Newsletter highlights successes in New England

From reconnection projects to in-stream habitat restoration, Trout Unlimited’s staff had a great year in New England in 2019, and are teed up for another big one in 2020. The efforts helped improve access to dozens of miles of previously out-of-reach streams for the region’s trout and other stream-dwellers, while also improving habitat in rivers…

Swift River Fly Fishing

Swift River Fly Fishing was established over 25 years ago as a builder and restorer of bamboo fly rods. That remains the core of the business along with custom designed and built fiberglass fly rods. The retail shop is located in a post and beam barn and carries new and vintage rods, classic fly reels,…

Take a child fishing and make a difference

By Mike Enos  The bobber began to twitch and then it submerged twice just before taking off in an arc across the glassy surface of the lake.    Just as her line, seemingly possessed by a supernatural force, started to move, the quiet was pierced by my 8-year old granddaughter’s high-pitched squeal of excitement.    Avery, whose attention had…

Draining pond in Maine has good unintended results

By Jeff Reardon Since 2014, TU’s Merrymeeting Bay Chapter has been focused on brook trout in coastal streams, at least some of which migrate downstream to saltwater for part of their life.   They’ve been working with me to document brook trout populations in previously un-surveyed streams by angling and electrofishing surveys; monitor water temperatures with long-term data loggers; and,…

Spawning brookies in Moosehead Lake offer hope in the face of challenges

The headline was an attention grabber, and the story went viral almost instantly: “Monster Brook Trout Are Spawning  on Moosehead Lake’s Shore.”  Based on my Facebook feed about half of my angling acquaintances immediately made plans for winter ice fishing or shoreline trolling right after ice out next May.  Maine’s Moosehead Lake is legendary. The largest…

TU building Technical Assistance Program in New Hampshire

By Joel DeStasio  Trout Unlimited continues to build upon our successful series of community flood resiliency workshops in New Hampshire, engaging local decision-makers, such as Selectboard, Department of Public Works and Conservation Commission members, on identifying and restoring critical infrastructure.  During this recent series of workshops, TU successfully worked with an additional 23 communities across the Granite State, increasing awareness of infrastructure risk and vulnerability while at the same time educating stakeholders on how to…

TU improving habitat in New Hampshire’s Lakes Region

By Joel DeStasio During the 2019 summer field season, Trout Unlimited field staff completed strategic wood addition habitat restoration work on Gunstock River and its unnamed tributary in Gilford, N.H.   This project was initiated by the Belknap County Conservation District with the assistance of grants provided by The New Hampshire Association of Conservation Districts and the New Hampshire Conservation…