Thank you!
Your support is sustaining the future of local news in our communities.

How to fish with a bad hip

How to fish with a bad hip

This is a standard hatchery rainbow trout. They put up a decent fight, considering they grew up in a tank.

Patrick L. Sullivan

I’ve got news.

First the bad news:

I am having my right hip replaced in about a month. Even more annoying, I have to be nicotine-free for this, so I am quitting cigars, which is making me very grouchy. More so than usual.

It’s certainly for the best and will make my mother, my dentist, and the general public happy. Plus the money I save can be spent on useful things, like more fishing stuff.

The procedure also counts as good news. By scheduling the surgery in early December, I should be off the injured reserve list by the time fishing gets going in the spring.

The half-decent news:

There’s been some significant rain at long last and while the Housatonic and Farmington rivers are fishable, the little blue lines are decidedly not. They were very low before last week’s rain and they dropped fast. The brook trout are stressed enough after the dry summer, so it’s best to leave them alone.

This is a shame because I really enjoy prowling the small streams when the leaves are off, which I can’t do anyway because of my hip. Grrrr.

Also in the okay-for-now file: the steroid shot I got in my hip Sept. 9 has kicked in and I have been moving around almost normally for a few weeks.

Almost normal is not the same as normal. It flares up every so often, and I have taken to going about with a cane, just in case.

Still, it was possible last week, before the rain, to go over to the Blackberry, which was fishable in spots and was stocked recently

I took a whack at the big pool at the dam at Beckley Furnace, a venture that requires a short, mostly level walk and the bare minimum of wading.

I caught half a dozen cookie cutter hatchery rainbows, all on small weighted nymphs like Zug Bugs, Bread and Butters and Surveyors, size 16-20.After an hour or so I declared victory and packed it in.

It was actually kinda boring but at this point I have to take what I can get.

Surgery is Dec. 2, and the doc says full recovery is six months. Other informed opinion says it’s more like three months, and blatantly anecdotal opinion has me leaping around like a pescatorial Nureyev in a matter of weeks.

So my autumn plans are all but canceled.I did not get to test out the isonychia soft hackle flies I got from some guy in Massachusetts, and only tried the switch rod rig Gary Dodson set up for me once in September when every step was an unpleasant adventure.

And if I meet you streamside I can’t even say “Have a cigar.”

Latest News

Allen Degreenia

Allen Degreenia

WEST CORNWALL — Allen “Al” Degreenia, 70, of West Cornwall, Connecticut, passed away on Aug. 14, 2026 at Hartford Hospital.
Al was born on Sept. 10, 1955, in Torrington, Connecticut, the son of the late Ovel and Olive Degreenia of West Cornwall.

A man of many talents, Al was an artist in every sense of the word. He was a gifted musician and had a lifelong love of old cars. For many years, through his business, Textile Graphics in Torrington, Al shared his artistic talents with the community, printing hundreds of T-shirts and hand painting signs for local businesses.

Keep ReadingShow less

Lynn Korbel

Lynn Korbel

CANAAN — Lynn Korbel passed away peacefully with her son, Eric by her side, at Geer nursing on Aug. 19, 2026, due to complications of cancer and kidney failure. She is remembered and celebrated by her two sons, Eric and David Korbel of Lakeville and Middleboro, Massachusetts, her two grandchildren, Dylan Korbel and Brittany Korbel, her niece Jennifer Cotte and her grandnieces Jaden Cotte and Jamison Cotte. She is survived by her brother Edward ‘Ted’ Korbel of West Yarmouth, Massachusetts.

Lynn was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on June 1, 1943. She resided in Wilmette, Illinois before moving to New Canaan, Connecticut in 1955. She attended New Canaan High School where she learned to play the flute and speak French. She was active in the drama department as well. Graduating in 1961, she then went on to attend Virginia Wesleyan College studying the Russian language and was actively involved in the production of several plays both as an artist as well as working on set design and as a director. Further education found her attending the Catherine Gibbs school in NYC and also working at that time as a fashion model. Lynn then went on to work for the Famous Artists School in Westport, Connecticut where she received several promotions rising to oversee the nascent computer division side of the business.

Keep ReadingShow less

Ronald C. Watson

Ronald C. Watson

MILLERTON — Ronald C. Watson, a devoted father, grandfather, great-grandfather, brother, friend, and beloved member of his community, passed away leaving behind a lifetime of memories and a family who will forever carry his love with them.

Ronald was born on Dec. 3, 1948, at Charlotte Hungerford Hospital in Torrington, Connecticut, to Roy Watson and Theresa Linderman. Throughout his life, Ronald was a man who valued the things that mattered most—family, loyalty, friendship, and time spent doing the things he loved.

Keep ReadingShow less
google preferred source

Want more of our stories on Google? Click here to make us a Preferred Source.

Stephen Michael Brandt

Stephen Michael Brandt

LAKEVILLE — With heavy hearts we are saddened to report that Stephen passed away at Sharon Hospital after a long illness at age 62. He lived in Sharon early on and then resided in Lakeville later in life.

He was an accomplished and well-respected painting contractor. He had a huge heart, was a great friend to everyone (always there to help) and had the quickest wit and greatest sense of humor ever.

Keep ReadingShow less

Nedra Hope Guyette

Nedra Hope Guyette

SHARON — Nedra Hope Guyette, age 95, of Sharon, Connecticut, passed away peacefully in her sleep on Aug. 12, 2026.

Nedra, also known to many as Mom and Grammy, was born on Feb. 25, 1931, in Stamford, Connecticut. Her family later moved to New Portland, Maine, in Somerset County, where she and her two brothers led an active, outdoor life she cherished and missed for the rest of her days.

Keep ReadingShow less

Celebration of Life - Lynne Killmer Stanton

Celebration of Life - Lynne Killmer Stanton

A celebration of life for Lynne Killmer Stanton will be held Sunday October 25th from 1 pm to 4 pm at the Salisbury Town Grove.

google preferred source

Want more of our stories on Google? Click here to make us a Preferred Source.

google preferred source

Want more of our stories on Google? Click here to make us a Preferred Source.