From the N.A. Transcript "50 Years Ago Today"

[Mark Patenaude]

ADAMS — Richard Wasielewski, 12, son of Mr. and Mrs. Adams Wasielewski of 18 Crotteau St., is a proud fisherman. While fishing in the Hoosac River near the railroad trestle at Cheshire Harbor, Richard landed a 28-inch long pike which weighed five and three-fourths pounds. He had been fishing only 10 minutes when the pike took the bait, but it required about 45 minutes before he finally landed his catch.

[JoeOverlock]

Wow! I've caught smaller Chain Pickerel down lower in Williamstown, but never a pike that big!

[Mark Patenaude]

I miss catching Pickerel. None here in the Midwest.

I caught my biggest Northern in Canada last year on Lake of the Woods. Won $700.00 in the big fish pool. It taped to 42" and was released. My partner lost a much bigger one while netting it for me. We guessed it was around 46-47" and real fat.

Mark

[jf5]

Seems that one must have gone over the dam from Chesire Res. Especially when you see what town in was caught in. This must have been the South Branch.

[Mark Patenaude]

Upstream from the falls at the Harbor, which now runs along the bike trail, we as kids termed the area between the harbor and Cheshire Lake as the "Jungle". There are alot of ponds along the right side as you are facing the lake direction and the Hoosic runs through the underbrush on the left side. My uncle, a fly fisher of many years told me tales of 5-6lb. trout coming out of the river section before the vegetation growth became too thick to access. I'm sure its still fishable by canoe or inflatable raft but make sure you print of a Google Earth map of the entire section, there are many branches within the underbrush that don't really go anywhere and you'll find yourself back tracking. Alot of you have probably deducted that I spent a great deal of time fishing that area as a kid. If you like Bullhead, the first large pond on the right side of the trail (looking at the lake) but past the small long pond that runs under the tracks through a concrete culvert has some brutes in it. I'm talking about 3-4 lbs. We used to bring home a bunch for the neighbors cat to eat. Between 3-4 of use we averaged catches of 100+ each night we were there. Just watch for the Deerflies, they were brutal.

There are alot of fishable spots along that stretch and I have caught some big Pickerel (3+lbs), Pike (Biggest around 35") and Largemouth Bass (in the 3-4 lb range) out of that entire area. While fishing I also watched a couple of very large Pike eat an entire family of newly hatched Mallard chicks as well as the Mom and Dad. That sight of a full grown Mallard getting pulled under repeatedly and then never coming up is something that I have never forgotten.

I've also had swirls under large top water baits that looked like someone pulled the drain plug on the bottom of the pond and it started to drain out.

Unless you wade and manage to find a solid bottom, which is possible, bait casting from shore is your best bet. I remember clearing a large stretch of shoreline on one of the ponds to we could get better casting angles. Be cautious and wear waders, wet wading will provide you with a nice grouping of leeches on your legs as well as other areas that I won't speak of.

Lastly,bbe advised, that once the water starts to warm up, the weeds get pretty thick so work along the edges and be patient. I casted to a jog in a standing weed bed no less than 25 times when finally a large pike ambushed the Rapala. Lost him by not having a wire leader attached but I estimated the Pike went close to 40".

My childhood from a family standpoint wasn't a really good one and a few years back I lost my brother Dan at 42 yrs. of age to illness. He was my best friend all through High School and my fishing partner everywhere we went. I miss him terribly and more than anyone could ever possibly know. He was the type of brother that everyone who has brothers should have. He somehow mananged to lose his way in life and now he is with God and his life is better. I'm sure he fishing the well stocked streams in Heaven, really putting on a clinic. He was a good fisher. Treasure them while you have them and if you haven't spoken with them for a while, please pick up the phone and call them.

Ah, the very good memories of (our) my childhood fishing excursions...

Lets keep this information specific to the board members only.

Tight lines to everyone, both flyline (which you should prefer to use anyhow) and mono casters as in this case of the areas described.

If anyone has an interest in more information, I'd be happy to tell you everything that I know, and hopefully haven't forgotten all these years past.

Your friend in fly fishing...

Mark Patenaude

[FishinCane]

I spent a lot of time as a child in the Jungle section in Cheshire. There are some monster deer in there.

When the river below the falls is too high to fish I like to fish some of the calm water above the falls. Lots of native brookies in there.