I’m a lucky guy to have so many people who look forward to reading what I have to say. You’ve been so patient with me as I’ve navigated the twists and turns of my first book project, and for that I am truly grateful. So many of you have come to see me tie, teach, and talk at shows or club meetings — so I’m sending more gratitude your way. And it’s a thrill to be spotted out on the river when I’m fishing (as happened this week in Pulaski multiple times — yes, the book is coming!) by people who follow currentseams. Always, always, please come say hello.
Wishing you a happy, healthy Thanksgiving. Dig in and enjoy the food. Savor your beverage of choice. Smoke ’em if you’ve got ’em. And I’ll see you next week with my Pulaski steelhead report.
I’m thankful for every steelhead I release. May we meet again!
Call immediately: DEEP Law Enforcement at 860-424-3333 or Turn in Poachers (TIP) at 800-842-4357. Program it into your phone. Make the call.
Yes, I know. It’s frustrating. You can’t get a cell signal. EnCon never shows up. Nobody ever does anything about it. It’s too much trouble. Call immediately: DEEP Law Enforcement at 860-424-3333 or Turn in Poachers (TIP) at 800-842-4357.
Poachers making an illegal harvest? People fishing barbed trebles in a Class 1 WTMA? People using saltwater boat rods in FFO areas? One person fishing, followed by a second with a bulging trash bag? Call immediately: DEEP Law Enforcement at 860-424-3333 or Turn in Poachers (TIP) at 800-842-4357.
No spinning gear allowed.
If all of it makes you seething-rage mad, I get it. It pisses me off, too. I can’t stand the lack of respect for the rules or the environment. I loathe the selfish, boorish behavior. I’m frustrated as hell that I’ve never seen an EnCon officer anywhere near the Housatonic in summer, the ground-zero Mecca for poaching and other illegal activity. Nonetheless:
Call immediately: DEEP Law Enforcement at 860-424-3333 or Turn in Poachers (TIP) at 800-842-4357. Program it into your phone. Make the call.
My first hybrid tea rose, Peace, bloomed this week. That means that our creamy and yellow mayfly friends are beginning on the lower river. The waters are down to an excellent 465cfs in Unionville. I’d hop on it, but I am crashing my final draft deadline of June 1. Please wish me luck, and I hope you get out this weekend…or even today.
Peace, baby. It’s a good color to signify the arrival of Sulphurs.
In case you missed this post, I’m still asking for your input as I continue to work on the book. Thank you so much to everyone who responded! I’m currently writing about the river itself, describing pools and stretches of water. It’s not as easy at it sounds, but if I can’t go fishing on my favorite trout stream — ghastly wind and cold today — at least I can write about it. This is truly a labor of love, and I think you’ll find that reflected on the pages.
Oh, to be fishing the river today in rolled-up shirt sleeves! Me and some of my friends from Project Healing Waters, June 2023.
Happy Monday. I hope you enjoyed the big game yesterday. I did, along with one of the best cheeseburgers I’ve ever grilled over charcoal. A half-pound, crusty and rare, melted cheddar, sliced red onions and a little mayo. The bun made it even better — it was light and airy, not a dense, congested bread-bomb. Washed down with a lovely IPA. Did I mention the seasoned fries?
To business. Right now, I’m working on the parts of the books where I talk about the river, specifically the descriptions of the water. It’s currently divided into 5 sections along the 22-mile stretch from the dam to Unionville. There will be maps of each section and detailed information.
Here’s where you can help. What is most important to you about these descriptions? There are so many info buckets: access and parking; details of the pool/water; predominant hatches; fishing methods; wading difficulty; comments from guides/expert anglers; seasonal advice; etc. What’s most valuable to you? Please don’t say all of the above. What’s most helpful to me is to prioritize a few of these (and any other you can think of). You can either comment here or send me an email. You may be as detailed as you like. I may not respond to all of them, but I will read all of them. Thanking you in advance. Now, back to work I go.
Antoine Bissieux patiently waits for a rise. This photo was taken in late August, when things were still very green and the river iceless. Antoine is one of several experts whose Farmington River wisdom and experience will be shared in the book.
A dummy who looks a lot like me posted the wrong time for my Classes With The Experts for striped bass on Sunday. Below is the corrected schedule. See you at the show!
First things first: Don’t forget to get your 2025 CT fishing license!
I hope you had a festive and happy new year holiday. I did. Today is a catchup day for me; I’m getting a lot of odds and ends done because on Monday, we’re back to the grindstone.
First up is show prep: getting things ready for the Marlborough and Edison Fly Fishing Shows, both coming up fast. Then, it’s book writing. And more book writing. All, of course, a labor of love.
In the next few weeks, I’ll be sending out more information about my show schedules. I’m hoping to see a lot of you there!
It won’t be long until we start seeing Tiny Black Stones.
Christmas comes but once a year, and ’tis the season to celebrate and thank you for the gift of your readership and interest. The past six months have been a little different for the site, what with the book keeping me so busy, but we’re carrying on as best we can. A very Merry Christmas to all, and the happiest of holidays to you and yours.
Fear not, this isn’t your weekly post. But I need help. I can’t for the life of me remember my old once-a-year-fishing buddy’s last name. First name Pete, loved wet flies, frequented the old FlyAddict forums, loved CT WTMAs, and his license plate was TROUTI. Anyone?
I’m kicking off my 2024 fall/winter speaking season Thursday night, September 12, 7pm, at the HCTU meeting in Meriden. The topic will be Fly Fishing CT’s Small Streams, a subject that I’m really passionate about. We’ll talk when, where, how, tackle, flies, tactics, conservation, and more. The meeting is open to the public, so I hope to see you there!
Fishing small streams returns you to the very soul of fly fishing.
currentseams.com 