Deerfield River Watershed Trout Unlimited

10/17/2026

Chapter members and volunteers wrapped up its field work on its multi-year study of Rice Brook's native Brook Trout Population Study. A baseline population was determined before wood installations were added in 2021 along a 2-mile stretch. The wood provides food (insects) and shelter from predators and helps the trout thrive. Severe drought has plagued the cold-water Brook Trout the past few years. Our study will show whether the wood helped Rice Brook's wild brook trout population under such harsh weather conditions created by . Our study results will be published on our chapter website -- Deerfieldrivertroutunlimited.com -- in the coming months.

10/08/2026

A nice addition to the stairway down to "Diamond Drill" at Fife Brook.

08/13/2026

Please join us this Saturday!

The Deerfield River Watershed Chapter of Trout Unlimited hosts its largest fundraiser on Aug. 15 featuring fly fishing films.

08/09/2026

One of the films featured in this year's Fly Fishing Film Festival was produced by Casting for Recovery.

The Jane Project follows Kara Armano from the Colorado riverbanks, where she leads a Casting for Recovery retreat for women with breast cancer, to Montana, where she meets with friends to bring home The Jane—a custom drift boat honoring women and resilience everywhere. Through laughter, shared stories, and the quiet rhythm of the river, the film celebrates connection and the universal healing we all feel on the water.

Please join us on Saturday, August 15th at Shelburne Falls Memorial Hall for a showing of the 2026 Flyfishing Film Festival. Doors open at 6 pm and the films begin at 7 pm. Raffles and prizes will also be featured as this event is a fundraiser for our chapter. Your support will help us continue our citizen- science projects as a means to protect and enhance cold-water fisheries throughout the Deerfield River Watershed.

Tickets can be purchased at:

https://deerfieldrivertroutunlimited.com/2026-fly-fishing-film-tour/

The Jane Project follows Kara Armano from the Colorado riverbanks, where she leads a Casting for Recovery retreat for women with breast cancer, to Montana, where she meets with friends to bring home The Jane—a custom drift boat honoring women and resilience everywhere. Through laughter, shared sto...

08/03/2026

Please join us at 7 pm, Saturday, August 15th at Shelburne Falls Memorial Hall for our showing of the 2026 Fly Fishing Film Tour. This is a MAJOR fundraiser for our chapter so please share this post with your own social media friends and communties. The Fly Fishing Film Tour is in its 20th year and features short documentaries from some of the best outdoor, fishing and conservation storytellers and videographers in the world. The funding raised will help us continue our citizen science-based efforts to protect and enhance wild and native trout populations throughout the Deerfield River Watershed. For more information and to purchase your tickets, click on this link:

https://deerfieldrivertroutunlimited.com/2026-fly-fishing-film-tour/

07/13/2026

Join us for our annual July Chapter Meeting at Pelham Lake Park in Rowe! Enjoy a cookout and hear Brian Comfort of the Deerfield Fly Shop present on fly fishing for smallmouth bass.

Thursday, July 16 • Arrive after 6:00 PM • Meeting starts at 6:30 PM

We hope to see you there!

07/02/2026

With this heat wave in full effect, keep in mind that in past summers, water temps on the upper Deerfield have reached as high as 74°F.

⬆️ Water Temperatures = ⬇️ Dissolved Oxygen.

Trout,being coldwater species with high oxygen demands, rely on well-oxygenated habitats and cool water temperatures to thrive. During periods of warming water, trout will move into areas with increased dissolved oxygen and cooler water.

As waters warm, the trout's metabolic needs increase, which results in increased feeding activity. However, the added stress of being hooked, fought, and handled can be enough to push them past the point of recovery.

👉 Bring a stream thermometer when you fish.
🔥 On hot days, consider targeting warmwater species, exploring cooler high-elevation streams, or tying up a few new patterns at the bench.
🌡️ Consider giving the trout a break when your thermometer reads 68°.

🎣 By minding the temperatures during a heatwave, together we can protect this resource that we all enjoy so much.

06/30/2026

Get to know the Deerfield River!

06/20/2026

Join us tomorrow morning!

Join Deerfield River Trout Unlimited for the 2026 Fly Casting Rendezvous on Saturday, June 20th from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at Mohawk Trail Regional High School athletic fields in Shelburne Falls.

This free event is open to the public and Trout Unlimited members alike. Instruction will be led by certified fly casting instructor Jim Dowd, with a focus on helping anglers improve their cast, learn specialty trout casts, and build confidence on the water.

Part I will focus on fly casting instruction, including specialty trout casts. Part II will feature five-weight fly casting games, with good-natured heckling encouraged.

Please bring a hat and glasses or sunglasses for safety, along with your favorite trout fly rod, floating fly line, leader, and a yarn fly.

📍 Mohawk Trail Regional High School
26 Ashfield Road, Shelburne Falls, MA
🗓 Saturday, June 20, 2026
⏰ 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

We hope to see you there!

06/16/2026

Join Deerfield River Trout Unlimited for the 2026 Fly Casting Rendezvous on Saturday, June 20th from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at Mohawk Trail Regional High School athletic fields in Shelburne Falls.

This free event is open to the public and Trout Unlimited members alike. Instruction will be led by certified fly casting instructor Jim Dowd, with a focus on helping anglers improve their cast, learn specialty trout casts, and build confidence on the water.

Part I will focus on fly casting instruction, including specialty trout casts. Part II will feature five-weight fly casting games, with good-natured heckling encouraged.

Please bring a hat and glasses or sunglasses for safety, along with your favorite trout fly rod, floating fly line, leader, and a yarn fly.

📍 Mohawk Trail Regional High School
26 Ashfield Road, Shelburne Falls, MA
🗓 Saturday, June 20, 2026
⏰ 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

We hope to see you there!