April 2024 Newsletter

Central MA Chapter of Trout Unlimited - April Newsletter

April Chapter Meeting –

 

Date: Monday, April 1st

 

Time: 6pm to 8pm

 

Location: Auburn Sportsman’s Club
             50 Elm St, Auburn, MA 01501
 

There is nothing like getting back onto the stream. This is a great time to change those leaders, pick up a few new spools of tippet material and fill in some of those voids in your fly box with some of your old standbys or maybe some new patterns.

The CMTU monthly meeting is a great solution to help bolster your fly box. Dave’s been doing a great job with instruction on the vise. In addition, there is delicious pizza to go along with some good conversation over during the tying session. Bring your appetite and your fishing stories.

Matthew Sisk from the MA Department of Fish and Wildlife will attend the April meeting. Matthew has some ideas for improving fishing conditions on the Quinapoxet River that he would like to present. He is also looking for input from those of us who fish the Quinnie regularly.

In addition to the meetings, we are seeing some new opportunities for both Conservation and Community outreach:

• Cold Water Conservation - Cold Spring Brook project in Uxbridge. CMTU is looking to understand what our chapter can do to help with this conservation project. We have members of the CMTU board meeting with Adam Kaula to review this opportunity, discuss how CMTU can help and then formulate the plan. Good opportunity to work with Adam Kauta from the state. There will be more information in next month’s newsletter
• Community outreach - Fly tying demonstration in Northboro (Library). We are doing some prep work on this to better understand the required details. This will be discussed in detail at the April 1st chapter meeting. If you are unable to attend, but still interested, send me an email to centralmasstu@gmail.com
• Cold Water Conservation - The Quinie Dam removal. We are in the process of planning an event at the dam site to review the status of this project with the major stakeholders. We anticipate the State will provide a project overview, which will include the project timing. During this meeting, we will discuss opportunities for our chapter’s involvement that may include some stream restoration, using the “Whitlock Box” to provide an opportunity to rear brookies right in the headwaters of the stream, etc. We plan on having a fun raffle along with burgers and dogs. More information in the next newsletter.
• Catch and Release section for the Quinie - We’ve been contacted with regards to a catch and release section for the Quinie. This project is just starting up, but has some great potential. There are several sections of the stream that are a little more difficult to access, but would offer a fine stretch for C&R.

May/June - Caddis Fest on the Deerfield - a weekend event with fantastic fishing!

The 2024 Caddisfest Weekend will be held Friday, May 31st thru Sunday, June 2nd. This year the event will be held again at the Foolhardy Hill Campground in Charlemont MA. The Campground is a TU Business partner and is giving us a 10% discount. The council secured the entire campground. Keep in mind that this is guaranteed low flow weekend for the Deerfield River. The campground is on Zoar Rd., right off of Route 2 in Charlemont.

Here are some details about the Campground sites and cabins. There are 5 cabins with 3 or 4 bunk beds and 6 multiple tent sites. The cost is $100 for the weekend for each angler to stay in a nice cabin and $50 for the weekend for each angler to stay at a tent site. The Chapter will cover the cost of the cabin/tent site.

We will discuss if our chapter will get a cabin or tent area and who is interested. Please send an email to centralmasstu@gmail.com if interested.

For more information on the campground go to

https://www.foolhardyhill.com

Stay tuned for more opportunities as fishing heats up!

Regards,
Peter Sterndale
President, Central MA Chapter of Trout Unlimited

© 2024 Trout Unlimited | CMTU #148 | http://centralmasstu.org