NW CT Chapter of Trout Unlimited

Minutes of Meeting

May 5, 2015

 

The May meeting was called to order at 7:30 PM at the Torrington Elks Club by President Jim Fedorich.  There were eleven attendees.

 

The Secretary’s Report for April was given by Secretary Bob Hart and was accepted as read.

 

The Treasurer’s Report was given by Treasurer Bill Richie.  There is $4725.88 in our treasury with $150 slated for TIC.  The treasurer’s report was accepted as read.

 

Bob Hart read a thank you note from the Riverton Fishing Derby Committee for our donation to the derby.

 

Tracy Brown will be holding a project on May 18th and 19th with 50 kids planting trees on the Salmon Kill River.  She is looking to see if our Club would be available to do a Fly Casting demonstration.

 

The Annual Naugatuck River cleanup will be held on Saturday, June 6th in conjunction with the Torrington Conservation Commission.  It will run from 9:00 AM to noon, meeting at the Sullivan Senior Center in Torrington.  As usual, our club will provide the food and drink for the attendees.  There will be an additional cleanup this year on September 19th.

 

The Women Gone Wild Day will be held this year on Sunday, June 7th at the Harwinton Rod and Gun Club.  We are being asked to do a fly casting demonstration only this year.

 

There will be a wildlife open house at the Sharon Audubon Society on June 13th from 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM.  We are looking for volunteers for fly tying and fly casting demonstrations.

 

Ron Leoni reported he and Joe Cieslowski were organizing a fishing get together on Friday, May 8th at the Blackberry River.  We will meet at the Beckley Furnace Falls and fish from 5:00 – 8:00 PM.  This will be followed with pizza and soda.

 

Jim reported the Farmington River Anglers Association had made a motion to change the fishing regulations in the No Kill areas of the Farmington River.  The motion was to adopt artificial lures and flies only in these areas (banning any live bait).  After discussion, our Chapter voted to support the FRAA motion.

 

Jim then reported Harold McMillan of the Housatonic River Outfitters was looking to propose extending the No Kill area of the Housatonic River from below the cement bridge to the Dump Road in Kent, approximately a three mile stretch.  After discussion, our Chapter voted to table support of this proposal.

 

Tracy Brown is looking at several projects on the Housatonic River and its watersheds.  She is currently in the process of getting quotes so she can apply for grant money.  The State is recommending she work on one at a time.  The three proposals are:

1.     Establish a cold water refuge on the Mill Brook

2.     Establish a cold water refuge on Furnace Brook

3.     Removal of two dams on the Macedonia Brook

Our Chapter supports the Mill Brook project first and we will be sending a letter of support to the State Council.  As a note, there may be some of the GE monies available to help support this project.

 

We held a quick fly swap and raffle tonight.

 

 

The program for this evening was a viewing of a DVD from Underwater OZ titled “The Underwater World of Trout, Feeding Lies”.

 

The meeting adjourned at 9:25 PM.

 

Our June meeting will be held on Tuesday, June 2nd, 2015 at 7:30 PM at the Torrington Elks Club.  The program is TBD.

 

 

Respectfully submitted,

Bob Hart

Secretary, NW CT Chapter of Trout Unlimited