04-02-2008, 08:20 AM
DEP 2008 Preseason Trout Stocking Well Underway
Trout fishing season opens on Saturday, April 19th
Preseason angling opportunities available at the
State’s Trout Management Areas
FIND YOUR RODS, DUST OFF YOUR LURES, CHECK YOUR WADERS, AND GET READY FOR OPENING DAY OF TROUT FISHING SEASON! The Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) is also gearing up for the 2008 season. DEP’s Inland Fisheries Division began its annual spring trout stocking on March 4th, and expects to have over 400,000 trout stocked throughout the state by Opening Day on April 19, 2008.
"Opening Day is an excellent opportunity for families to get outside and experience a day of trout fishing," said Gina McCarthy, Commissioner of the DEP. "Fishing in our state’s beautiful streams and lakes is something we’re encouraging people to do more of as part of our No Child Left Inside campaign. All of Connecticut’s residents should get ready to go trout fishing on April 19."
Anglers can enjoy a variety of trout fishing experiences in Connecticut, ranging from the local stream to specially managed areas such as Trout Parks (frequently stocked and ideal for families), Trophy Trout Streams (stocked with more large fish), and Trout Management Areas (catch-and-release fishing). "Connecticut’s anglers can look forward to exceptional trout fishing this spring," said Commissioner McCarthy. "Thanks to the hard work of the staff at our hatcheries, our fish made it through the winter in excellent condition and are now more than ready to battle Opening Day anglers."
As part of its "No Child Left Inside" initiative, DEP has also initiated a pilot Urban Fishing program to enhance fishing opportunities at attractive, easily accessed locations in Connecticut’s major population centers. All four of the ponds designated as Urban Fishing areas, Keney Park Pond (Hartford), Lake Wintergreen (Hamden), Bunnells Pond (Bridgeport) and Mohegan Park Pond (Norwich) will be stocked this spring prior to Opening Day.
Over 200 truckloads of trout will be distributed throughout the state in preparation for Opening Day. These trout will be released into 101 lakes and ponds and 201 rivers and streams throughout Connecticut. The following species & sizes will be stocked for Opening Day:
62,250
brook trout
(10-11 inch)
214,300
brown trout
(10-11 inch)
7,900
brown trout
(12 inch)
8,000
tiger trout
(10-12 inch brook/brown hybrid)
89,000
rainbow trout
(10-12 inch)
18,650
rainbow trout
(12-14 inch)
1,680
surplus broodstock
(3-10 pound trout)
An additional 1,100 broodstock Seeforellen strain brown trout ranging in size from 1 to 15 pounds were stocked into 15 lakes and ponds in late December, 2007. The broodstock were released into Amos Lake, Bashan Lake, Black Pond (Middlefield/Meriden), Black Pond (Woodstock), Cedar Lake (Chester), Coventry Lake, Crystal Lake, Long Pond, Mashapaug Lake, Mohawk Pond, Mt. Tom Pond, Stillwater Pond, Tyler Lake, West Hill Pond and West Side Pond.
Trout anglers looking for an early start to the fishing season can visit one of the state’s sixteen Trout Management Areas (TMA). All these popular areas are open for pre-season catch-and-release fishing. The TMA’s on the Mill River (Fairfield), Saugatuck River, Pequabuck River (including Coppermine Brook), Hammonasset River, Hockanum River, Mill River (Hamden), Naugatuck River, Farmington River, Mianus River, Willimantic River, Moosup River, Yantic River, and Salmon River have already been stocked. Additional TMA’s are located on the West Branch-Farmington River and Housatonic River (Bulls Bridge and Housatonic River TMA’s). Class I Wild Trout Management Areas (WTMA) are also open year-round for catch-and-release fishing, and are located on Deep Brook, Eightmile River, Hawleys Brook, Beaver Brook/Merrick Brook, Macedonia Brook, Mill River (in Easton), Quinnipiac River, Tankerhoosen River, and Wachocastinook (Riga) Brook. Additionally, downstream portions of five of the designated Sea-run Trout Streams (Eightmile River, Farm River, Hammonasset River, Latimer Brook, Whitford Brook) are open year-round with a two trout per day creel limit and a fifteen-inch minimum length.
Anglers should consult their 2008 CT Angler’s Guide for detailed information on specific locations and angling regulations. Angler’s Guides are available at all Town Clerks Offices and at tackle shops and other vendors that sell fishing licenses. Also, new for 2008, anglers can now purchase their fishing licenses online. Both the Angler’s Guide and the online licensing system can be accessed on the DEP web site at: [url "http://www.ct.gov/dep/fishing"][#006600]www.ct.gov/dep/fishing[/#006600][/url]
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Trout fishing season opens on Saturday, April 19th
Preseason angling opportunities available at the
State’s Trout Management Areas
FIND YOUR RODS, DUST OFF YOUR LURES, CHECK YOUR WADERS, AND GET READY FOR OPENING DAY OF TROUT FISHING SEASON! The Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) is also gearing up for the 2008 season. DEP’s Inland Fisheries Division began its annual spring trout stocking on March 4th, and expects to have over 400,000 trout stocked throughout the state by Opening Day on April 19, 2008.
"Opening Day is an excellent opportunity for families to get outside and experience a day of trout fishing," said Gina McCarthy, Commissioner of the DEP. "Fishing in our state’s beautiful streams and lakes is something we’re encouraging people to do more of as part of our No Child Left Inside campaign. All of Connecticut’s residents should get ready to go trout fishing on April 19."
Anglers can enjoy a variety of trout fishing experiences in Connecticut, ranging from the local stream to specially managed areas such as Trout Parks (frequently stocked and ideal for families), Trophy Trout Streams (stocked with more large fish), and Trout Management Areas (catch-and-release fishing). "Connecticut’s anglers can look forward to exceptional trout fishing this spring," said Commissioner McCarthy. "Thanks to the hard work of the staff at our hatcheries, our fish made it through the winter in excellent condition and are now more than ready to battle Opening Day anglers."
As part of its "No Child Left Inside" initiative, DEP has also initiated a pilot Urban Fishing program to enhance fishing opportunities at attractive, easily accessed locations in Connecticut’s major population centers. All four of the ponds designated as Urban Fishing areas, Keney Park Pond (Hartford), Lake Wintergreen (Hamden), Bunnells Pond (Bridgeport) and Mohegan Park Pond (Norwich) will be stocked this spring prior to Opening Day.
Over 200 truckloads of trout will be distributed throughout the state in preparation for Opening Day. These trout will be released into 101 lakes and ponds and 201 rivers and streams throughout Connecticut. The following species & sizes will be stocked for Opening Day:
62,250
brook trout
(10-11 inch)
214,300
brown trout
(10-11 inch)
7,900
brown trout
(12 inch)
8,000
tiger trout
(10-12 inch brook/brown hybrid)
89,000
rainbow trout
(10-12 inch)
18,650
rainbow trout
(12-14 inch)
1,680
surplus broodstock
(3-10 pound trout)
An additional 1,100 broodstock Seeforellen strain brown trout ranging in size from 1 to 15 pounds were stocked into 15 lakes and ponds in late December, 2007. The broodstock were released into Amos Lake, Bashan Lake, Black Pond (Middlefield/Meriden), Black Pond (Woodstock), Cedar Lake (Chester), Coventry Lake, Crystal Lake, Long Pond, Mashapaug Lake, Mohawk Pond, Mt. Tom Pond, Stillwater Pond, Tyler Lake, West Hill Pond and West Side Pond.
Trout anglers looking for an early start to the fishing season can visit one of the state’s sixteen Trout Management Areas (TMA). All these popular areas are open for pre-season catch-and-release fishing. The TMA’s on the Mill River (Fairfield), Saugatuck River, Pequabuck River (including Coppermine Brook), Hammonasset River, Hockanum River, Mill River (Hamden), Naugatuck River, Farmington River, Mianus River, Willimantic River, Moosup River, Yantic River, and Salmon River have already been stocked. Additional TMA’s are located on the West Branch-Farmington River and Housatonic River (Bulls Bridge and Housatonic River TMA’s). Class I Wild Trout Management Areas (WTMA) are also open year-round for catch-and-release fishing, and are located on Deep Brook, Eightmile River, Hawleys Brook, Beaver Brook/Merrick Brook, Macedonia Brook, Mill River (in Easton), Quinnipiac River, Tankerhoosen River, and Wachocastinook (Riga) Brook. Additionally, downstream portions of five of the designated Sea-run Trout Streams (Eightmile River, Farm River, Hammonasset River, Latimer Brook, Whitford Brook) are open year-round with a two trout per day creel limit and a fifteen-inch minimum length.
Anglers should consult their 2008 CT Angler’s Guide for detailed information on specific locations and angling regulations. Angler’s Guides are available at all Town Clerks Offices and at tackle shops and other vendors that sell fishing licenses. Also, new for 2008, anglers can now purchase their fishing licenses online. Both the Angler’s Guide and the online licensing system can be accessed on the DEP web site at: [url "http://www.ct.gov/dep/fishing"][#006600]www.ct.gov/dep/fishing[/#006600][/url]
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[signature]