Pittsfield and Dalton

[bogtrotter]

I went fishing on the West Housatonic (in Pittsfield) and the East Housatonic (in Dalton) today from 9:15 AM to 1:45 PM.

It was mostly sunny and surprisingly warm (about 60 degrees when I started and 70 by the time I finished) and the stream levels were in that "Goldilocks" zone (not too high and not too low but "just right").

First, I fished the West Housatonic from Hungerford Street to Clapp Park and eventually (after multiple "false strikes) caught one 12" brown (by the Hungerford Street Bridge where it meets Route 20) as well as a half dozen perch (biggest 8") (most of them in the same spot) plus an equal number of dace (biggest 9") (a bit more scattered).

Then I fished the East Housatonic below the Housatonic Street bridge (where I was "skunked") and the Depot Street bridge - - where, to my pleasant surprise, I hit the jackpot by landing an 11", a 14" and 16" and an 18" rainbow.

Then it was homeward bound for an early (4 PM) dinner cookout - - a couple lamb chops with sriracha mayo, a side of kimchi, a deluxe (16 ingredient) salad, a bowl of brussel sprout soup and 1.5 nip bottles of homemade strawberry wine.

[Steve H.]

to my pleasant surprise, I hit the jackpot by landing an 11", a 14" and 16" and an 18" rainbow.

Then it was homeward bound for an early (4 PM) dinner cookout - - a couple lamb chops with sriracha mayo, a side of kimchi, a deluxe (16 ingredient) salad, a bowl of brussel sprout soup and 1.5 nip bottles of homemade strawberry wine.

Solid X2.

[lowaccord66]

An 18" bow is tremendous!

[bogtrotter]

The trout stocked in my neck of the woods this spring (back in March/April) tended to be smaller on average than past years, so the 18" bow that I landed on Saturday was the biggest fish I've caught this year.

Given how low the waters got this past summer/early fall, I was both pleased and surprised that one of the big bows managed to hang on this late into the season.