#4553 - 05/16/04 09:40 PM
Mill River, Hamden, 5/16
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Member
Registered: 04/23/04
Posts: 51
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I hit the Mill River in Hamden this afternoon/evening and fished from 4:30 to 7. I waited to see a trout rising before I got in, and I worked that one trout the entire time. It was feeding from the surface constantly, and tried a variety of dry flies but it wouldn't take anything. A guy who was wading and using spinning gear caught a few. The reason I didn't catch the fish is probably because:
A. I don't really know how to fly fish, and
B. I didn't have the right flies.
I had a good time anyway, and now here comes the story.
As I was packing up to leave, I heard a splash behind me and saw a small trout near the surface. It wasn't swimming well and I made a grab for it, and missed. I chased after it and caught it, all without dropping my fly rod. It was still moving a bit and I tried to revive it. I looked inside the mouth and saw that it was gut hooked. The hook wasn't in any particular organ, but it was partway down the throat and it must have been interfering with gill function. After about five minutes of attempting to help this fish, I decided to call it quits. It was an 11 inch Brown, and though I would have released it had I caught it myself, it will be my breakfast tomorrow.
At least now, I can tell people I've caught trout with my bare hands without lying.
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#4554 - 05/17/04 07:25 PM
Re: Mill River, Hamden, 5/16
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Member
Registered: 08/07/03
Posts: 3250
Loc: Submerged Underwater
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Nice Work!  Very smart fish!! Were you fishing in the Trout Park or below it? "Wagon Man" Damon 
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#4558 - 05/18/04 01:38 PM
Re: Mill River, Hamden, 5/16
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Member
Registered: 04/05/03
Posts: 3900
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Tangytoad!
Good luck in the closest trout stream and ponds to my home.
6 years ago when I moved from Durham to Hamden, I began exploring(like you seem to be doing) the Mill River. Having grown up in bordering North Haven, I was quite familiar with Sleeping Giant Park and it's many trails, the casle, along with the pond behind where the Mill River Fly Shop used to be.
However, I never truly explored or fished the Mill River or Clark's Pond(although I did play many good hockey games there with and against many of the good, championship, Hamden HS players)
My observation, after6 yrs is that this is a fine trout stream! Not only is that true just after Ct. stocking, which I think happened again recently, but at other times also, when you've learned the spots and holes that have hold over and maybe even some native trout.I have been lucky enough to get trout in early January there.
Stick with your exciting adventure and to learning about trout and fly fishing. You will be rewarded many times over for your efforts in this wonderful, easily reached, natural resource.
WG
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