03-25-2005, 12:18 AM
[Link to CT DEP Home]
March 24, 2005
DEP 2005 Preseason Trout Stocking Well Underway
Trout fishing season opens on Saturday, April 16
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 2005 season. DEP?s Inland Fisheries Division began its annual spring trout stocking on February 28th, and expects to have 415,000 trout stocked throughout the state by Opening Day on April 16, 2005.
[Photograph of trout stocking]
Anglers can enjoy a variety of trout fishing experiences in Connecticut, ranging from the popular Trout Parks, Trophy Trout Streams, Trout Management Areas and Trophy Trout Lakes to the local freshly stocked stream. They can also expect large fish in excellent condition to be awaiting them again this year.
"Connecticut?s anglers can look forward to an exceptional crop of trout this spring, especially brown trout and rainbow trout," said Gina McCarthy, Commissioner of the DEP. "Trout growth rates at DEP?s hatcheries were excellent during 2004 due to mild summer temperatures. Thanks to the hard work of the staff at our hatcheries, these fish made it through the extended winter in excellent condition and are now more than ready to battle Opening Day anglers."
The prolonged winter and numerous recent storms disrupted DEP?s early March stocking schedule. Several days of stocking had to be postponed, and a number of other scheduled stocking runs were shifted to sites with easier winter access. However, DEP expects to complete all planned stockings by Opening Day.
A total of 198 truckloads of trout should be distributed throughout the state before Opening Day. These trout will be released into 97 lakes and ponds and 200 rivers and streams throughout Connecticut. The following species & sizes will be stocked this preseason:
68,200
brook trout
(10-11 inch)
200,300
brown trout
(10-12 inch)
15,100
brown trout
(12 inch)
9,600
tiger trout
(10-12 inch brook/brown hybrid)
103,100
rainbow trout
(10-12 inch)
17,100
rainbow trout
(12-14 inch plus some greater than 14 inch)
1,750
surplus broodstock
(3-10 pound trout)
An additional 450 broodstock Seeforellen strain brown trout ranging in size from 3 to 8 pounds and 14,000 catchable size rainbow trout were stocked into 14 lakes and ponds in early January. The broodstock were released into Beach Pond, Black Pond (Middlefield/Meriden), Crystal Lake, Mashapaug Lake, Quonnipaug Lake, West Hill Pond, Mt. Tom Pond. Mohawk Pond, Stillwater Pond and Tyler Lake. The rainbow trout were stocked into Amos Lake, Coventry Lake, Beach Pond, Crystal Lake, (Ellington), Bigelow Pond, Gardner Lake, Black Pond (Middlefield/Meriden) and Mashapaug Lake.
DEP is also pleased to announce that trout stocking will resume at Higganum Reservoir and Starret?s Pond (in Huntington State Park) this spring. DEP also plans to stock a new area, Valley Falls Pond in Vernon, prior to Opening Day.
Trout anglers looking for an early start can visit one of the state?s fifteen Trout Management Areas (TMA). All these popular areas are open for pre-season catch-and-release fishing. The TMA?s on the Mianus River, Mill River (Fairfield), Saugatuck River, Hammonasset River, Willimantic River, Moosup River and Salmon River have already been stocked this month and several more TMA?s will be stocked in the next few weeks. Additional TMA?s are located on the Pequabuck River, Farmington River, West Branch-Farmington River, Hockanum River, Housatonic River (Bulls Bridge and Housatonic River TMAs) and the Yantic River. 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, Mill River (in Easton), Quinnipiac River, Tankerhoosen River and Wachocastinook (Riga) Brook.
Anglers should consult their 2005 CT Angler?s Guide for detailed information on specific locations and angling regulations.
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Copyright 1998-2004 Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection
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March 24, 2005
DEP 2005 Preseason Trout Stocking Well Underway
Trout fishing season opens on Saturday, April 16
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 2005 season. DEP?s Inland Fisheries Division began its annual spring trout stocking on February 28th, and expects to have 415,000 trout stocked throughout the state by Opening Day on April 16, 2005.
[Photograph of trout stocking]
Anglers can enjoy a variety of trout fishing experiences in Connecticut, ranging from the popular Trout Parks, Trophy Trout Streams, Trout Management Areas and Trophy Trout Lakes to the local freshly stocked stream. They can also expect large fish in excellent condition to be awaiting them again this year.
"Connecticut?s anglers can look forward to an exceptional crop of trout this spring, especially brown trout and rainbow trout," said Gina McCarthy, Commissioner of the DEP. "Trout growth rates at DEP?s hatcheries were excellent during 2004 due to mild summer temperatures. Thanks to the hard work of the staff at our hatcheries, these fish made it through the extended winter in excellent condition and are now more than ready to battle Opening Day anglers."
The prolonged winter and numerous recent storms disrupted DEP?s early March stocking schedule. Several days of stocking had to be postponed, and a number of other scheduled stocking runs were shifted to sites with easier winter access. However, DEP expects to complete all planned stockings by Opening Day.
A total of 198 truckloads of trout should be distributed throughout the state before Opening Day. These trout will be released into 97 lakes and ponds and 200 rivers and streams throughout Connecticut. The following species & sizes will be stocked this preseason:
68,200
brook trout
(10-11 inch)
200,300
brown trout
(10-12 inch)
15,100
brown trout
(12 inch)
9,600
tiger trout
(10-12 inch brook/brown hybrid)
103,100
rainbow trout
(10-12 inch)
17,100
rainbow trout
(12-14 inch plus some greater than 14 inch)
1,750
surplus broodstock
(3-10 pound trout)
An additional 450 broodstock Seeforellen strain brown trout ranging in size from 3 to 8 pounds and 14,000 catchable size rainbow trout were stocked into 14 lakes and ponds in early January. The broodstock were released into Beach Pond, Black Pond (Middlefield/Meriden), Crystal Lake, Mashapaug Lake, Quonnipaug Lake, West Hill Pond, Mt. Tom Pond. Mohawk Pond, Stillwater Pond and Tyler Lake. The rainbow trout were stocked into Amos Lake, Coventry Lake, Beach Pond, Crystal Lake, (Ellington), Bigelow Pond, Gardner Lake, Black Pond (Middlefield/Meriden) and Mashapaug Lake.
DEP is also pleased to announce that trout stocking will resume at Higganum Reservoir and Starret?s Pond (in Huntington State Park) this spring. DEP also plans to stock a new area, Valley Falls Pond in Vernon, prior to Opening Day.
Trout anglers looking for an early start can visit one of the state?s fifteen Trout Management Areas (TMA). All these popular areas are open for pre-season catch-and-release fishing. The TMA?s on the Mianus River, Mill River (Fairfield), Saugatuck River, Hammonasset River, Willimantic River, Moosup River and Salmon River have already been stocked this month and several more TMA?s will be stocked in the next few weeks. Additional TMA?s are located on the Pequabuck River, Farmington River, West Branch-Farmington River, Hockanum River, Housatonic River (Bulls Bridge and Housatonic River TMAs) and the Yantic River. 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, Mill River (in Easton), Quinnipiac River, Tankerhoosen River and Wachocastinook (Riga) Brook.
Anglers should consult their 2005 CT Angler?s Guide for detailed information on specific locations and angling regulations.
Press Releases | News
Home | Contact Us | Search | Feedback | Website Legal Info
Send comments or questions regarding this site to dep.webmaster@po.state.ct.us
Copyright 1998-2004 Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection
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