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Waters With History: The Pootatuck River in Sandy Hook, CT

May 2, 2022 by Leigh 2 Comments

The Pootatuck River quietly flows through Newtown, CT, largely unnoticed as it moves under Sandy Hook on its way to the Housatonic. Along its path are the town recycling center, a local cemetery, schools, churches and a number of restaurants. Its final stretch, downstream of Sandy Hook and entering the Housatonic, is the focus of this post.

Named after the Potatuck Tribe, a section of the river upstream of Sandy Hook is designated as a Class 1 Wild Trout Management Area (WTMA). Personally, I’ve found some of the better fishing in areas on either side of the WTMA.

In the last mile, the Pootatuck passes two interesting buildings that have been upgraded and remodeled from their original use as manufacturing facilities. The one below is the larger of the two. The black sign still reads Fabric Fire Hose Co.

According to local records, rubber coat manufacturing began in Sandy Hook in 1841. By 1852, production was focused on packing rubber and belts used in factories. Through a change in ownership and advances in rubber production, the factory began to make high pressure hoses like those used by fire companies. In 1901, the Fabric Fire Hose Company took over the buildings and continued production until 1978. The dam below is on the plant grounds and frequently draws visitors and fishermen.

The state regularly stocks waters outside of the WTMA in the Spring. With a little hiking you can find quality trout like this 16+” brookie that I landed on a 3 wt. using a woolly bugger. That said, flows tend to drop in the Summer. Trout are replaced by panfish and smallmouth, but they still take a fly and make a fun afternoon.

Regardless of whether you’re hiking, exploring or fishing, this section can take you to some promising water and pretty scenery. You’re also likely to see remnants and artifacts of days past, when these buildings were still in full production.

And while the state has done a good job of stocking smaller streams this year, you can still find some wild gems as well.

Hope that Spring is coming your way, bringing with it the opportunity to get out and try some early season fishing. Enjoy!

Waters With History: The Pomeraug River in South Britain, CT

June 27, 2021 by Leigh 4 Comments

While writing this post I thought about creating a series on the history of waters in CT where I fish. This is the first.

Most rivers in CT, if not all, have an industrial past to them. Some parts, like the PCBs in the Housatonic or other chemicals found in the Naugatuck, are reminders that we don’t want to repeat our past mistakes.

But sometimes the story, like the one below, shows us that these waters were once viewed and used much differently than we do today.

The Pomeraug River flows through South Britain, a section of Southbury. Settled in the early 18th century, South Britain is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. While I rarely fish the Pomeraug, it’s clear that the buildings along the banks have lived several lives with varying rates of success.

According to the Southbury Historical Society, the building below used to be known as the Hawkins Factory. The tall part was built before the Civil War and made fabric for Union Soldiers’ uniforms. The building has had several add-ons over time. The most notable product produced there was animal traps. Most recently it made plastic items, like a lettuce spinner.

Pomeraug River, South Britain, CT History, FinFollower, Hawkins bldg — Building erected pre Civil War. Additions made over time.

I’m guessing that the pulleys below were part of the manufacturing equipment, either hydro or electric powered.

Pomeraug River, South Britain, CT History, FinFollower — Old pulley system

There was a pile of these just outside the factory fence. All were rusted, most broken into pieces. I’m guessing saw blades. Wading in the general area, you will find large cut stones and old metal pipes in the water, remnants of the bridge and manufacturing history. Good habitat for the fish, but caution for the wading angler.

There was a bridge that went across to the peninsula and a red stone quarry. The bridge washed away in the great flood of 1955. This is what remains.

The area is serene and enjoyable to visit, even when I’m not fishing. This is a stark contrast to when it was in full production and employed part of the local population. I’m biased, but I like it better today, even with the rubble and debris accumulated over time.

Connecticut is rich in history, and its waters are no different. I’ll post more of these as opportunities arise. Enjoy!

Fish Local

June 21, 2021 by Leigh 5 Comments

Shop local. Buy local. Eat local. Fish local . . . .

Most of us do it, but this time of year we all get the itch to explore other areas in search of new waters and adventures. Post-Covid has given us a feeling of liberation, yet I’m finding local waters still hold some allure and cut down the travel time.

In the northeast, major highways are increasingly jammed. State maintenance crews are trying to prune trees and patch local roads on a compressed schedule. I regularly ask myself “Do I want to spend my time on the road or on the stream?”

Today I headed to a popular river in CT that is usually a 40-minute drive. After encountering three roadwork crews in the first 1/2 of the trip, I turned around and stopped at a local stream that is 10 minutes from my house.

For the next 90 minutes I caught smallies, rock bass, perch and two rainbows. The bows were a nice surprise, one measuring 14″ and the other 12″. Not bad for a small stream.

All of these were caught on streamers.

Next time you’re in a traffic jam waiting to to be waived around or stopped in bumper-to-bumper traffic, you might want to reconsider local options.

Hope you’re getting out post-Covid and spending some time on the water. Enjoy!

First Signs Of Fall

October 11, 2020 by Leigh 3 Comments

For many of us in the northeast, the first sign of fall is cooling temps after a long hot summer. Others wait for the leaves to change from lush green to red and gold. And some may find pumpkins and flowers on their neighbors’ porches. A few look for baseball to get closer to the World Series and football to crank up. A select group may even herald the annual arrival of pumpkin spice season.

For me, fall signals the return of trout fishing on one of my favorite local rivers and the chance to get some water to myself. Even the roads seem to have less traffic.

This afternoon I spent a few hours chasing trout in a remote section of the Housatonic. It was an overcast fall day, with temps around 70 degrees and light intermittent showers. While autumn has not yet peaked, there were plenty of twigs and small branches in the water, reminders of the dreaded leaf fish.

For this reason I started with two streamers: The Orange Blossom Special and the Guinness Trout. The Guinness Trout has been a go-to for years, but the Orange Blossom Special is relatively new in my box. I tied it faithfully to the recipe, adding only a bead head. It uses the colors of fall, so I had high expectations. It delivered.

While debris and light rain made dry fly fishing seem more like target practice, the Orange Blossom Special pulled in browns and bows.

Later I used the Guinness Trout for this rainbow.

At one point I stopped and soaked in the beauty of early autumn and the solitude it brings. But then again, for many of us, solitude has not been much of an issue this year.

While I sit here typing, the vice presidential debates are going full force. Not exactly the best background to spur story writing. As the candidates spar from their chairs, weaving, jabbing and bobbing verbally, I’m even more thankful for the chance to get outdoors. In times like these, where politics, economics and finger pointing merge into one corrosive news feed that feels like a cross between a roller coaster and a carousel, we need places enjoy ourselves and recharge, free of the divisive rhetoric.

Hope you are finding time to get out and enjoy yourself in what has been a year like no other (and still has 3 months to go!)

Enjoy!

The Tug Of Summer Smallies

August 28, 2020 by Leigh 7 Comments

Sometimes all you need is a fiberglass rod, handful of streamers and eager bass.

The pulloff for this section of the Housatonic runs along a busy truck route in lower Connecticut. There’s no offramp, so you quickly swerve over the shoulder of the highway and apply the brakes liberally, stopping abruptly on a narrow gravel lot littered with wrappers, bottles and other trash left by careless visitors.

This is not the pristine, pine covered forest that leads to a canopied trout stream. The space is used by anglers of all type, along with others looking to escape the heat of summer by taking a dip in the river. Although it is not a park and there are no tables or benches, I recently encountered a large streamside birthday celebration, complete with portable grills, balloons and adults in various stages of inebriation.

This is a late August evening, and summer is only beginning to show signs of relenting. Most days have been in the 80’s and 90’s, with water temps well out of the range of fishable temps for most local trout streams. But I’m not here for trout. I want to enjoy the simplicity of an after work session of streamer fishing with an old fiberglass rod, streamers and some hungry smallmouth.

The run I’m fishing sits below a local dam. As you can tell from the pic, this time of year there is just enough water to support minimal flow. Most of the large boulders on the river bottom are at least partially exposed, and you rarely find water above your waist.

Walking and wading are not easy. The river bank is covered in rock, stones and slag that make an ankle twist all but assured. I stumble several times but miraculously make it to the edge of the water upright.

The shore contains a number of stone sculptures, makeshift monuments from those who have enjoyed other afternoons.

Wading into the water slowly, I slide over the moss-covered rocks, hoping the studded soles are doing their job.

Beginning to cast, I pull in only loose weeds for the first few minutes. Then it happens.

The line goes tight and the rod bends quickly as the fish jumps from the water, shaking its head in an agitated manner. In an effort to escape, it pulls and tugs my line through the boulders and grass, increasing the excitement and possibility of a break off. I lead it into the fast water, allowing it to tire from the current and tension of the line before bringing it to hand. The speed of departure upon release gives the impression that this fish had plenty of fight left.

Shortly after, I hook a smaller bass that takes me into the slow water and makes it an easy walk to the bank.

Fish continue to appear for the next half hour. Even the smallest give a good fight and put a bend in the rod. They are aggressive and eager to smash the streamer.

Tonight I’m using an 8′ South Bend Black Beauty 5/6 wt., pulled from the corner of a relative’s garage. It looks and feels like a fiberglass rod. It was missing an end cap, so I fashioned one using epoxy and a cork from a bottle of Red Truck wine, one of the previous owner’s favorites. The foam grip is remarkably intact, and the plastic reel seat reminds me that this was most likely a box store purchase. Resurrected, the rod bends deeply but confidently under the tug of smallies and offers decent casting distance for streamer tossing.

I use only one streamer pattern for tonight’s session. It’s a variation of the Baby Complex Twist Bugger found on YouTube’s Fly Fish Food channel. Tied in 8’s and 10’s, I vary the bead/cone and tail colors as a simple product development exercise. It’s surprising how much smallies like bright circus colors such as purple, orange and chartreuse.

Standing in the final minutes of dusk, the best view is downstream. The river has widened and the current dissipated. It holds only scattered foam lines and sporadic rises. And while the water is calm and the surroundings lush and green, the leaves are beginning to fall in my yard, a subtle reminder that autumn is just around the corner. Maybe I’ll tie some trout flies.

After sunset I turn on the headlamp and carefully climb the stone-covered bank, rejoining the short trail leading back to the car. I’m reminded of how lucky we really are, even in times like these.

In the mild evening air I pull off the half-waders, stow the rod, waders and boots, then quickly accelerate on to the highway.

Hope you are finding opportunities for summer fishing, even in unlikely places.

Enjoy!