Casting clinic, cleanup, celebration Saturday

Whether you can volunteer for an hour, the day, or just want to check out the events, join Nutmeg TU at the Pequonnock River Fest at Beardsley Park in Bridgeport on World Fish Migration Day, Saturday, April 21, from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. We just really want people to see the grounds, the fish ladder, the river and the environment we’re working on, and learn to cast and fish a little.

Nutmeg TU President Rich Rosen outlined events in a letter:

Hi all,

On Saturday April  21, Nutmeg Trout Unlimited and Beardsley Zoo are holding a Pequonnock River Festival in celebration of World Fish Migration Day.

Volunteers are needed to make this day a great success.

At 9:00 am we will meet at Beardsley Zoo’s Hanson Pavilion and fan out from there to start the cleanup. (Tree planters will be starting at 8:00). Hanson Pavilion is inside and to the right of Beardsley Zoo’s parking area.

Nutmeg TU activities include a Pequonnock River Cleanup, Nature Walk/Insect Discovery, Fly Casting Clinic and Fishing. The Zoo’s activities include Tree Planting, Fish Ladder Tours and a Birds of Prey Encounter.We need your help to volunteer. If we have enough volunteers we can add additional kid-friendly activities. If you can volunteer for the day, or part of it, please email me with your contact information and when you can volunteer.

Here is our World Fish Migration Day schedule of activities:

• • 8-10:30 a.m.: Tree Planting: Led by Zoo volunteers (CDC) & GroundWorks Bridgeport.
  • 9-10:30 a.m.: Pequonnock River clean-up: Led by Nutmeg TU
    • • • Beardsley Park (starting at the island and moving north).
  • 9:30 (or 10), 10:30, 11:30: Tours of Fish Ladder in small groups, led by the Zoo. 
  • 10:30-11:00 AM: Pequonnock River Nature Walk – led by TU
    • • • • Includes Study of River Macroinvertebrates & how they relate to River Health & Fishing
          • (Macroinvertebrates are flatworms, crayfish, snails, clams and insects & more)
  • 11-11:15 AM: Birds of prey Animal Encounter – led by the Zoo.
  • 11:15-12 PM:
    • Fly Casting workshop (or straight to fishing for the experts) – led by TU.
    • Backyard Bass (CDC volunteers)
  • 12-1 PM: Fishing (fishing can continue after 1 but TU volunteers may leave) – led by TU.

If you are interested in volunteering please email me at rhrosen@aol.com and let me know which activity you want to help with.  We also need volunteers to tie some Wooly Buggers for the fishing session.  Wooly Buggers can be brought on the 21st or to our next chapter meeting on April 17th.

This is a day for fun and learning. Bring your spouses and kids and to celebrate and enjoy the Pequonnock River.

Regards,

Rich Rosen

President

Nutmeg Trout Unlimited