The Housatonic River and its floodplain are heavily contaminated with PCBs originating from the GE Facility in Pittsfield, MA. Most of the contamination is found between the confluence of the East and West branches in Pittsfield and Woods Pond Dam in Lenox and further into Rising Pond in Great Barrington, MA.
Table of Contents
Where can I fly fish on the Housatonic?
- Section 1: State line to the top of Great Falls.
- Section 2: Great Falls to the Route 7 and 112 bridge crossing.
- Section 3: Route 7 and 112 bridge crossing to the Route 4 and 7 bridge crossing.
- Section 4: Skiff Mountain Road to Dawn Hill Road.
What fish are running in the Housatonic River?
Fish Populations Fish surveys conducted by the MassWildlife have found Rock Bass, Smallmouth Bass, White Sucker, Brown Trout, Yellow Perch, Largemouth Bass, and Bluegill in the upper section of the Housatonic Catch-and- Release Area.
Are there pike in the Housatonic River?
Enjoy a day of fishing for Northern Pike and smallmouth bass in the upper and lower sections of the Housatonic River from my ClackaCraft drift boat. Fishing slower and deeper water where these fish like to hide and wait for their prey.
Are there salmon in the Housatonic River?
For a quality coldweather fishing experience, look no farther than the Housatonic River’s tidal estuary, where you can enjoy a thriving striped bass and Atlantic salmon fishery all winter long.
How do you fish the Housatonic River?
What animals live in the Housatonic River?
Northern Pike are the largest predatory freshwater gamefish in Connecticut. While not native to Connecticut, they have been in the Connecticut River since the mid-1800s and became established in other areas of the state since then.
Are there northern pike in Connecticut?
A fourth species, the muskellunge (Esox masquinongy), has been occasionally reported in Connecticut, but no reproducing populations are present. Massachusetts stocks “tiger musky” (muskellunge/northern pike hybrids) into some lakes.
Are there musky in Connecticut?
The Atlantic Salmon season runs from October 1 through November 30 as a catch-and-release fishery, where all salmon must be returned to the river. From December 1 through March 31 anglers may keep one salmon per day.
When can you catch salmon in CT?
Summary. Maximum discharge along the river was observed at the Housatonic River At Stevenson with a streamflow rate of 270 cfs.
How fast does Housatonic River flow?
There are two native species of sturgeon in Connecticut, but only the shortnose sturgeon is thought to currently spawn in the state. Both species spawn in the spring in high-velocity waters, typically beneath the first major change in elevation of their home river.
Are there sturgeon in CT?
Carp caught in the Housatonic River should not be eaten by anyone. People in the High Risk Group should not eat carp caught in the Connecticut River.
What is the biggest fish caught in Connecticut?
- State Record Lake Trout 29 lbs 13 oz.
- State Record Largemouth Bass 12 lbs 11 oz.
- State Record Northern Pike 29.0 lbs (2020)
- State Record Northern Pike 29.0 lbs (1980)
- State Record Rainbow Trout 14 lbs 10 oz.
- State Record Rock Bass 1 lb 3 oz.
- State Record Tiger Trout 7 lbs 14 oz.
Can you eat fish from the Housatonic River?
Swimming. It is not advised that people swim in the Massachusetts portion of the Housatonic due to PCB contamination, but there are places where you can safely swim in tributaries such as the Konkapot and Green Rivers as well as in the watershed’s lakes.
Is it safe to swim in the Housatonic River?
“It was not a one company town, but it was dominated by that company for many years,” Dickson said. “Many people’s lives and families were tied up by work there.” But labor unrest in the 1950s and 1960s caused GE to branch out beyond Pittsfield.
Why did GE leave Pittsfield?
Very specific spawning requirements limit their ability to reproduce in most Connecticut lakes and ponds. Pike can be caught on a variety of lures or by using live fish as bait.
How do you pronounce Housatonic?
Which direction does the Housatonic River flow?
The Housatonic River (/หhuหsษหtษnษชk/ HOOS-ษ-TON-ik) is a river, approximately 149 miles (240 km) long, in western Massachusetts and western Connecticut in the United States. It flows south to southeast, and drains about 1,950 square miles (5,100 km2) of southwestern Connecticut into Long Island Sound.
What does the word Housatonic mean?
In Minnesota, northerns ranging from 2lbs-15lbs are fairly common, and can grow to over four feet in length. The average size is about 2 to 5 pounds. The MN state record for a northern pike caught on a hook and line is 45 pounds, 12 ounces, length n/a, from Basswood Lake (Lake County), 05/16/1929.
Is the Housatonic River navigable?
Fishing At Lake Lillinonah Fishing for largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, white catfish, bluegill, green sunfish, pumpkinseed sunfish,white perch, yellow perch, chain pickerel and northern pike at Lake Lillinonah in Connecticut.
How long is the head of the Housatonic?
Head of the Housatonic is a 2.3 mile head race held in October. It starts south of Indian Well State Park and finishes at the New Haven Rowing Club Boathouse.
How do you catch a pike in CT?
The chain pickerel is Connecticut’s largest native freshwater predatory fish.
How big can a northern pike get?
Tiger muskies are very rare in nature because they’re sterile and can’t reproduce on their own but due to their stout genetics, they grow larger faster than either of their parent species. Thanks to their popularity among anglers they are often stocked by fish and game organizations.
What kind of fish are in Lake Lillinonah?
Pickerel โ the term pickerel is reserved for small fishes in the Pike Family. Grass Pickerel (Esox americanus vermiculatus) are a species of special concern in Canada. They are found in shallower waters, and are long and slender, resembling and often mistaken for its more northern cousinโฆthe Northern Pike.
Are pickerel native to Connecticut?
Season: Open year-round. Trout & salmon stamp required to fish. Trout: Catch and Release Only from September 1 to 6:00 a.m. 2nd Saturday in April.