Most of Windham County may have gotten whacked with an epic amount of snow in the March 13-15 storm, but the warm spring sun has whittled away at the snow in the hills and dried out the fields in the valleys.
After a couple of weeks of “gym ball,” the local high school baseball and softball teams are ready to get outside. The grass will be brown and there will be a snowbank or two still lurking, but weather permitting, the baseball, softball, lacrosse, tennis, track & field, and Ultimate disc seasons should begin on time.
• The Brattleboro softball team will get its season going on Thursday, April 6, at 4:30 p.m., when they host Hoosac Valley at Sawyer Field. Bellows Falls will wait a week before they play on Thursday, April 13, at 4:30 p.m., when they host White River Valley. Leland & Gray also plays its opener on April 13; they will be in West Rutland for a 4:30 p.m. game. Twin Valley will begin its season on Thursday, April 27 in North Clarendon with a 4:30 p.m. game against Mill River.
• Bellows Falls kicks off the baseball season on Saturday, April 8, at noon, at Hadley Field against Otter Valley, and then plays host to Brattleboro on April 13, at 4:30 p.m., in the Colonels' season opener. Also on April 13, at 4:30 p.m., Leland & Gray travels to Proctor for its opening game. Twin Valley returns to a varsity schedule this season with its opener set for Tuesday, May 2 at Baker Field in Wilmington against Stratton Mountain School.
• Brattleboro's lacrosse teams will start next week, with the Colonel girls hosting Hartford at Natowich Field on Wednesday, April 12, at 4:30 p.m., while the Colonel boys travel to Manchester on April 13 to face Burr & Burton in a 4 p.m. game.
• Tennis gets started on Monday, April 10, when the Bellows Falls girls host Rutland for a 4 p.m. match at the Hadley Field courts. On April 13, the Brattleboro girls travel to Hartford for a 4 p.m. match. The Brattleboro boys start their season on Tuesday, April 25 in Manchester against Burr & Burton.
• Brattleboro's track & field team has its first meet on April 8 at Mount Anthony in Bennington, while Leland & Gray's squad has its opening meet on Tuesday, April 11 at Burr & Burton in Manchester. Bellows Falls has their first meet on April 12 at Windsor.
• Ultimate disc gets underway on April 13 when Brattleboro hosts Burr & Burton at Natowich Field for a 4:30 p.m. match. On Saturday, April 15, at 11 a.m., Leland & Gray hosts Mill River in Townshend. Bellows Falls won't be fielding a team this season.
Trout season begins April 8
• Vermont's trout fishing season opens Saturday, April 8, and despite lingering snow cover in some areas of the state, the Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department says anglers can still have fun and be successful early in the season if they keep a few strategies in mind.
“Just like any other time of year, anglers fishing early in the spring should adjust their tactics based on conditions,” State Fisheries Biologist Shawn Good said in a news release. “Trout will become more active with warmer water temperatures. If you can find a good location and present your bait or lure without spooking the trout, you'll have a good chance of catching a few fish, and enjoy a nice day outside.”
Good adds that finding a small to medium low-elevation river or stream that is not too murky from spring runoff can be key. Trout are coldblooded and may be slow to bite especially with low water temperatures, so it is important that they can also see your bait, lure or fly.
Larger baits can often be more effective for enticing early-season trout into biting. Spin-anglers should try nightcrawlers, egg imitations, or bright colored spoons and spinners. Fly anglers may find success in the early season by drifting large, more visible flies such as wooly buggers, streamers, or San Juan worms along the bottom in slower pools and runs.
Trout will often hold close to the bottom in the deeper areas of streams during high flow conditions to conserve energy. Choose locations and tactics that allow you to fish using a slow retrieval right along the bottom. Focus on deep holes behind current breaks created by big boulders, downed trees or log-jams where trout may be resting. If possible, approach the hole from downstream as trout will often orient themselves facing the current.
While Vermont offers excellent and diverse fishing opportunities for wild trout, stocking also occurs in many lakes, ponds, streams, and rivers where wild trout populations are low or absent. This generally happens in April and May each year once the ice has melted and following spring runoff. “Early in the season, like on opening weekend, you'll probably have more success if you focus on waters known to hold wild trout,” said Good. “Despite unpredictable weather during early spring, each year anglers report catching impressive trout during opening weekend.”
For more information, check out the 2023 Vermont Fishing Guide and Regulations, which is available free from license agents, or visit vtfishandwildlife.com.
Ski hill celebrates end of season with 'pond skimming' contest
• The folks who run the Brattleboro Ski Hill at Living Memorial Park wanted to get creative with celebrating a tremendous 2022-23 season, so they are hosting their first-ever season-closing pond skim event.
They are inviting skiers and snowboarders to come on Saturday, April 8, to participate and take a shot at skimming across a 25-foot long pond. Be ready to get wet, they said, “unless you have what it takes to ski/snowboard to the other side! Prizes and bragging rights will be available for all participants who can make it across the pond.”
Registration at the Base Station and purchase of a $5 lift ticket is required, but the contest is free to all. Registration begins at 1 p.m., with skimming beginning at 2 p.m. If under 18, you'll need a parent/guardian to sign a release form. Bring a dry change of clothes and towel. Free hot chocolate will be available at the Ski Hill's warming hut, and everyone gets a Brattleboro Ski Hill sticker.
Recreation & Parks news
• The ice may be gone from Whitington Rink, but the skating continues. The Brattleboro Recreation & Parks Department will be hosting Friday Night Roller Skating every Friday night at the rink from April 7 through May 19. Join them, from 6 to 9 p.m., for a night full of roller skating and roller blading. Helmets and pads are recommended. You can bring your own roller skates or roller blades. Roller skates are available for rent for $5, except on April 7.
Daily fees are $3 for Brattleboro resident students, $4 for Brattleboro resident adults, $4 for non-resident students, and $5 for non-resident adults. The snack bar will be open and various snacks will be available for purchase. No outside food or drinks allowed.
• If you don't know how to roller skate, or your skills are a little rusty, the Rec. Dept. and Ruth Shafer will offer lessons to both adults and youth prior to public roller skating time at Withington Rink, starting on April 14.
Youth lessons for those 5-15 years old and will take place from 5:30 to 6 p.m. (maximum of 8 kids), while adult lessons for those 16 and older and will take place from 6 to 6:30 p.m. (maximum of 10 adults). The fee for lessons is $35 for Brattleboro residents and $50 for non-residents is $50.
This is a beginner's program that will teach you the basics of how to safely stand, stop, and start, then work up to confident forward and backwards skating. Shafer is a local artist who grew up ice skating at the Brattleboro rink. She taught herself to roller skate during the pandemic and loves convincing people to try it out. Participants should bring their own roller skates/roller blades. Helmets are required for all. Pads are recommended.
• The Rec. Dept. will again offer a track & field program this summer from June 20 to July 20. The program takes place on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday evenings from 6 to 7 p.m. at the Brattleboro Union High School track area at Natowich Field.
This program is for youth aged 6-14. The fee is $35 for Brattleboro residents and $50 for non-residents. Participants will take part in various races and events from individual to small groups.
At the end of the season, participants have the option to participate in the Vermont Recreation & Parks Association track & field meet on July 22 in St. Johnsbury. Athletes aged 7-15 on Dec. 31, 2023 are eligible to participate in this year's meet. If the athlete was a freshman in high school during the current 2022-23 school year, they are not allowed to compete.
• The Vermont Voltage Soccer Academy returns to Brattleboro with two weeks of Voltage Soccer Camp for those 8 to 14 years old. This camp will be held at the West River Park Field on Route 30.Session one runs from July 10-14 from 9 a.m. to noon, and session two takes place July 31-Aug. 4 from 9 a.m. to noon.
The fee is $175 for Brattleboro residents and $190 for non-residents. Discounts are available if desired for multiple kids/weeks of Voltage Camp. If you would like the discounted price, call 802-254-5808 for more information. The discounts are not available for online registrations.
The camp offers an opportunity to learn and enjoy many aspects of the game of soccer in a fun yet competitive environment. Fundamentals, as well as sophisticated techniques of soccer, will be taught with an emphasis on the development, improvement, and refinement of basic playing skills. Everyone needs to bring shin guards, a water bottle and snack, cleats/sneakers, sunscreen, and bug spray.
• Anyone interested in any of these programs can register online at register1.vermontsystems.com/wbwsc/vtbrattleboro.wsc/splash.html, or call the Rec. Dept.'s Gibson-Aiken Center office at 802-254-5808 for more information.
Senior bowling roundup
• In Week 11 of the winter/spring season of the Brattleboro Senior Bowling League at Brattleboro Bowl on March 30, The Markers (37.5-17.5) remained in first place. Fab Four (35-20) had a 5-0 week to move into second place ahead of Slo Movers (35.5-20.5), followed by Split Happens (25-30), The A-1's (24-31), The Strikers (22-33), Trash-O-Matic (21-34) and 10 Pins (21-34).
Debbie Kolpa had the women's high handicap game (233), while Roberta Parsons had the high handicap series (643). Robert Rigby again had the men's high handicap game (243), while Chuck Adams had the high handicap series (654). 10 Pins had the high team handicap game (880), while Spilt Happens had the high handicap series (2,487).
In scratch scoring, Chuck Adams led the men with a 654 series that featured games of 243, 212, and 199, while Rigby had a 622 series that featured games of 243 and 219. Warren Corriveau Sr. had a 594 series with games of 223 and 191, Marty Adams had a 544 series with a 207 game, and Gary Montgomery had a 519 series with a 194 game.
Carol Gloski had the women's high scratch game (169), while Shirley Aiken had the high scratch series (462). She also had a 162 game, while Kolpa rolled a 166.