The Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has the state’s rivers, streams, lakes and ponds stocked and ready for the Opening Day of the Fishing Season on Saturday, April 19th. Approximately 420,000 trout have already been released as part of the DEP’s trout stocking effort that began in early March and will continue through the end of May. A total of 720,000 trout are scheduled to be stocked this spring into 86 lakes and ponds and 200 rivers and streams throughout Connecticut.

“We expect trout fishing on Opening Day to be excellent throughout Connecticut,” said DEP Commissioner Arthur J. Rocque, Jr. “All of our trout waters have been stocked and the special management areas that were created last year provide anglers with many options for picking an Opening Day spot.”

Among the best places to fish on Opening Day are the designated Trout Parks and Trophy Trout Streams. These areas were created last year to improve fishing opportunities for novice anglers, families and for those who are looking for opportunities to catch large fish. All eleven of the Trout Parks have been stocked and six of them will be stocked again by the DEP on Opening Day. The areas that are scheduled to be stocked on April 19 include Black Rock Pond (Watertown), Chatfield Hollow State Park (Killingworth), Southford Falls State Park (Oxford), Stratton Brook State Park (Simsbury), Wharton Brook State Park (Wallingford), and Wolfe Park (Monroe).

“The Trout Parks have been a great success, creating opportunities for anglers of levels of sophistication to experience the joy of fishing, especially our younger anglers,” said Edward C. Parker, Chief of the DEP’s Bureau of Natural Resources. “These areas are stocked more frequently so that children, families, and novice anglers can be certain that there are trout to be caught.” The Trophy Trout Streams have been stocked with some larger size fish mixed in to add to the angler’s excitement. In addition to the standard size 9-12” trout that are stocked by the DEP, the eight Trophy Trout Areas have been stocked with approximately 18,000 larger size trout (12-15”) and an ample portion of the 1,500 broodstock trout (up to 10 pounds each) that are being stocked prior to Opening Day. Anglers are reminded that there is a two trout per day limit in place on all Trout Parks and Trophy Trout Streams and that the minimum length for trout in the Farmington River upstream of Route 177 in Unionville is now 11 inches.

The following is a list of the Trout Parks and Trophy Trout Streams in Connecticut.

Anglers are reminded to consult their 2003 Angler’s Guide for fishing regulations that apply to the waters they choose to fish. In addition to Trout Parks and Trophy Trout Streams, many waters are designated as special Trout Management Areas, Sea-Run Trout Streams and as Wild Trout Management Areas, with each having their own special regulations. The 2003 Angler’s Guide is available at all Town Clerks Offices and at tackle stores selling fishing licenses.