C.A.R.E. class fishes Great Hollow Pond
By Martin Armstrong
Special Correspondent
Posted: 05/09/2009 05:32:59 PM EDT
Last Sunday was Graduation Day for the Spring 2009 Stamford Connecticut Aquatic Resources Education (C.A.R.E.) class. To celebrate, the students were invited for a special fishing trip to Great Hollow Pond in Monroe. Though not all of the graduating students could attend, and despite the wet weather, a total of 47 grads, families, friends and helpers showed up for some pretty good fishing.
Though not everyone caught a fish, -- in one case a youngster caught an irate baby snapping turtle -- everyone had fun.
Ismael De Los Santos, age 9, was the lucky turtle catcher. The baby snapper actually got caught in Ismael's line. The snapper was released unharmed. The Toquam Magnet School student also caught a beautiful 10-inch yellow perch.
Fishing with Ismael was his 7-year old brother, Sebastian De Los Santos and his cousin, Elijah De Los Santos, also 7, of Norwich. Sebastian didn't catch anything but Elijah caught a 5-inch bluegill. Sebastian's father, Yohan, caught a 7-inch sunfish.
Steve Kilburn, 13, caught the largest fish of the day. The Rippowam School student landed a beautiful 16-inch largemouth bass, Steve summed up his catch this way. "It was surprising!"
Rogers School student, Ben Jachimczyk, 8, had a bit of bad luck despite wearing his 'Lucky 13' t-shirt. While fishing with his dad. David, Ben hooked a big fish but it bit through the line and got away.
The Caris-Castro family was out in force and had a great
day. Northeast School student Jonathan Caris-Castro, 9, caught a nice fat bluegill. Jonathan's mom, Mirsa, caught two fish including a 7-inch sunfish and his dad, Guillermo, landed a nice 12-inch crappie. Darius, 10 and Jackie Caris-Castro, 13, were also fishing.
Michael Kiosse, age 12, of Stratford caught a 12-inch largemouth bass while fishing with his dad, Steve.
Ghosh Shuvra of Stamford arrived late but still reeled in a 10-inch and a 14-inch rainbow trout.
Also fishing were Isabelle Martich, 7 of North Haven and her parents Anne-Marie and Dan, Aquon Dumas, 16, of Stamford, Johnny Galatro, 11, and his dad, John, Westover school student Charlene Gardner, 7, and her mom, Arlene.
Nine-year-old twins Mathew and Thomas Troy Jr. were fishing with their dad Thomas Sr. The Troy twins attend Springdale School.
And from Darien were Angela 8 and Khrystos Yika-Nacarino, 5. Also from Darien were Clem Garcia and his daughter, Tala, 7.
And last but not least was the enthusiastic Rullman clan. Headed by Granddad Don Rullman, the contingent included Don Jr. his wife Roxann and their daughters Brooke and Kristen, 11, from Old Greenwich
C.A.R.E Chief Instructor Dick Emmons and No. 1 Cheerleader organized and taught the course and organized the fishing trip.
Emmons has been organizing and teaching C.A.R.E. classes since 2003 and has worked with an estimated 800 young fishermen including Special Olympians and veterans throughout Connecticut.
An event of this nature requires a lot of helping hands. Among those who assisted Emmons was Jeff Gruetzner. He is a recently certified C.A.R.E instructor and a 4th Grade teacher at Northeast School. Gruetzner is introducing the C.A.R.E. program to Northeast School.
Also assisting was: Chief Certified Instructor Norm Roberts Derby); Certified Instructors Jonathan Boisfeuillet, (Stamford), Jan Darula, (Stamford) and Joe Scordato (Stamford). Also assisting was the Stamford father and son team of Mike McNamara and Tom McNamara.
Some of the trout worms, nightcrawlers and mealworms used were donated by Fish Tales Bait and Tackle in Stamford.
q
Circle May 17 on your calendar. That's when the Greenwich Shellfish Commission welcomes you with friends and family to "Experience the Sound" from 1 p.m. - 4 p.m.
Tour the Sound Waters Schooner and learn about its educational voyages in local waters. Visit the Atlantic Clam Farms Shellfish boat and discover how it collects clams from Long Island waters. Learn about scuba diving opportunities and talk with fishing experts from Sportsman's Den.
There will be more than 30 exhibitors including a local archeologist, Audubon of Greenwich with live Birds of Prey, local artists and a wildlife orphanage.
For more information go to www.greenwichct.org.
q
Fishing season is in full swing and both saltwater and freshwater fans are enjoying some great fishing opportunities.
The DEP reported that striped bass fishing is good to excellent in the Saugatuck and Housatonic Rivers.
Other hot spots include the Pawcatuck River, upper Thames River (Norwich Harbor down to Montville), lower Connecticut River from Hamburg Cove down to the DEP Marine Headquarters fishing pier and from the Lieutenant River down to the breakwaters, New Haven Harbor (Sandy Point), Bridgeport Harbor by the power plant warm water discharge (Breezy Point/Seaside Park), and around the Norwalk Islands.
Don Handle caught one of the largest striper reported last week while fly fishing off Greenwich Cove. He landed a 20-pound linesider.
Ricky Mola and Jason Vilicky spent a lot of time on the New York side of the Sound fishing for stripers. They worked the waters off Willits Point, Little Neck and Manhasset Harbor. They had their best luck fishing in 45 feet of water off Hempstead Harbor where they caught and released lots of fish measuring up to 37-inches in length. All of the fish were taken using fresh bunker.
Jim Christianson did well fishing over at West Manhasset. He caught and released five stripers including one that tipped the scales at 24 pounds.
The guys at Rudy's Barn in Byram reported that Rob Sanford did very well while bucktailing off Rye Beach. He caught several schoolie bass along with one keeper.
John Standard fished one night last week at Hammonassett State Park in Madison. Using a Black Bomber lure he landed a pair of keeper striped bass.
Wayne Kelner caught three nice winter flounder while bottom fishing off Stamford's West Beach. His largest flattie measured 15-inches and was taken on a sandworm.
Dave McKee found the fish cooperative around the Norwalk Islands. Using sandworms, he boated nine winter flounder and a striped bass. The key to his success was using lots of clam chum.
George Fisher and crew fished at Can 9 last week. They kept five winter flounder including a fat 2-pounder. The fish were taken using sandworms and clam chum.
Mark Hiller, his wife, Diana, George DeScala and his wife, Janet, won the South Norwalk Boat Club's Annual Flounder Tournament. Entrants were allowed to weigh in a total of eight fish. Their winning catch weighed 17 pounds. They were fishing inside of Cockenoe Island and using sandworms and lots of chum.
Don't forget that blackfish (tautog) season is closed through June 30th.
Using a homemade lure of his own design called the "Sputnik Streamer" Ted Geriak caught and released lots of trout while fishing the Mianus and Rippowam Rivers. His largest trout measured 18 inches in length.
Danny Townes caught several trout while fishing at the Saugatuck Reservoir. His largest fish was a 4.5-pound brown trout. Townes was using shiners for bait.
Keith Bonifant caught a huge 10-pound walleye at the Saugatuck Reservoir last week. The whopper was taken on a live shiner.
Chris "CBM" Miller is still doing well at Kensico Reservoir. His largest fish last week was a 7-pound lake trout that he caught using a live shiner for bait.
Also doing well at Kensico was Mike Kukui. He landed two brown trout and a 5-pound lake trout while fishing from the Route 22 Bridge. He also battled a fish for 55 minutes before it broke the line and got away,
Martin Armstrong is a member of the Fisheries Advisory Council, a lifetime member of trout Unlimited and a member of the Outdoor Writers Association of America.
By Martin Armstrong
Special Correspondent
Posted: 05/09/2009 05:32:59 PM EDT
Last Sunday was Graduation Day for the Spring 2009 Stamford Connecticut Aquatic Resources Education (C.A.R.E.) class. To celebrate, the students were invited for a special fishing trip to Great Hollow Pond in Monroe. Though not all of the graduating students could attend, and despite the wet weather, a total of 47 grads, families, friends and helpers showed up for some pretty good fishing.
Though not everyone caught a fish, -- in one case a youngster caught an irate baby snapping turtle -- everyone had fun.
Ismael De Los Santos, age 9, was the lucky turtle catcher. The baby snapper actually got caught in Ismael's line. The snapper was released unharmed. The Toquam Magnet School student also caught a beautiful 10-inch yellow perch.
Fishing with Ismael was his 7-year old brother, Sebastian De Los Santos and his cousin, Elijah De Los Santos, also 7, of Norwich. Sebastian didn't catch anything but Elijah caught a 5-inch bluegill. Sebastian's father, Yohan, caught a 7-inch sunfish.
Steve Kilburn, 13, caught the largest fish of the day. The Rippowam School student landed a beautiful 16-inch largemouth bass, Steve summed up his catch this way. "It was surprising!"
Rogers School student, Ben Jachimczyk, 8, had a bit of bad luck despite wearing his 'Lucky 13' t-shirt. While fishing with his dad. David, Ben hooked a big fish but it bit through the line and got away.
The Caris-Castro family was out in force and had a great
day. Northeast School student Jonathan Caris-Castro, 9, caught a nice fat bluegill. Jonathan's mom, Mirsa, caught two fish including a 7-inch sunfish and his dad, Guillermo, landed a nice 12-inch crappie. Darius, 10 and Jackie Caris-Castro, 13, were also fishing.
Michael Kiosse, age 12, of Stratford caught a 12-inch largemouth bass while fishing with his dad, Steve.
Ghosh Shuvra of Stamford arrived late but still reeled in a 10-inch and a 14-inch rainbow trout.
Also fishing were Isabelle Martich, 7 of North Haven and her parents Anne-Marie and Dan, Aquon Dumas, 16, of Stamford, Johnny Galatro, 11, and his dad, John, Westover school student Charlene Gardner, 7, and her mom, Arlene.
Nine-year-old twins Mathew and Thomas Troy Jr. were fishing with their dad Thomas Sr. The Troy twins attend Springdale School.
And from Darien were Angela 8 and Khrystos Yika-Nacarino, 5. Also from Darien were Clem Garcia and his daughter, Tala, 7.
And last but not least was the enthusiastic Rullman clan. Headed by Granddad Don Rullman, the contingent included Don Jr. his wife Roxann and their daughters Brooke and Kristen, 11, from Old Greenwich
C.A.R.E Chief Instructor Dick Emmons and No. 1 Cheerleader organized and taught the course and organized the fishing trip.
Emmons has been organizing and teaching C.A.R.E. classes since 2003 and has worked with an estimated 800 young fishermen including Special Olympians and veterans throughout Connecticut.
An event of this nature requires a lot of helping hands. Among those who assisted Emmons was Jeff Gruetzner. He is a recently certified C.A.R.E instructor and a 4th Grade teacher at Northeast School. Gruetzner is introducing the C.A.R.E. program to Northeast School.
Also assisting was: Chief Certified Instructor Norm Roberts Derby); Certified Instructors Jonathan Boisfeuillet, (Stamford), Jan Darula, (Stamford) and Joe Scordato (Stamford). Also assisting was the Stamford father and son team of Mike McNamara and Tom McNamara.
Some of the trout worms, nightcrawlers and mealworms used were donated by Fish Tales Bait and Tackle in Stamford.
q
Circle May 17 on your calendar. That's when the Greenwich Shellfish Commission welcomes you with friends and family to "Experience the Sound" from 1 p.m. - 4 p.m.
Tour the Sound Waters Schooner and learn about its educational voyages in local waters. Visit the Atlantic Clam Farms Shellfish boat and discover how it collects clams from Long Island waters. Learn about scuba diving opportunities and talk with fishing experts from Sportsman's Den.
There will be more than 30 exhibitors including a local archeologist, Audubon of Greenwich with live Birds of Prey, local artists and a wildlife orphanage.
For more information go to www.greenwichct.org.
q
Fishing season is in full swing and both saltwater and freshwater fans are enjoying some great fishing opportunities.
The DEP reported that striped bass fishing is good to excellent in the Saugatuck and Housatonic Rivers.
Other hot spots include the Pawcatuck River, upper Thames River (Norwich Harbor down to Montville), lower Connecticut River from Hamburg Cove down to the DEP Marine Headquarters fishing pier and from the Lieutenant River down to the breakwaters, New Haven Harbor (Sandy Point), Bridgeport Harbor by the power plant warm water discharge (Breezy Point/Seaside Park), and around the Norwalk Islands.
Don Handle caught one of the largest striper reported last week while fly fishing off Greenwich Cove. He landed a 20-pound linesider.
Ricky Mola and Jason Vilicky spent a lot of time on the New York side of the Sound fishing for stripers. They worked the waters off Willits Point, Little Neck and Manhasset Harbor. They had their best luck fishing in 45 feet of water off Hempstead Harbor where they caught and released lots of fish measuring up to 37-inches in length. All of the fish were taken using fresh bunker.
Jim Christianson did well fishing over at West Manhasset. He caught and released five stripers including one that tipped the scales at 24 pounds.
The guys at Rudy's Barn in Byram reported that Rob Sanford did very well while bucktailing off Rye Beach. He caught several schoolie bass along with one keeper.
John Standard fished one night last week at Hammonassett State Park in Madison. Using a Black Bomber lure he landed a pair of keeper striped bass.
Wayne Kelner caught three nice winter flounder while bottom fishing off Stamford's West Beach. His largest flattie measured 15-inches and was taken on a sandworm.
Dave McKee found the fish cooperative around the Norwalk Islands. Using sandworms, he boated nine winter flounder and a striped bass. The key to his success was using lots of clam chum.
George Fisher and crew fished at Can 9 last week. They kept five winter flounder including a fat 2-pounder. The fish were taken using sandworms and clam chum.
Mark Hiller, his wife, Diana, George DeScala and his wife, Janet, won the South Norwalk Boat Club's Annual Flounder Tournament. Entrants were allowed to weigh in a total of eight fish. Their winning catch weighed 17 pounds. They were fishing inside of Cockenoe Island and using sandworms and lots of chum.
Don't forget that blackfish (tautog) season is closed through June 30th.
Using a homemade lure of his own design called the "Sputnik Streamer" Ted Geriak caught and released lots of trout while fishing the Mianus and Rippowam Rivers. His largest trout measured 18 inches in length.
Danny Townes caught several trout while fishing at the Saugatuck Reservoir. His largest fish was a 4.5-pound brown trout. Townes was using shiners for bait.
Keith Bonifant caught a huge 10-pound walleye at the Saugatuck Reservoir last week. The whopper was taken on a live shiner.
Chris "CBM" Miller is still doing well at Kensico Reservoir. His largest fish last week was a 7-pound lake trout that he caught using a live shiner for bait.
Also doing well at Kensico was Mike Kukui. He landed two brown trout and a 5-pound lake trout while fishing from the Route 22 Bridge. He also battled a fish for 55 minutes before it broke the line and got away,
Martin Armstrong is a member of the Fisheries Advisory Council, a lifetime member of trout Unlimited and a member of the Outdoor Writers Association of America.