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A wild brown trout plucked from the Wachocastinook on March 30. These fish are extremely skittish, hard to catch, and must be returned to the water, unharmed, as soon as possible. Photo by Patrick L. Sullivan
The problem: It keeps raining.
The other problem: The nights are still chilly.
A player for Dutchess County’s hometown baseball team, Diaz Pedro of the Hudson Valley Renegades readied himself at home plate with a bat in hand. The Renegades will now be a Yankees affiliate. Photo by Roy Notar
WAPPINGERS FALLS — The Dutchess County Legislature approved a $1.4 million bond resolution to fund critical improvements to Dutchess Stadium on Route 9D in Wappingers Falls on Feb. 4, in hopes of boosting the economy and improving county facilities.
Under the threat of coronavirus, last year’s NCAA basketball tournament was abandoned, leaving a billion dollars in revenue behind and causing a different kind of madness for fans, athletes and athletic programs around the country. A year later, March Madness is back to normal, mostly.
Kent School students on the boys and girls crew teams were working out on the Housatonic River last week. The school will celebrate 100 years of crew competition in spring 2022.
I cleaned out the Fish Closet the other day.
This is no simple matter. The Fish Closet sits beneath a staircase, so the ceiling is sloped. The shelving is at the rear, which means it’s best to put things back there that won’t be needed any time soon. If ever.
This Blackberry River rainbow was caught at Beckley Furnace in North Canaan in early April with a heavy squirmy red worm fly tied by Harold McMillan at Housatonic River Outfitters. The fish was returned to the water unharmed. Photo by Patrick L. Sullivan
There was one very good thing that happened in 2020: It was the year I finally got the hang of fishing with specks.
I define “specks” as flies size 20 and smaller.
Itty bitty bugs are present on all trout waters, usually year-round. Trout eat them, and anglers using the right imitations catch the trout.
Except me.
Housatonic Valley Regional High School forward Melody Matsudaira, a sophomore, fought for possession during the team’s last game of the season, against Litchfield High School, on Wednesday, Nov. 18. Photo by Hunter O. Lyle
FALLS VILLAGE — In a season full of questions and uncertainty, the Housatonic Valley Regional High School (HVRHS) girls soccer team made history when they were crowned as Berkshire League Champions for the second consecutive year.
These are a representative sample of the tiny flies (or “specks”) the author has been using successfully in the last week. They are all size 20 or 22, except for the bushy one on the right, which is a size 18. The fish won’t touch it. Photo by Patrick L. Sullivan
As the cooler weather arrives the idea of standing around in water becomes less and less attractive. Sensible anglers call it a season. They put their gear in the closet, and leave it there until April.
Bears are coming down to the Housatonic River, as spotted by column author Patrick L. Sullivan two weeks ago. Photo by Patrick L. Sullivan
It is a sad but undeniable truth that many if not most of our trout streams in the Northeastern U.S. require stocking of trout.
That means trucks from state hatcheries occasionally appear and put large numbers of hatchery-raised trout in the rivers.
LIME ROCK — The 38th annual Historic Festival at Lime Rock Park took place, as always, for four days over Labor Day weekend.
In these days of cancellations, postponements, virtual alternatives and uncertainties, it was a huge achievement to present the festival in any form.
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