Housatonic River C&R Update

[BambooMatt]

I'm glad to see the new catch and release areas on the Housy are getting lots of new fly fishermen. Fishing has been excellent despite the recent high water. Hendricksons, spinners and caddisflies have been hatching every day like clockwork. It's been a blast. I hope the state keeps this thing going, because it has the potential to become a phenomenal (and sustainable) trout fishery. The trout the state stocked last spring have grown and held over well, the big native trout are still there and there are plenty of new stockies available to catch. We've even been getting native brookies in certain sections! Keep your fingers crossed.

If you do fish this river, please keep an eye on the resource, don't litter and report any illegal activity to the DFW.
I arrived at the river one evening last week and saw four spin fishermen across the stream. When they spotted me, they huddled together for a minute, quickly picked up their stuff (they had buckets) and bolted out of there. I suspect they were keeping fish, although I have no idea why anybody'd want to do that on the Housatonic. They sure acted guilty. I hope the DFW will patrol these areas a little more, especially on weekends.

Is it wrong to wish that those guys get contaminated or something from eating those fish?
More likely, those trout will R.I.P. in someone's freezer for 6 months and get thrown out with the crystallized ice cream and stinky freezer-burned leftovers. What a shame. Catch and RELEASE!

[cgill]

I've been fishing the Housatonic off and on for 30 years, I have mixed reactions to all the new fisherman.

I can however shed some light on the mind set of the people poaching the newly stocked fish. The belief is that since they have not been part of the food chain for long the PCB's have not yet made it into their flesh in large enough quantities to harm a person. They could be right but I wouldn’t risk it.

I would say that not only should you not litter but try to carry out a bit extra. I have drug out tires, bikes and other assorted crap over the years in addition to beer cans and other minor garbage. The better it looks the more people will want to keep the river clean.

[BambooMatt]

My hope is that all the new guys on the river will see it as an opportunity to create something wonderful that hadn't existed before. Look at the river in Connecticut, for example. Maybe the new guys will help protect the river and speak up for it when its ecosystem is threatened or when the state decides whether to continue C&R. I think more good will come out of this than bad. There are more voices, more potential helping hands and more people who now see this once-neglected river in a different light.
Plus, the local economy gets a shot in the arm ($) from out-of-town fishermen who spend money to eat, drink and stay near the river.
As for the sometimes crowded conditions, I feel that when the Deerfield, Swift, Millers, and Westfield rivers start fishing better as spring marches on, many of those guys from out east will go back to their old haunts. Also, it's a big river and the C&R areas aren't the only places with great fishing or big trout. Poke around a bit.

[cgill]

BambooMatt,
Hopefully you are right and more good than bad will come with more people. There are obvious selfish reasons why I would like to have the river to myself but
I realize that everyone has the right to fish the Housy.

I am worried that the influx of new fishermen (fisherpeople?) will bring with it some problems with the locals. Parking is not a problem now, but when more fishermen come I can see it becoming an issue. Some property owners may decide that one or two cars parked on occasion isn't a problem but cars all the time can be a hassle. They may post their property with no parking signs. Glendale can easily handle 10 fishermen but maybe not ten cars, Tyringham Rd in Lee has the same issue.

People in Lee may accept the occasional fisherman on the river but get upset seeing lots of people along the river in their backyard while they are having a Saturday cookout. Local business owners may post their land for liability reasons.

Like it or not occasionally a fisherman is going to have to take a leak, currently there are no facilities for this at any of the public parking areas. Wads of toilet paper in the woods near the parking spots aren’t pleasant. I realize that compared to the trash that's already there this seems minor but it could become an issue.

Please don't get me wrong, I have accepted that there will be more people on the river but we should all be aware of the potential issues that will invariably arise. Lots of good things may happen so let’s keep our fingers crossed. I like having two shops to go to in Great Barrington; both shops either sell or give out maps of where to fish. HRO has a daily fishing report on their internet site with hatches and flows. I like the amount of trout in the river, last year was certainly special. Rarely did I ever see another person fishing and I don't think I ever saw anyone mid week. The water temps were great and the flow never got to low. I suspect the holdover rate was very high. Let’s all be very careful with the resource, try to think two steps ahead, and hope that the influx of fishermen will only help to improve things like Matt has said.

All you guys up in Adams might think about what would happen if this same scenario happened to the Hoosic. Make it catch and release, stock it, and advertise for more fisherman.

Chris

[JoeOverlock]

cgill said:

All you guys up in Adams might think about what would happen if this same scenario happened to the Hoosic. Make it catch and release, stock it, and advertise for more fisherman.

Chris

I think it would be great if we could add a C&R area to the Hoosic and get people to come and fish it. I do see where you're coming from though, I'd be a little mad too seeing 50 new people fishing my secret holes. But if we did add C&R areas to the Hoosic and fixed those flood chutes, then the Berkshires would be the ultimate fly fishing destination.

[Flyguy004]

I've fished the Hoosic in Adams and Cheshire for many years and have seen many disturbing actions by people.

Several years ago at the Cheshire Harbor a day after stocking a man was taken into custody for having over 25 trout in his waders. At the same place a year later another man was found to have several 5 gal. pails in his trunk with approx. 20 fish in them.

Aside from not being what I would call fair chase because the stocked fish will generally hang out where they're placed for several days until they aclimate and eat anything that hits the water it is an example of not being a sportsman. This shows a lack of respect for the sport.

Fortunately I haven't witnessed this in the last couple of years.

When I was a child I remember my grandfather catching many fine fish from the river and I hope those days return.

[JoeOverlock]

Flyguy004 said:

I've fished the Hoosic in Adams and Cheshire for many years and have seen many disturbing actions by people.

Several years ago at the Cheshire Harbor a day after stocking a man was taken into custody for having over 25 trout in his waders. At the same place a year later another man was found to have several 5 gal. pails in his trunk with approx. 20 fish in them.

Aside from not being what I would call fair chase because the stocked fish will generally hang out where they're placed for several days until they aclimate and eat anything that hits the water it is an example of not being a sportsman. This shows a lack of respect for the sport.

Fortunately I haven't witnessed this in the last couple of years.

When I was a child I remember my grandfather catching many fine fish from the river and I hope those days return.

That's too funny, 25 trout in his waders. I guess Josh Field will never live that day down... j/k

I stopped fishing that spot a few years ago because of the "freezer packers" that fish there. It really is a shame how some people abuse the trout stocking program.

[Joshua Field]

Those must've been some big waders... I can hardly fit myself in my waders - let alone 25 stockers!

What I can't help but wonder is if he killed them before he put them in his waders. Can you imagine 25 fish flopping around in there??

[Flyguy004]

I dont know but it shows to what extent some people will go. They believe that thats what theyre there for. It takes all the sport out of it.