WATERTOWN, Conn. — Aided by a Shimano/B.A.S.S. Youth Conservation grant, adult and youth volunteers recently completed a habitat project to improve fishing at Echo Lake, as well as to provide a video guide and installation plan for other Connecticut B.A.S.S. Nation (CBN) adult and junior clubs to follow.
“This was the first of our Community Lake enhancement projects, and we wanted to be sure that we have a very detailed plan for other clubs to follow to make these projects easy, fun and meaningful,” said Dean Rustic, CBN conservation director.
“We had a great turnout from the parents, and the youngsters did a great job of putting the MossBack fishing structures together.”
The Mohawk Valley BassCasters coordinated the effort, assisted by Bass Lightning Junior Club, the Nonnewaug High School Fishing Team and the Watertown Community Fishing Club.
After spending 3 hours assembling the spiderblock structures, volunteers placed them in eight areas accessible by shoreline anglers. Half of those were marked, while locations of the rest will be available to young anglers who sign up for a YOUth Fishing Passport on the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection website. The latter is part of CBN’s cooperative effort with the state to promote community fishing.
Rustic added that the Watertown Fishing Club and the city’s Recreation Department will sponsor a Connecticut Aquatic Resources Education fishing event at Echo Lake next spring. “Earlier this year, six members of the BassCasters became certified C.A.R.E. instructors and will be back to help,” he said.
Rustic said Echo was chosen for the first enchancement project because of the town’s interest and because the BassCasters had worked with the Watertown Fishing Club on prior projects.
“This made it the perfect place to start, as there was a camaraderie between the clubs that made the learning process easy for this project.”
Also, the impoundment has no aquatic vegetation, Rustic explained, so adding man-made habitat was a priority to improve the fishing.
“Working with the youth clubs, the local community, and the state has shown that this project and the Shimano/B.A.S.S. Youth Conservation grant will be making a difference,” he said.
The Shimano/B.A.S.S. Youth Conservation grant program was introduced at the 2014 Bassmaster Classic, and awards for the coming year will be awarded at the 2015 Classic. To apply, email Gene Gilliland, B.A.S.S. conservation director, by Nov. 30.
Below is a video from the day the groups assembled and placed the habitat structures.