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JUNE 2009 Newsletter of the Naugatuck-Pomperaug Chapter Editor: Bob Gregorski Send all newsletter photos, stories and notices to Bob Gregorski at bobflybox@sbcglobal.net. Monthly Meeting TU Email Protocol |
NEWSREEL|
TROUT UNLIMITED LEAVES ITS MARK By Mike Mackniak The coordination of these philanthropic entities and the Parks realization would not have been possible without TU regional director Kirt Mayland. River Bend Park, located just off of Route 42 in Beacon Falls, promises to create a wonderful trout habitat from a heretofore, relatively inaccessible stretch of the Naugatuck River. "The river in this area has long been considered to hold tremendous potential for trout and other fisheries. In addition to the annual stock of Atlantic Salmon, I have no doubt that Connecticut's Department of Environmental Protection will agree that this park will be an ideal spot for the placement of all species of trout and char in the early Spring and Fall, says former Chapter President Bob "Johnny Trout Seed" Perrella. This year Trout Unlimited assisted the DEP in stocking thousands of fish including Rainbow, Brown, Brook and Tiger Trout in Connecticut Rivers. Trout Unlimited is a national organization dedicated to the preservation of all waterways and fisheries. The local chapter has been credited to a great degree, with the fight for the clean up of the Naugatuck River and, its restoration as a legitimate, fishing destination for all anglers. "It is our hope that this park will give local residents something to call their own and something they can take pride in," says Mike Kaklamanos, chapter member and leader. "We especially hope that children will find this particular area accessible and use it responsibly in order to learn and appreciate the wonders of the great sport of fishing." Trout Unlimited utilized its manpower and resources, plus a donation of voluntary contributions from its members of $3,000.00 to make the realization of the park's completion a reality. The town of Beacon Falls will assume responsibility for the parks maintenance and upkeep upon dedication. Perrella recently met with local children and offered to purchase them items that they would like for the park to include anything they may wish to make it a park to call their own. "After all, it is for them that the park was built." The formal dedication of River Bend Park took place on May16, 2009 at 11 am Just in time for fishing.
Reports from Al Concilio Spring 2009 Trout Release 2009 On May 1st as it began to drizzle, John Ploski and I
headed out to Memorial School in Middlebury. When we entered Sue Johnson’s
classroom, students’ eyes lit up and we soon had them carefully
removing brown trout fry from the 55-gallon aquarium and counting
them. The final count 118! Atlantic Salmon Program Our chapter helped to sponsor the Atlantic Salmon Program for seventeen youngsters from Beacon Falls and ten members of Cub Scout Pack 110 in Naugatuck. The program began in December 2008 and continued until May 2009 when approximately 185 healthy salmon fry were stocked in the Salmon River in East Hampton. The kids enthusiastically constructed a hatchery which included a $625 chiller to raise their salmon from the eyed-egg stage to fry. They monitored the fish by taking daily water temperatures and using math to determine the Daily Developmental Index number and the C.D.I. (Cumulative Developmental Index number). The data was recorded on a spreadsheet on their classroom computer and used to estimate the day the eggs would hatch and the day to release the fry. On April 29 the children gave their parents a close-up view of the squirming, inch-long salmon. A large group of students and parents showed up on May 2 for the stocking. This highly successful program was also sponsored by the Beacon Falls Park and Recreation Department. Kayak/Canoe Race Festival 5/9/09 Beacon Falls. Al Concilio, Sara Valentino, John Ploski and Marty Peterson manned the TU display. Joe Savarase and Bob Gregorski manned the NRWA display. Information about both organizations were distributed.
John Ploski, Marty Peterson and Al Concilio (L-R) ready to explain TU and TROUT in The Classroom program.
This kayaker is paddling toward the finish line ( Beacon Falls Depot Street bridge) Photos by Bob Gregorski Kid’s Fishing Derby at Hop Brook Lake May 2,2009 : Helpers had a good time at the Hop Brook Lake Derby.
Oxford –Introduction to Fishing Program Lucky 7 & Bakers Dozen By Bob Gregorski Recently while fishing the Pomperaug River, I had two unique experiences. I had released a number of trout and it was getting dark. There was a large trout rising steadily about 40 feet down river from me, so I said to myself, ‘one more cast’. As the line got three quarters away across the current, the trout slammed the wet Adams fly and broke the 7X leader. Then it leaped out of the water, splashed back, leaped again closer to me, splashed back, leaped again closer to me. On the seventh leap it was about a rod’s length away. I could see the leader protruding from the fat, 15-inch brown trout’s mouth as it returned to the river with the loudest splash. The noise scared a mother merganser duck and it ducklings swimming about 50 feet upriver. They made a loud commotion as they paddled swiftly from the along the west bank to mid-river. They watched me and paddled in place until I left the water on the east bank. Then mother and ducklings paddled swiftly by me. There were 13 ducklings (a bakers dozen). Waterbury Naugatuck River Greenway Bob and Anita Gregorski attended the 4/30/09 Public Kick-off and Visioning Meeting held at Kennedy High School in Waterbury. About 200 interested people were present and heard representatives from Alta Planning & Design explain the process of getting a greenway constructed. That was followed by each person participating in a Breakout Group(s). Anita participated in the Arts group and Bob in the Plattsmill and Huntingdon Ave section groups. “It was gratifying to see so many people representing all aspects of the city truly interested in the greenway. It’s been a long time since 1985 when the chapter started working to restore the river and 1994 for the NRWA, Inc.”, said Bob Gregorski. As a result of Bob’s attendance, he was invited to attend the May 14 meeting of Waterbury Greenway Advisory Committee. Bob was given the opportunity to address the Committee and highlighted the work completed on the river by the Chapter and NRWA. He’s been asked and has greed to assist the 501-C3 Committee which meets on June 1. Note: The Committee membership is comprised of individuals and not representatives of organizations. Bob did ask questions about the proposed “Garbage
to Gas” plant in Waterbury. His concerns are: the sand, salt and
deicers washed from every truck that leaves the plant during the winter
months. Do they end up in the river? During the summer, what is the
temperature of the recycled water when it enters the river and sewer
treatment plant?
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Trout Unlimited's Mission
To conserve, protect and restore North America's trout and salmon fisheries and their watershed.