below).

Logan Middlebrook photo provided by his family

If Logan looks familiar, its because his picture was in this column last year holding a big carp.  He tied for the 2022 Youth Angler of the year with Carter Flagg of Gill and Gabriel Christman of Pittsfield. Logan’s dad, Bill, said DFW officials told him that no one from Western Massachusetts has ever accomplished this repeat feat before. He has only been fishing for 3 years now.

The Catch & Release Angler of the Year Award is awarded to the person who submits the largest number of species that meet the minimum length requirements for the previous calendar year.

 

2023 Adult Catch & Release (C&R) Angler of the Year winner was Andrew Langley of Peabody. He was also Adult Catch & Release Angler of the year in 2022.  He caught bronze or gold pin fish in 20 species.  He caught the gold pin fish as follows: An 18.50-inch Fallfish out of the Connecticut River in Northampton, a 23.75-inch shad out of the Merrimack River in Lawrence, a 21.50-inch White Catfish out of the Charles River in Cambridge, a 24.75-inch shad out of the Merrimack River in Andover and a 15-inch Yellow Perch out of the Merrimack River in Haverhill.

2023 Youth C&R Angler of the Year was Jack Ostriker of Grafton, MA. He didn’t catch any gold pin fish, but he caught 14 bronze pin fish.

Other gold pin fish that were caught out of Berkshire waters in 2023 were as follows:

Adult Catch & Keep Category – A 16 lbs. 14 oz gold pin Tiger Muskellunge was caught out of Pontoosuc Lake in Pittsfield by Daniel Aitken of Pittsfield.

Youth C&R Category -The following gold pin fish were taken:  A 16-inch Tiger Trout was taken out of Onota Lake by Logan Middlebrook, as well as a 28-inch Bowfin out of the Connecticut River in Northampton, a 22.50-inch Largemouth Bass out of Plunkett Lake in Hinsdale by Kadance Soules of Dalton, a 21-inch Rainbow Trout out of Onota Lake by Tyler Boutin of Northbridge, MA.

Adult C&R Category, in addition to Andrew Langley’s previously mentioned fish, the following gold pin fish were caught.  A 19.50-inch Brook Trout was caught out of Windsor Pond in Windsor by Tyler Mazzotta of Adams; a 23.75-inch Largemouth Bass was caught out of Cheshire Reservoir by Manuel Silveira of Berkshire Village, a 21-inch Rainbow Trout was caught out of Onota Lake by Tyler Boutin of Northbridge, MA,

Youth Catch & Keep Category, in addition to Logan’s previously mentioned fish, the following gold pin fish were caught: A 5 lbs. 8 oz Largemouth Bass was caught out of Buckley-Dunton Lake in Becket by Trystan Couture of Chester, MA; a 13 lbs. 2 oz Northern Pike was caught out of Cheshire Reservoir by Alice Christman of Pittsfield, a 4 lbs. 5 oz Smallmouth Bass was taken out of Onota Lake in Pittsfield by Corbin Carlow of Windsor, and a 1 lbs. 15 oz Tiger Trout was taken out of Onota Lake by Alice Christman.

As noted earlier, only gold pin fish were listed. There is another pin awarded and that is the bronze pin.  If you submit a fish that meets the minimum weight or minimum length requirements for an eligible species, you’ll get a bronze pin from MassWildlife for that species Nearly 1,000 pins are awarded annually.

In 2023, two new species were added to the Freshwater Sportfishing Award Program – Fallfish and White Sucker.  Also, a Youth C&R category was added resulting in more state records in those species.

There were 2 new state records in the Adult Catch & Keep Category:  A 1 lbs. 15 oz Bowfin caught out of the Connecticut River in Northampton by Cam Tucker and a 3 lbs. 8 oz White Sucker caught out of the Merrimack River in Haverhill by Andrew Langley of Peabody.

There were 8 new state records in the Adult C&R Category:  A 34.50-inch Bowfin was caught out of the Connecticut River in Northampton and a 24.25 Smallmouth Bass was caught out of the Chicopee River in Chicopee by Will Pellerin of Springfield, a 32.50-inch Chain Pickerel caught out of Bog Pond in Carver by Nicholas Gurney of Wareham, a 34.75-inch Channel Catfish caught out of the Connecticut River in Gill, an 18.50-inch Fallfish caught out of the Connecticut River in Northampton by Cam Tucker.  Another 18.50-inch Fallfish was caught out of the same river by Andrew Langley of Peabody, MA; a 37-inch Lake Trout was caught out of the Wachusett Reservoir by Jeff Evans of Clinton and a 23-inch White Sucker was taken out of the Swift River in Belchertown by Colin Duarte of Sterling.

Angler of the Year recipients and gold pin winners are honored each year at a MassWildlife awards event where they will receive gold pins and plaques. The date and location TBA.

Ice fishing and skating near an end

It looks like our ice fishing season, such as it was, is about over.  I suspect some ice fishermen never had a chance to get out this year due to the thin ice. Several ice fishing derbies had to be cancelled and at least one local person had fallen through the ice and had to be rescued.  That makes two years in a row where there hasn’t been much ice.    I was fortunate to get out 5 times, but never fished on more than 5 or 6 inches of ice.

This year, the only place I fished was Stockbridge Bowl.  I enjoy fishing that lake because you never know what you will see.    Every day, you could expect to see a Bald Eagle fly over.  Sometimes you’ll see someone pedaling around on a studded unicycle, or maybe someone wind sailing in an ice boat.  This year I saw some Skate Sailers who move over ice on ice skates utilizing the force of the wind. A small sail is held in their hands or leaned against with the whole body.  Boy, can they move when the wind is right.  No wonder they wear helmets. According to Frank Wall (pictured) from Harlemville, NY, Skate Sailing is a rather old sport dating back to the 1800’s.

Frank Wall picture provided by Gene Chague

Ham Shoots

 

The Cheshire Rod & Gun Club Cheshire Rod & Gun Club is holding Ham Shoots on the following Sundays:  March 10, 17 and 24 starting at 1:00 pm.  Prizes will include ham and some other surprises.  $5 a shot.

You meet the most interesting people while fly fishing in the Catskills

 

This time of year is a good time to replenish trout flies that were lost last year.  Like others, I have been wrapping furs and feathers onto hooks, concentrating primarily on flies to be used on our trip to the Catskills again this year.   The Catskill rivers are famed as being the Birthplace of American Fly-Fishing and are home to some of the best fly fishing waters in the Northeast, visited by avid anglers from around the world.  In my September, 2023 article chronicling a 4-day flyfishing trip to the Catskills that Paul Knauth (Hinsdale) and I made last September. In addition to writing about how a big trout cleaned my clock, I mentioned that we met several interesting people on that trip and that I would be mentioning them in a future column. Here it is:

When we checked into the Roscoe Motel in Roscoe, NY, we discovered that the annual Catskill Rod Makers’ Gathering  (meeting of bamboo rod makers)  had just wrapped up its gathering the day before our arrival.  Incidentally, it is important that they be called rod makers and not rod builders. Rod makers make the blanks that they turn into rods. Rod builders start with the blanks and finish out the rods.  Anyways, around 100 craftsmen attended, and after it was over some stayed a couple of extra days at the Roscoe Motel to do some flyfishing.

Rod makers are a patient breed.  Can you imagine the work involved in: obtaining a section of bamboo cane or culm (the cylindrical, hollow stem) from the Tonkin Bay area, splitting it, planing it down, gluing the sections, separating it into two or three pieces, attaching the ferrules, guides and tip, varnishing it, heating it, building and attaching the cork handle, adding the reel seat and rings, and ultimately turning it into a beautiful, well balanced bamboo rod? Some say that around 400 separate operations go into building a bamboo rod.

Because Paul and I both own and frequently fish with cane rods, we made acquaintances with those cane makers who stayed at the motel. (Forgive me for some name dropping here.)

Several of them were interesting folks, for example Kim and Robert “Willis” Reid from Sharon, MA. They have been attending the Rod Makers Gatherings for many years but covid and other troubles had kept them away for a few years. Years ago, they spent their honeymoon staying at the Roscoe Motel and return every year at the same time.  Kim has been the recipient of the A.P. Bellinger Award which is given annually to a person “for recognition of the recipient’s contribution to the bamboo rod makers’ craft and demonstrating that quality and integrity never go out of style.” She has been an illustrator for several books related to fly fishing.

Willis and I had a couple of nice conversations and one day he gave me one of his excellently tied flies named the Miller River Special.  It was named after the Miller River in Massachusetts, not too far from where they live. Because Robert is a fly tyer of some renown, I don’t intend to fish with that fly but rather encase and display it.

Miller River Special fly

There we met Dwight Adkinson of Virginia who happened to be fishing there that weekend. He is retired and seems to fish whenever and wherever he wants, places like the Balkans, Iceland, Scotland and Ireland.

One morning, while having breakfast, Paul, Dwight and I met renowned Catskill fly tyer Tom Mason and equally renowned cane rod maker Mike Canazon at the Kasos Greek Restaurant in Roscoe.  Tom and Mike are volunteers at the Catskills Fly Fishing Center & Museum (CFFCM). Both carry the torch of the famed, classic Catskill tiers. We had a nice chat and before our conversations were over, Tom gave each of us two of his handsomely tied flies.  My flies will also be encased.

Tom is a founding member and past president of the Catskill Fly Tyers Guild and has been instrumental in organizing numerous fly tying events including the Fly Tyers Rendezvous, Fly Fest, and the Fly Tyers Roundtable. Tom even ties his flies using hooks and materials from the golden era of flyfishing in the Catskills (1800’s).  While he is generally acknowledged as being one of the finest tyers in the traditional Catskill style, he has taken the art to a new level with lightly hackled, almost ethereal flies.

Tom Mason

Tom is a fixture on the Catskill rivers and around campfires telling fish tales that stretched the bounds of credulity. In addition to an amazing collection of books, bamboo rods, and reels, Tom also has an extensive collection of rare tying materials that enable him to reproduce flies tied by the old masters. Additionally, he helps lead the “Dream Team” of volunteer archivists that have spent several years preparing an online database showcasing all the items that the Catskill Fly Fishing Center & Museum (CFFCM) has acquired for its permanent collection over the past several decades.

Mike Canazon, of Livingston Manor, NY, was a well-known Catskill fly fisherman and master bamboo rod maker.  He was very active in the CFFCM) and has taught bamboo rod making classes there. He also did a lot of the organizing for the Catskill Rod Makers Gatherings. He was inducted as a CFFCM Catskill Legend in 2022 and received the 2023 Gold Micrometer Award. He also received the A.P. Bellinger Award and was featured in the acclaimed movie,  Land of Little Rivers”, a quintessential film of the places and famous anglers, that once more put the Catskills in the limelight as a fly fishing destination. I highly recommend this film.

Mike Canazon

 

Sadly, he passed away this past December at the age of 72.  “There’s something about standing in the river, just being part of the world around you.  You’re one small piece of that. Catching fish put me in the water, but now the water’s in me.” Mike once said.

 

Paul and I met Brian Greer, a respected bamboo rod maker from Missouri who attends the Rod Maker’s Gathering every year.  He was born in the Ozarks and grew up fishing those spring creeks. He learned to make rods from a man named Harry Boyd from Louisiana and who is famous in the rod making community and who has written the book on making a bamboo rod blank.  Now, Brian makes traditional, six-sided rods by hand and uses an old block plane to make his rod strips.

One time at the Gathering, the challenge contest rod for that year was to make a one-piece, 7’, 4wt rod.  Brian let Dwight try out that rod and he really liked it.  Dwight contacted him later that year and asked him to make him one.  No surprise there.  Paul and I got to cast a couple of Brian’s custom-made fly rods on the lawn of the Roscoe Motel and they were beautifully made and cast wonderfully.  Truly works of art.

We met Noel Hudson, a friend of Brian’s who he first met just outside of the Smoky Mountains at a bamboo rod gathering there. Noel travels far and wide in his van, fishing along the way.

One night Paul and I returned to the motel after I missed a large brown trout due to an improper fishing line/backing connection. Before I knew it, Noel, Brian and Dwight took matters into their own hands and did some splicing, knot tying and stuff to my line and backing to correct the problem.  So nice of them for they barely knew me.  Folks are like that down there in the Catskills.

 

And are they knowledgeable.  One night I showed them a cane flyrod that I had brought along on the trip.  It had no maker’s name on the rod and I often wondered who made it. When these guys put their heads together for a minute or two, they determined that it was made by Partridge of Redditch (English).

 

For a couple of older flyfishermen like Paul and me, who enjoy the traditions of bamboo rods, the hallowed waters of the Catskills and their legendary anglers, fly tyers and rod makers, this trip was most satisfying.  The folks there made us feel right at home, and God willing, we plan to link up with them again this summer.

 

Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza Detected in Massachusetts

 

The Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources’ (MDAR) Division of Animal Health is informing the public that Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) has been detected in Essex County. MDAR and its partner agencies depopulated and disposed of a non-commercial, mixed-species backyard flock (non-poultry) in Essex County due to HPAI. Birds on the affected premises died suddenly without exhibiting any other clinical signs consistent with HPAI and samples tested positive for the disease.

MDAR advises backyard and commercial poultry owners to practice strong biosecurity measures to prevent domestic poultry from having contact with wild birds, their feathers, and droppings. The HPAI virus is continuing to circulate in the wild bird population, particularly in wild waterfowl. Eliminating standing water and preventing domestic birds from having access to ponds, streams, and wetland areas that attract wild waterfowl is of critical importance.

 

Additionally, over the past few days the Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife (MassWildlife) has received reports of dead and dying wild Canada geese in Essex County and the surrounding coastal areas. These wild birds showed symptoms consistent with HPAI. Several samples have been collected for HPAI testing and results are pending. While humans are rarely infected with avian influenza viruses, humans that have prolonged close contact with sick or dead birds infected with HPAI are at the most risk of becoming infected. Officials are urging the public not to handle or feed any birds suspected of being infected. Pet owners should also prevent their dogs from making contact with wild birds.

 

REPORT sick or dead birds

Domestic birds:   617-626-1795 or online Poultry Disease Reporting Form: https://www.mass.gov/forms/poultry-disease-reporting-form

Wild birds:   Department of Fish and Game, Division of Fisheries and Wildlife (MassWildlife) https://www.mass.gov/forms/report-observations-of-dead-wild-birds

 

Former MassWildlife Director receives top honors

Retired MassWildlife Director Wayne MacCallum was inducted into the National Wild Turkey Federation’s (NWTF) New England Turkey Hunting Hall of Fame alongside five other inductees in late January. The Hall of Fame, established in 2017 by the New England NWTF state chapters, recognizes outstanding individuals for their contributions to wild turkey conservation and to the preservation of New England’s hunting heritage.

MacCallum served as MassWildilfe’s Director for nearly 30 years. During that time, regulated turkey hunting was relatively new and MassWildlife was actively working with partners to restore wild turkeys across the Commonwealth.  Decades after wild turkeys disappeared from Massachusetts, MassWildlife reintroduced them in the early 1970s. During the 1980s and 1990s, turkeys were trapped and relocated to suitable habitat across Massachusetts to support and grow the population. The state’s turkey population is now estimated to be 30,000 –35,000.

Joe Judd, NWTF State Chapter Board Member, presented the award and recalled the early days of turkey hunting in Massachusetts and the partnership between NWTF and MassWildlife. “Wayne was instrumental in supporting our progress with the trap and release program and he fought hard for the dollars needed for equipment and manpower to keep the project moving ahead. When the Massachusetts Chapter started to contribute more dollars, Wayne saw the commitment we were making and welcomed the partnership.” As turkey populations expanded, hunting opportunities also grew.

“Congratulations to Wayne for this well-deserved recognition,” said Mark S. Tisa, current MassWildlife Director. “This award offers a chance to reflect on how far we have come. The partnership between MassWildlife and NWTF is as strong as ever and we look forward to collaborating on our shared conservation goals for years to come.” 

Mr. MacCallum expressed gratitude for the honor. He emphasized that the hardworking and passionate MassWildlife staff, NWTF members, and volunteers were major factors in the success of wild turkey restoration and in championing responsible, safe hunting in the state.

This is the second time MacCallum has been recognized by NWTF. In 2015, he was awarded the Wayne Bailey Lifetime Achievement Award for excellence in conservation. Past Hall of Fame inductees from MassWildlife include retired Turkey Biologist Jim Cardoza, retired Information and Education Chief Ellie Horwitz, and the late Fisheries and Wildlife Board Chairman George Darey.

Fly tying events coming up

Several fly tying events will be conducted in the upcoming weeks.  On February 11 and March 16 at 3:30 pm the Taconic Chapter of Trout Unlimited will be having events at the Wild Soul River, 248 Cole Ave., Williamstown. On February 24 at 6:30 pm, Berkshire Outfitters, located at 169 Grove Street Adams, will have a fly-tying event. Anyone interested in attending the event should contact Chris Sampson at Berkshire Outfitters to reserve a spot.  In southern Berkshires, Peter Paulson is joining Dean Hutson and the folks at the Berkshire National Fish Hatchery, 240 Hatchery Road, New Marlborough, MA for some fly tying classes scheduled for February 17 and March 16 (3rd Saturdays of the month).

Lastly, on March 5 and 7, MassWildlife will be conducting a Beginner Fly Tying Class, at the Cheshire Rod & Gun Club, 310 Curran Road, Cheshire,  from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. There you will learn the basic skills of tying your own flies during this free, hands-on, two-session course.  All tools and tying materials will be provided. It is open to the public, for beginning fly tiers only, with a minimum age of 15.  Pre-registration is mandatory. Contact Jim Lagacy to register at: jim.lagacy@mass.gov or call 508-389-6309.

Ice Fishing Derby

 

The Cheshire Rod & Gun Club and the Adams Outdoorsmen for Youth will be sponsoring an ice fishing derby at the Cheshire Lake North Basin and 2nd Lake on February 18 from 7:00 am to 4:00 pm. Registration at both boat ramps from 7:00 to 10:00 am. Children are free with a paid adult ticket. Kids prizes for the 5 heaviest fish.  There are adult and kid categories.

 

Tickets cost $15.  Advance sales are available at Martin Farrell’s Bait, Cheshire Sporting Goods, Dave’s Sporting Goods, Onota Boat Livery or Shire Bait.  ’Weigh In “channel 7 or call 822-2824.  All fish must be alive, of legal length and weighed by 4:00 pm. Registration Awards and refreshments start at 5:00 pm at the club house.

 

Ice fishing tournament “off the ice”

With everyone’s safety as their top concern, the organizers have decided to move the 2024 Lanesboro Memorial Ice Fishing Tournament off the ice this year. Events will happen behind the Root River Saloon on Saturday, February 17 from 12:00 to -3:00 pm. There will be adult and youth activities and food and beverages.  The proceeds support the Lanesboro Senior Class and other local needs. Watch Facebook for more information.

Thanks Tom Ferguson, you did a wonderful job

 

Recently, Lenox Sportsmen’s Club Board Member Mark Jester announced a leadership transition at the Lenox Sportsmen’s Club, marking the end of Tom Ferguson’s remarkable 43-year tenure as its leader. According to Jester, at the age of 84, Tom, who had previously served as the president of the Lakewood Sportsmen’s Club before its merger with Lenox, has decided to step down. The merger was prompted by an unfortunate arson incident at the old Lakewood Sportsmen’s Club house in 1983.

Jester lauded Ferguson’s work.  “Under Tom’s guidance, Lenox Sportsmen’s Club has thrived, boasting an annual membership of around 650 individuals. Tom played a pivotal role in initiating programs, many of which are still in operation, and consistently advocated for the Berkshire County League of Sportsmen (BCLS). Although his departure leaves a void in leadership, Tom has expressed his continued involvement with the club.”

“Tom’s most recent undertaking was the organization of the club’s annual Venison & Polenta Dinner, a successful event that drew in 150 participants, including men, women, and children. The program generated $4,000.00 in funds, earmarked to sponsor the attendance of four local teenagers at the Massachusetts Junior Conservation Camp this upcoming summer. Despite stepping down from his leadership role, Tom remains an active and valuable contributor to the club’s initiatives.”

It was a tasty fish

Say, remember the article in this column about that big brown trout that was caught out of Stockbridge Bowl a couple of weeks ago?  As you may recall, it was caught by Brian Duffy of Rehoboth, MA.  I asked him what he did with that fish and here is his response, “ We ended up eating the fish. Beautiful filets turned into a few great meals. Smoked the filets with maple, pressure canned the boney sections to dissolve the bones for sandwiches, and boiled down the carcass for an amazing fish, chorizo, corn chowder.  Nothing went to waste!” he wrote.

It’s a shame he threw away the scales.

Study shows trouble for Adirondack brook trout

 

There are quite a few local anglers who travel to the Adirondacks to fish.  Some are fly fishermen who fish the rivers, such as the Au Sable, Saranac, Salmon and others.  Some fish the lakes such as Lake Ontario, Lake Champlain, Great Sacandaga, Lake George and others.  A few fish for brook trout in the smaller ponds in the Adirondacks.

Unfortunately, a study recently published by the National Academy of Sciences does not paint a rosy picture for the future of Adirondack brook trout populations in lakes.  The study, titled “Concurrent warming and browning eliminate cold-water fish habitat in many temperate lakes,” explores how trout habitat is impacted by two water quality variables — climate warming and lake browning.   Lake browning occurs when dissolved organic matter from forests turns the water tea-brown, thus making the bottom of most lakes in the Adirondacks unlivable for cold water species such as trout and salmon during the summer.

A research group from Cornell University and Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute learned that only about 5% of Adirondack lakes may continue to maintain water that is cold and oxygenated enough to support cold-water species given current trends. That is a significant decrease from the 1980s, when 23% of those lakes contained suitable habitat. The study provides insights into changes in key ecosystem dynamics with potential consequences for the future of temperate lakes in the Adirondacks as well as elsewhere in northeastern North America and parts of Europe.

This is not a problem in lakes categorized as “very clear.”   Little or no browning keeps the water column cool during the critical months of summer. Unfortunately, most lakes in the Adirondacks do not fall into the “very clear” category.

After a few more decades of browning, most Adirondack lakes will become either too warm or too deoxygenated to support trout populations,” said. Dr. Peter McIntyre,  associate professor in the departments of Natural Resources and the Environment and Ecology and Evolutionary Biology. “This is a radical departure from the past, when trout fisheries in numerous lakes were celebrated by locals and tourists alike.”

It’s imperative that we protect the modest number of buffered lakes in the Adirondacks from species invasions, nutrient and salt pollution, and other forms of environmental degradation,” said Stephen Jane. (former Cornell Atkinson Center for Sustainability Postdoctoral Fellow in the Department of Natural Resources and the Environment in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences).

“Increased browning is an unfortunate legacy of a century of acid rain, despite the prominent reduction in new acid inputs over the last few decades. As acidity has declined, ecosystems have become more productive at the same time that soils have suffered reduced capacity to absorb weak organic acids.  This leads to more dissolved plant matter flowing through the watershed into lakes, making them browner. Also, climate change has increased both the frequency of extreme precipitation events and the length of growing seasons, thereby promoting further runoff of organic matter.”

Browner water creates greater heat trapping at the top of a lake, as the sun’s rays are absorbed by the organic compounds in the water, leading to warming. At the same time, brown water blocks those rays from dispersing through the water column, which concentrates all solar heating in a shallow layer of warm, less-dense water that sits on top of the colder water layer below.

“In a recent study, sensors were placed in 15 Adirondack lakes which measured dissolved oxygen and temperature throughout each lake’s water column. The sensors collected measurements hourly from June through mid-October. “That enabled them to get really high-resolution maps of the habitat within the water column that would be suitable for brook trout,” Jane said.

They measured rates of browning in a set of lakes with decades of historical data. These data enabled them to calculate relationships between browning and the gradients of temperature and oxygen levels with depth during the summer season. They applied their statistical findings to an existing database of 1,467 Adirondack lakes, and calculated which lakes contained potentially stressful conditions for trout over the summer period, based on understanding of the fish’s thermal and oxygen tolerances

For almost 95% of the lakes in the Adirondacks, any further browning is going to be harmful to these cold-water species,” Jane said.

During the summer, the water separates into different zones, with warm water on the surface and cold water on the bottom. The layer suitable for trout is called the oxythermal layer, and it is located somewhere in the middle. Oxythermal means warm and well-oxygenated, and the greater the span of this layer, the better it is for the trout.  The data suggests that future prospects of oxythermal habitat are bleak because deep lakes are rare and dissolved oxygen concentrations in most lakes were high enough to produce a substantial net loss of suitable oxythermal habitat under observed rates of browning.

The researchers determined that lakes are becoming increasingly “squeezed” by browning. This means that the deep, hypoxic bottom layer is expanding upward, cutting into the oxythermal layer and reducing the trout habitat.

According to the report, “Browning-induced heat trapping at the surface of Adirondack lakes has led to surface warming rates more than double the average rates reported for temperate lakes worldwide and more than 180% faster declines in deep-water dissolved oxygen.”

The study suggests that most Adirondack lakes right now are already poorly suited for trout, and further disruption of habitat will continue to threaten the future of trout populations.

Not good news for those beautiful brook trout.

Certain information was obtained from an article written by Krishna Ramanujan of the Cornell Chronicle entitled Most Adirondack lakes will likely become unsuitable for trout.

 

Identifying trees and shrubs in Winter

 

Do you find that identifying a tree during winter time to be a daunting endeavor? With the absence of leaves, flowers, and fruit, it can appear as though there are no distinguishable characteristics to help with identification. But according to Chelsey Simmons of Berkshire Environmental Action Team (BEAT) this is far from true.

 

Chelsey says that winter is an excellent time to learn how to identify woody plant species. The absence of leaves allows for the opportunity to take a closer look at the characteristics that are often overlooked, like the subtle features of a twig, the arrangement of buds, and the overall form and structure of a tree.

 

On Wednesday, February 14 at 6:00 pm, you are invited to join Chelsey for the February Berkshire Green Drinks virtual event to explore the buds, twigs, and bark of common trees seen in our New England landscape.  She will go over the steps to tree identification, break down twig morphology, and give helpful hints on remembering one species from another — all of which will aid in tree and shrub identification year-round.

 

The presentation will be live-streamed via Zoom.   Registration is required to receive the meeting link. Register at: http://tinyurl.com/Feb2024-Berks-Green-Drinks

 

For the past few years, she’s been working on an identification book of trees and shrubs found in western Massachusetts, meticulously drawing and painting each page by hand and sharing those pages with the public through BEAT’s “Tree of the Month” series with the hope of getting people excited about trees and interested in the native species found in our region.

 

Knox Trail Chapter Whitetails Unlimited Banquet

On Saturday, February 10, the Knox Trail Chapter of WU will be holding a fundraiser banquet at the Knox Trail Inn, Rte. 23, East Otis, MA.  Games/drawings/Social Hour begins at 12:00 pm and dinner at 1:30 pm.  Tickets cost $50 each.  The ticket order deadline is February 9. For more information, contact Bill Bailey at 413-244-2304.

The Grassroots Program provides the primary financial support for conservation projects funded by WU, and to date over $125.9 million has been expended on program services that enhance and foster their mission.  The Berkshires has often benefitted from their services.  Tickets can be bought and printed online at whietailsunlimited.com

Ice fishing derby rescheduled

The Lanesboro Volunteer Fire Association’s ice fishing derby which was scheduled for today (February 3) has been rescheduled due to possibly dangerous ice conditions.  It is now scheduled for Saturday, February 24 from 6:00am to 12:00pm on Pontoosuc Lake.  Entry fee is $15 for adults, kids 12 and under enter free.  You must register behind the park on Narragansett Avenue.  The entry fee includes a chance at a door prize.  There will be cash prizes and free coffee and cocoa.  The raffle ticket drawing follows the derby.

Be careful while going out onto frozen ponds

 

This is a tricky year ice-wise with freezing weather for a couple of days and then warmth and rains for a couple of days.  Its driving the ice fishing derby organizers and live bait sellers crazy. MassWildlife has some suggestions before heading out onto the ice.  I know you have probably read these MassWildlife recommendations in this column many times, but there’s always a new crop of inexperienced ice fishermen who may not know the possible dangers of ice fishing.

  • Tell someone your plans, including where you are going and when you expect to return.
  • Carry a cell phone in case of emergency. Carry ice picks and rope with you on the ice. In case of emergency, drive the nails into the ice and pull yourself to safety while kicking.
  • Wear your life jacket. If you fall in, a life jacket will keep you at the surface and can provide insulation against the effects of cold water.

Ice thickness guidelines

The guidelines below are for clear, blue ice on lakes and ponds. White ice or snow ice is only about half as strong as new clear ice and can be very treacherous. Use an ice chisel, auger, or cordless drill at regular intervals to determine its thickness and condition.

Usually, if the ice thickness is 2” or less, stay off.  You can walk and fish on 4” of ice.  You should have 5” if you ride a snowmobile or an ATV on ice.  There should be 8 to 12” for a car or small pick-up.  A medium truck should not go out onto the ice if there is not at least 12 – 15 inches of ice.

Falling through the ice

If you fall in:

  • Don’t panic: Call for help if there are people nearby.
  • Don’t remove winter clothing: Air trapped in your clothes can provide warmth and help you float.
  • Turn the direction you came from, ice you previously walked on should be the safest.
  • Place your hands and arms on an unbroken surface and kick your legs: If you have ice picks use them to pull yourself up onto the ice while kicking.
  • Once your torso is on firm ice, lie flat and roll toward thicker ice to distribute your weight.
  • Find shelter and get warm: Change out of wet clothing and find warm, dry coverings. If you are in a remote area, get to or start a campfire. Otherwise, get to a car or house. Seek medical advice.

 

If someone else falls in, remember the phrase “Preach-Reach-Throw-Go.”

  • Preach: Call 911 if you can. Shout to the victim to reassure them help is on the way.
  • Reach: If you can safely reach them from shore, extend an object like a rope, jumper cables, tree branch, or ladder to them.
  • Throw: Toss one end of a rope or something that will float to the victim.
  • Go: If the situation is too dangerous for you to perform a rescue, call 911 or go to find help. Untrained rescuers can become victims themselves.
  • Keep pets leashed while walking on or near ice. If a pet falls in, don’t attempt to rescue it, go find help. Well-meaning pet owners can easily become victims themselves when trying to assist their pets.

Nice trout hauled out of Stockbridge Bowl

On Monday, January 22, Brian Duffy of Rehoboth, MA was ice fishing on Stockbridge Bowl with his buddy Johnny Cullen of Cumberland, RI.  He was jigging with a lure called the “Wonder Bread” (Colors and design similar to Wonder Bread packaging – red, blue and yellow circles).

Around noon, something hit the lure and a heck of a battle ensued.  It really must have been something fighting that fish with his 3-foot jigging rod.  With the help of Johnny, the fish, a beautifully colored brown trout, was finally pulled through the hole. It measured 22 ½ inches long and weighed 4.35 lbs. on the Onota Boat Livery certified scales.

That qualifies Brian to receive a bronze pin in Massachusetts’ Freshwater Sportsfishing Awards program. (An Adult Catch & Keep Brown Trout must weigh at least 4 lbs. to be eligible to receive a bronze pin.)

Ice fishing derbies scheduled next weekend

On Saturday, February 3 from 6:00am to 12:00pm the Lanesboro Volunteer Fire Association will be sponsoring an ice fishing derby on Pontoosuc Lake.  Entry fee is $15 for adults, kids 12 and under enter free.  You must register behind the park on Narragansett Avenue.  The entry fee includes a chance at a door prize.  There will be cash prizes and free coffee and cocoa.  The raffle ticket drawing follows the derby.

The Coles Memorial Hard Water Ice Fishing Derby is scheduled to take place on Goose Pond on Sunday, February 4 from 6:00 am to 2:00 pm.  That’s assuming there is sufficient ice.  Ice updates and ticket sale info will be posted.  They are holding off on selling tickets until they have a better feel for the ice conditions.

If it does take place, prizes and a raffle will follow on the ice near the boat ramp.

Tickets cost $10.00 for adults and free for kids 12 and under.  There will be cash prizes for adults.  All proceeds will go toward a memorial donation to the boat ramp in the name of the late Evan Colbert.

Basic Hunter Education course

 

Basic hunter education is mandatory for all first-time adult hunters. MassWildlife offers Basic Hunter Education in two formats. Each format covers the same material and students take the same final exam.

Blended: Students complete the online MA hunter study guide before attending one in-person Field Day.

 

In-person (traditional): Students attend an entirely in-person, instructor led course that is offered over multiple days.

 

All courses are free of charge and open to the public.

An in-person course is being offered at the Cheshire Rod & Gun Club, 310 Curran Road, Cheshire, on the following Monday and Friday evenings: February 12, 16, 19, 23, 26 and March 1 from 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm.  Attendance at all 6 nights is required.

The instructors are: Greg Armstrong and Wayne McLain of North Adams and Mike Denault of Stamford, VT. Mike and Wayne have been teaching the course for 20 years and Greg has been teaching it for 40 years.

To enroll, call 508-389-7830 or click onto:  https://www.mass.gov/info-details/basic-hunter-education-course for all the details.

Annual Pheasant Fundraising Turkey Shoot & Dinner –

The Lee Sportsmen’s Association invites you to its Annual Pheasant Fundraising Turkey Shoot & Dinner being held on Sunday, February 4. The shoot runs from 1:00 pm until 4:00 pm.  Prizes include NY strip steaks, turkeys, pork loins, and spiral hams. The dinner will be from 5:00 pm until 7:00 pm.  The cost for adults is $15 and children 12 and under $10.

For more information, contact Secretary John Polastri at (413) 822-8278.

Every year, MassWildlife stocks an average of 40,000 pheasants on Wildlife Management Areas and other lands open to the public. LSA helps raise and release these wonderful birds, which are stocked for recreational hunting and are paid for by revenue from license fees. However, the cost of raising and releasing the pheasants is the responsibility of LSA, and the caretakers are all Club volunteers. So, you are asked to come on out for a day of fun and delicious food, and help support a great cause to ensure our continued legacy of wildlife management and hunting heritage in the Berkshires.

New England Fishing Expo

On February 2 – 4 the New England Fishing Expo will take place at the Best Western Royal Plaza Trade Center, 181 Boston Post Road West, Marlborough, MA.

There will be seminars and demonstrations by celebrities and industry professionals as well as exhibitors from all around New England to show you their newest products.  They have a trout pond, boats on display and bass tank demonstrations.  You are invited to experience the latest innovations in freshwater, ice, saltwater fishing and boating. Try out their best gear, talk to top manufacturers, guides and learn from world class industry professionals.

The hours are as follows:  Friday from 1:00 pm to 8:00 pm, Saturday from 10:00 am to 7:00 pm and on Sunday from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm.  Entrance fee is $15.00 for adults and children 12 and under free.