Somerset get together

[willowhead]

in the bar at 12 NOON

Guys, let's not get folks confused. The "hang" (get together) is in the Bar at the DoubleTree hotel right next door to the show, at 12 NOON on Sun. That's never changed. There's no way i can make it at 5 p.m. on either day. See you at noon, on Sun. DoubleTree Hotel Bar. Also, we are doing our drawing for the 1ST Annual Rondezvous Fly Plate at 1:00 p.m. over at the Catskill Fly Tyers Guild table in the hallway. And Andy B starts his tying time slot at 1:00 p.m. on Sun. So, he only has the hour before to hang in the bar. mark

 

[Eagle Claw]

It was a bust. Just me and Willowhead. I passed up a trip to the Connetquot for the groupy. That's allright ,my guides would have frozen up anyway and my cold would have come back. If it was a nice day I would have a different opinion.

 

[willowhead]

Connaquot

I'd a rather of been on the Connaquot..........no matter what, lol. No offense Arnold. It was very nice meeting you. I LOVE the Connaquot, fish it every year no matter what. We usually go in Nov., sometimes also in the spring, (steelhead). Yes, steelhead... they're sea run rainbows............so to me they're steelhead. And they are beautiful fish, bullet grey and very white on the bottoms, with just a hint of pink on the sides. Very different than the regular hatchery rainbows they normally have in there. Dennis, if you like, why don't you contact the management there and see if you can get a day in Feb. when they have clubs, and we can all have the river for the day. Ask for Gil, he's the boss there. In spring and fall they have special days when only clubs can have the river to themselves. This also allows you to be able to park back at the hatchery and avoid that long walk in and out. And you can have a picnic lunch at the hatchery parking lot picnic tables. This is really the only way to do the Connaquot. There are no beats when you do it like that. You fish wherever you want, and only your club can fish it that day. mark

 

[dcabarle]

Connaquot fishing isn't my gig... There's no way you'll find me paying for a slot on a piece of river. That's just the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard of.

 

[Eagle Claw]

I dont pay and no slots. Our TU group gets in twice a year when the park is closed to the public. My most memorable year there were thousands of sea run brookies in the 16 inch range lined up like a salmon spawn. Lost count after 50. Also got some browns over 20 " and Rainbows but the thrill was the wild sea run brookies. I however do agree with you when the park is open. One year I thought I was early and got there 6 AM for an 8 AM opening. One of the locals let me know the scoop. Locals show up the night before,put there car in line,have someone drive them home and back again in the morning around 7. THAT REALLY STINKS.

 

[willowhead]

Connaquot

Arnold and Dennis. I only go when it's with a group too, but you still have to pay. You get to fish anywhere though, no beats. Used to always go with TU and TGF, sometimes still do. But my wife's club (WFFJ) gets one day in the fall each year also. Arnold the trick is to beat the locals and sleep in your car. I've done it, it's easy. Course i can sleep in my Suburban pretty comfortably. But i do NOT like making that very long walk in and back out from the front parking lot...........so now it's with a club or "forget about it." LOL. mark...

 

[Eagle Claw]

Actually, my fee is the tu donation to go on the trip. I agree with the walk, its not for me, we also drive up to the river. It was nice meeting you at the show and hope to see you in Roscoe this summer.

 

[willowhead]

That works out to the same thing Arnold. The same fee we all pay goes out of what you pay TU, to the park. All TU chapters that have a day there pay the same per person fee that any club pays. There is no "rate" for TU chapters. Most TU chapters charge a $35 to $50 fee for the day to their members, and $15 to $30 of that goes to the park depending on if your fishing a half or whole day. Point is, it's money well spent.........especially when you get a fish on almost every cast. LOL. Sure the fish are hatchery fish, but so many have been out to sea and back, including browns, rainbows, and brookies. I got a 4 lb. 7 oz. sea run Brookie there once that was massive. Another nice thing about going with a club is the fact that you can fish earlier and longer than a regular public fishing day. They open the gates earlier, and just leave it open so you can get out even after dark. mark

 

[Johnw]

I'm headed out to the Connetquot on March 2nd with our local TU - they charge $60 which includes lunch. This is my first trip and am looking forward to it after several false starts over the last couple of years.

 

[Andre]

John, Have a great time. I think everyone should experirnce it at least once. Kind of cool fishing your own beat, makes you feel a bit British. Enjoy.

 

[Eagle Claw]

usually the TU groups have the river to themselves,no assigned beats, fish where you want.Wooly buggers and olive zonkers are killers that always work. Head down river from the parking area and try the first pool by a bridge it says handicapped but exceptions are made for groups. Then head down stream to where ever you want. After lunch you will be in the parking area.
From there try upstream by the first bridge. These spots it is impossible not to catch fish. Have fun.

 

[Ahab]

You will love it. Great trip. Always enjoy going with my TU group. It is a must do for northeast fishermen.

 

[rford]

If you have not gone there, its unreal, but its real. It the oldest operating hatchery in the US ( like late 1800's), & thus there strains of fish are as old. All the fish have sea runs. I have heard they have not stocked the brookies in over 20 years. The fish that are released are not fed ,once in the " wild "part of the park. Thats what makes it unreal. Because we read so much about that overstocking is bad. And an overcrowded system will not support healthy growth, reproduction and so forth. Well this sysem supports all of the above and is nothing more than a 15 - 20 ft spring creek at its widest point, the fish get huge, they seem to find enough to eat, and they are the healthy fish I have ever seen? And in wholesale numbers. Regardless, if any one has not gone, GO ! Its like disney world.

 

[willowhead]

Beats

That's right Arnold, when TU chapters go, there are no beats. You fish wherever you like. I seem to always end up going down stream before lunch too, and then up after lunch as well. If you go far enough upstream, you'll come to a real BIG pond a little below the headwaters. That spot holds some huge fish as well. There's also a real nice spot way down stream right before it opens up to a lake sized area. The water is very deep there and you mostly fish off the pier. Big rainbows there. For unreal numbers the beats directly above and below the hatchery are fantastic. Virtually a fish on every cast. It matters NOT what fly you use. Give a bit of action and WHAM! Any streamer or nymph will work. The most fun is dries though, and emergers KILL! A simple caddis fly got my biggest fish ever there, a 26 inch brown. But there are plenty of sea run browns well over 30 inches. I'm going again in March with a friend and my wife......can't wait. We won't be with a club, but he has a handicapped access sticker, so we park our truck out front and ride to the hatchery parking lot with him, he he he. Most likely there won't be to many locals there in March, so we should have more than one beat each. I can taste the trout diner now. I have no qualms about takaing fish there. It's actually healthy for the river. By the way $60 is also what TGF charges and it also includes a GREAT catered lunch. mark