#MiddleburyCT #SpringFishing Day
Image by James Hills from Pixabay
(HARTFORD) – The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) invites all residents and their families to celebrate Spring Fishing Day this Saturday, April 8, by getting out and going fishing, or by helping DEEP stock selected trout parks around the state.
April 8 is the start of “catch and keep” for trout. While trout fishing is open year-round per Public Act 21-12, it is catch and release only statewide from March 1 until 6 a.m. on Saturday, April 8 (except for Trout Management Lakes). Starting then, anglers are allowed to keep their catch, though the number and size of fish you can keep beginning April 8 may vary by waterbody.
DEEP has been stocking the state’s rivers, streams, lakes and ponds since January of this year. Over 500,000 trout are planned to be released this spring into over 100 lakes and ponds and 135 rivers and streams. DEEP’s spring trout stocking will continue through mid-to-late May.
To celebrate all the fishing opportunities a new spring brings, the Fisheries Division plans to conduct several stocking events throughout the state on Saturday, April 8. Thirteen of these will be at waters designated as “Trout Parks.” See the list of locations and times below.
“Our Fisheries Team works very hard year-round to provide the best recreational fishery around for Connecticut anglers of all ages,” DEEP Commissioner Katie Dykes said. “We hope you and your family get outside this weekend to celebrate the start of spring and catch and keep season for trout by going fishing or by helping us stock fish at various locations around the state.”
Among the best places for families to fish are the 13 designated Trout Park ponds or the 15 Community Fishing Waters (CFWs). The CFWs are scattered throughout the state in cities and large towns and are managed to provide fishing opportunities in or close to urban areas.
“Trout Parks and Community Fishing Waters are easily accessible, have picnic areas and other amenities nearby, and are stocked frequently so that there are plenty of trout for children, families, and novice anglers to catch,” said Pete Aarrestad, Director of DEEP’s Fisheries Division. “And as an added feature, families and young anglers will be able to help stock trout at thirteen of the Trout Parks on Saturday, April 8. We have found that these stocking events are a real highlight for many families. Please come help us stock trout.”
The following is a list of the designated Trout Parks in Connecticut being stocked to celebrate the start of Catch and Keep Trout Fishing on April 8, 2023. The approximate stocking times are listed.
Black Rock State Park (Watertown) – 10 a.m.
Chatfield Hollow State Park (Killingworth) – 10 a.m.
Day Pond (Colchester) – 8:a.m.
Great Hollow Pond (Monroe) – 10 a.m.
Kent Falls State Park (Kent) – 8:30 a.m.
McGovern Pond (West Hartford) – 8:00 a.m.
Mohegan Park Pond (Norwich) – 8 a.m.
Pasture Pond (Plainfield) – 8 a.m.
Southford Falls State Park (Oxford) – 8 a.m.
Stratton Brook State Park (Simsbury) – 8 a.m.
Valley Falls Pond (Vernon) – 8 a.m.
Wharton Brook State Park (Wallingford) – 10:15 a.m.
Wolfe Park – Great Hollow Pond (Monroe) – 10 a.m.
About Catch and Keep Trout Season:
Trout fishing is open year-round per Public Act 21-12, however, anglers are reminded that trout fishing is catch and release only statewide from March 1 until 6 a.m. on April 8, except for Trout Management Lakes (TML) where harvest of 1 trout is allowed (check each lake for specific size limits) or in Tidal Waters and Tributaries where the daily limit is 2 trout 15-inch minimum length.
Starting at 6 a.m. on April 8, anglers are allowed to keep their catch. The number and size of fish you can keep beginning April 8 may vary by waterbody as many trout fishing areas have special regulations, including Trout Parks, Trout Management Areas, Trophy Trout Streams, Trout Management Areas, Sea-Run Trout Streams, and Wild Trout Management Areas. Fishing regulations are available on the DEEP webpage, portal.ct.gov/DEEP/Fishing/CT-Fishing, as well as within the free download of the world’s largest fishing app, FishBrain, fishbrain.com/countries/us-united-states/regions/CT-connecticut.
Cold Water Safety:
Although Connecticut has experienced a mild winter and air temperatures continue to warm, water temperatures remain dangerously cold, and boaters are reminded to wear a personal flotation device (PFD). Whether fishing from a kayak, canoe, rowboat, or outboard, a PFD can save your life should you capsize. More information available here.
Trout Stocking Information:
Anglers can find more information on trout stocking online including an interactive trout stocking map (www.ct.gov/deep/troutstockingmaps). This mobile friendly application provides the number of days since the last stocking at each of our stocked waters, enabling anglers to search for their favorite waterbody, find a new favorite, or look for those that have been stocked most recently.
Trout Stamp Information:
Trout anglers ages 16 and older are reminded that they may need to purchase a Trout & Salmon Stamp. This stamp is required to fish in any designated Trout Management Area, Wild Trout Management Area, Trout Park, or Atlantic Salmon Broodstock Area and for anglers harvesting trout or salmon anywhere throughout the state. There are several exemptions from the requirements for a Trout & Salmon Stamp. Holders of lifetime fishing licenses issued to persons that are blind, have an intellectual disability, or have certain physical disabilities are exempt from the requirement. Additionally, those fishing waters that are not stocked by the state but have been stocked by another entity such as a fish and game club or by a town or organization for a local fishing derby, do not need the stamp. The fees for the Trout & Salmon Stamp are $5 for resident anglers who are 18 and older, $3 for CT residents ages 16 or 17, and $5 for nonresident anglers aged 16 and older. Information on the stamp can be found in the 2023 Connecticut fishing guide and online at www.ct.gov/deep/fishing.
Anglers should consult the 2023 Digital Connecticut Fishing Guide for detailed information on specific locations and angling regulations. The guide is now available online at www.ct.gov/deep/fishingguide. Fishing and fisheries related information can be found on the DEEP web site at www.ct.gov/deep/fishing.
DEEP Fisheries and Wildlife information can also be found directly on Facebook at www.facebook.com/CTFishandWildlife. This page features a variety of information on fishing, hunting, and wildlife watching in Connecticut. Anglers can find updates on DEEP’s trout stockings on both the Fisheries and Wildlife Facebook page and on the DEEP website. Maps of the state’s trout streams and rivers showing the many stocking and access points can be found at www.ct.gov/deep/troutstockingmaps.
You can purchase your 2023 fishing licenses and Trout & Salmon Stamps directly online through our mobile friendly site. You can also obtain them at one of the many participating town halls, tackle retailers and DEEP offices. Remember that fishing, hunting and trapping licenses for 16- and 17-year-olds are reduced from the adult rate (most hunting and fishing permits, stamps and tags are also reduced for 16 and 17 year olds). For a complete list of fishing license vendors, visit the DEEP website (www.ct.gov/deep/fishing) or call DEEP Licensing and Revenue (860-424-3105).
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