Connetquot River State Park Preserve
February 12, 1999
(516)581-1005
Open trout season at the Connetquot State Park...a breath of fresh air for the soul. The sun shining down on your face...feels good to be alive! Toss a line out twitching that fly back ever so slowly. A wake of water and the line peels out. The line cuts through the water like a hot knife through butter. The winter greyness washes away and life screams through your veins to wake up and clear out those winter cobwebs.
The trout dances across the pond...it doesn't get better. Pull that beauty along your side, slide the hook out and release her for another day. Eyes searching the water looking for movement along the shoreline. The trout are under the bank...cast about a foot from the bank...let the black fly sink to the bottom...a quick small twitch and the line is peeling out. Welcome to the Connetquot! Full of blue ribbon trout. All catch and release. Fly rods only...no barbs allowed on the hooks.
I had to bring my little boy down. Michael is 9 years old. I brought him to my favorite spot and helped him cast out the line, showing him how to slip the line through his fingers. Then I told him that he was on his own. No sooner than you could say "Jack Rabbit" his line was peeling off and he handled that fish perfectly. Well he is my son...of course it was perfect! Anyway, after a few minutes Michael pulled up his biggest trout, a four pound rainbow. I was the proudest father at that moment and I was more excited than he was. Next, Michael hooked up a wopper of a brookie. His fly reel turned into the biggest mess you have ever seen. I told him to do his best and he got that fish in using his own methods. I showed him the fish and the smile that came across that little face made the day. And, of course, as kids are, he said "Dad, let's go home, I'm done." He has better sense than I...I would have stayed until they chased me out of the park.
My son loves the grounds, the deer walk right up to you, definately not deer from upstate. The park is beautiful and well kept. There is absolutely no live bait allowed. In February and March all fish must be released. During prime season, reservations are recommended for the weekends...but on weekdays you can usually get a spot.
To see a map of the grounds, click below:
To read more about Connetquot Click Here to read last year's three part report.
