Autumn angling through lunar mud

The lunar mud was thick on the banks of the Esopus in Boiceville, New York, near where the stream enters the Ashokan Reservoir.
Patrick L. Sullivan
The lunar mud was thick on the banks of the Esopus in Boiceville, New York, near where the stream enters the Ashokan Reservoir.
I spent a couple days two weeks ago in Ulster County, New York, prowling the Esopus, around and below the Rail Trail pedestrian bridge in Boiceville.
The water temps were acceptable but on the sunny days approached the danger zone by mid-afternoon.
Water clarity was decent. Where it was murky, it was green murky, which is good, as opposed to brown murky, which means mud.
The flows were decent but definitely on the low side. We need rain badly, in the Hudson Valley and in the Northwest Corner.
And the area where I was had a decidedly lunar feel to the landscape, if the Moon has mud.
What worked: Junk flies.
What didn’t: Woolies, Tequilleys, unweighted streamers, Leadwing Coachmen, soft hackle wets in darker colors, orange-y caddis dries.
There were stonefly and isonychia casings on the rocks, but not a lot of them.
I was hoping for fat brown trout moving up into the river from the Ashokan Reservoir to spawn. Failing that, I was hoping for greedy rainbows looking to eat the brown trout eggs. It’s a little early for that sort of thing, but hey, I don’t make the rules.
No trout were disturbed, by me anyway.
Moment of triumph: Way down by where the stream enters the reservoir proper, and the lunar mud figures into the equation, I latched into three excellent smallies and one junior partner in a boom-boom space of about 45 minutes. What made this especially pleasant was that I had ventured forth with an 11 foot 4 weight single hand rod intending to either tight line nymphs or play with unweighted streamers such as Mickey Finns and Grey Ghosts.
Stonefly and isonychia casings on the rocks.Patrick L. Sullivan
At the last moment I stuck a small box containing mops and squirmy worms in the pack. This was a very good move and almost made up for the Dr. Boing-Boing moment when I realized I forgot the lanyard with the trout-sized tippet, forceps and clippers.
Reluctant to perform the Walk of Shame the half mile or so back to the car, I improvised. I had heavy tippet material, 0X through 2X, on a separate holder attached to my pack, and I found that with a little juju the cigar cutter worked as a clipper. What I could not approximate was the forceps, for squashing barbs, so I was limited to flies I had used before.
That turned out to be a two-fly rig, with the squirmy worm on a dropper up top and a green mop tied on a jig hook and with a bead head on point. Three of the smallies, including the fair-to-middling one, opted for the worm, and one bold soul took a flyer on the mop.
The commotion was such that an angler using spinning gear upstream wandered down to see what was up when I took a break. He then directed me to his companion, who was working a riffle further up with a fly rod.
Not wanting to hog the hot spot, and keenly aware that my wonky shoulder was sending out mild but unmistakable distress signals, I ceded my spot to angler number one and made my way upstream to angler number two.
He turned out to be from Millerton, N.Y. and had read Tangled Lines in the Millerton News.
He didn’t specifically say he was a fan but I assumed he was.. If he wasn’t then he was after I gave him a squirmy and a mop to try.
Note: As I peck this out on Sunday, Oct. 6, the 10-day forecast doesn’t look good for rain. If you take a shot at the very low Housatonic or Farmington rivers, your best bet is dawn to noon, long rods and longer leaders, clothing that blends into the background, and a high tolerance for frustration and agony of spirit.
TOWN OF PINE PLAINS
DUTCHESS COUNTY, NEW YORK
NOTICE OF
PUBLIC HEARING
PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that a public hearing will be held by the Town of Pine Plains Planning Board on the 16th day of July 2025 at 8:00pm at the Town Hall, 3284 Route 199, Pine Plains, New York, for the purpose of hearing all persons for or against an application submitted by HTWO Properties, LLC for a Lot line adjustment at the premises located at 2814-2816 Church Street and 2812 Church Street, Town of Pine Plains, Dutchess County, Tax Map ID #134200-6872-13-181251-0000 and 134200-6872-13-173256-0000.
Any resident of the Town of Pine Plains shall be entitled to be heard regarding said application. The application is available for review during regular business hours at the Pine Plains Town Hall.
By order of:
Town of Pine Plains Planning Board
07-10-25
TOWN OF PINE PLAINS
DUTCHESS COUNTY, NEW YORK
NOTICE OF
PUBLIC HEARING
PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that a public hearing will be held by the Town of Pine Plains Planning Board on the 16th day of July 2025 at 8:15pm at the Town Hall, 3284 Route 199, Pine Plains, New York, for the purpose of hearing all persons for or against an application submitted by Steve Patterson for a special use permit and site plan permit for a proposed accessory dwelling unit at the premises located at 266 Schultz Hill Road, Town of Pine Plains, Dutchess County, Tax Map ID #134200-6971-00-635594-0000.
Any resident of the Town of Pine Plains shall be entitled to be heard regarding said application. The application is available for review during regular business hours at the Pine Plains Town Hall.
By order of:
Town of Pine Plains Planning Board
07-10-25
Want to join our team?: Wyantenuck Country Club is seeking Dishwashers. Positions available immediately. We offer a competitive pay with flexible shifts daytime and/or evening. Please send resumes to: barb@wyantenuck.org, call 413-528-0350 or stop by in person.
Congregational Church of Salisbury: opening for Church Administrator. Publicity, bookkeeping, office management, volunteer coordination. See full job description: salisburycongregationalchurch.org/jobs/. Please email resume and cover letter to jobs@salisburyucc.org.
Experienced Horse Equestrian: to train three-year-old white Persian Mare for trail riding. 860-364-0603.
Help wanted: Small Angus Farm seeks reliable help for cattle and horses. Duties include feeding, fence repair, machine repair. Will train the right person. 860-364-0603.
PART-TIME BOOKKEEPER: The Millerton Antiques Center is looking for a full-charge bookkeeper with knowledge of accounting principles. Flexible hours. Only 1-2 hours per week plus an additional 3-4 hours at the beginning of the month. Most work can be done from home. Weekly/monthly data entry; accounts payable; payroll; monthly financial reporting. Must know Quickbooks. Pay determined by skills and experience. Call or text Bob at 917-301-2509.
Sharon Congregational Church is seeking a pianist: to join our music team. We host a blended worship service; knowledge of traditional hymns is beneficial. The team practices once per week and on Sunday in preparation for our 10:30 worship. A stipend is available. call 860-364-5002 or e-mail PastorDawson06@yahoo.com.
The David M. Hunt Library in Falls Village is hiring: an Assistant Director/Youth Services Coordinator to start mid-August. The position is 28 hours a week. A full job description and how to apply can be found at huntlibrary.org/employment/
Town of Cornwall Hiring Park & Recreation Director: The Town of Cornwall is hiring for a Park & Recreation Director. For more details and to apply, contact First Selectmen’ ‘s office 860-672-4959.
The Town of Cornwall is accepting bids: for asphalt paving work this summer. Inquire at selectmen@cornwallct.gov or 860-672-4959.
Hector Pacay Service: House Remodeling, Landscaping, Lawn mowing, Garden mulch, Painting, Gutters, Pruning, Stump Grinding, Chipping, Tree work, Brush removal, Fence, Patio, Carpenter/decks, Masonry. Spring and Fall Cleanup. Commercial & Residential. Fully insured. 845-636-3212.
Private sale of selected furnishings/furniture: and household items from Ballyhack Farm in Cornwall. For more information please contact us on jbjb4859@gmail.com. Viewings by arrangement only.
LABRADOR ORPHAN: wanted as companion for RESCUE MIX (5 years). Sharon. 407-620-7777.
DAYLILIES FOR SALE!: Fifty years “working with nature” to produce beautiful one-of-a-kind Lilies in many colors and sizes. Call 860-824-5560.
Epson Work Force Pro 7720: All in one print (8.5 to 11.17 inches). Scan, Copy, Fax, WiFi. Rarely used. Excellent for art projects, portfolios, engineering, architecture, student projects. $325 or best offer. 860-248-9299, leave message.
PUBLISHER’S NOTICE: Equal Housing Opportunity. All real estate advertised in this newspaper is subject to the Federal Fair Housing Act of 1966 revised March 12, 1989 which makes it illegal to advertise any preference, limitation, or discrimination based on race, color religion, sex, handicap or familial status or national origin or intention to make any such preference, limitation or discrimination. All residential property advertised in the State of Connecticut General Statutes 46a-64c which prohibit the making, printing or publishing or causing to be made, printed or published any notice, statement or advertisement with respect to the sale or rental of a dwelling that indicates any preference, limitation or discrimination based on race, creed, color, national origin, ancestry, sex, marital status, age, lawful source of income, familial status, physical or mental disability or an intention to make any such preference, limitation or discrimination.
Tag Sales
Sharon, CT
Tri-Family Tag Sale!: July 12 10-4 and July 13 12-3. Furniture, Home Goods, Silver, Vintage Clothing and much more. *No* early birds, please. 296 West Cornwall Road, Sharon, CT.
AMENIA — A variety of subjects were discussed at the regular meeting of the Town Board on Thursday, July 3, including reappointments and hirings.
By unanimous vote, Donna DiPippo was reappointed to the post of Town Assessor, and Robin Schultz was hired as a part-time clerk in the Town Clerk’s office.
Responding to a request from the Ethics Board for legal expertise, the board voted unanimously to hire Ian MacDonald, Esq. of Mackey Butts and Whalen of Millbrook to advise that board as needed.
Pursuing any available grant funding opportunities to assist with the construction of a new town garage and salt shed, the board voted unanimously to ask the project’s engineers, CPL Architects, to write the grant application at an estimated cost of $4,000.
Town Supervisor Leo Blackman noted that CPL has the expertise and knowledge of the project to complete the application’s need for technical information and engineering specifics. The application is for a state Water Quality Improvement Grant administered through the Department of Environmental Conservation.
Praising the layout and content of the new town website for ease of navigation and attractive appearance, councilwoman Rosanna Hamm encouraged all residents to visit the site and to register for one of the new features, town-wide notifications. To register, go to www.ameniany.gov and complete the simple form.
Hamm also reminded residents that while they are on the town website, they should click on the Comprehensive Plan Review Committee link to find the “Engaging Amenia” links. Residents can use that site to offer comments and to follow the information being collected there throughout the summer months. Once comments have been gathered, it will assist the work of the CPRC and their consultants seeking to revise the town’s current plan that dates back to 2007.