Thursday, April 14, 2005

400,000 'biggest, Best' Await Anglers, "The Day" New London

In preparation for opening day of fishing season on Saturday, the state Department of Environmental Protection has been stocking lakes, ponds, rivers and streams with more than 400,000 hatchery trout. Also, the DEP is inviting families and novice anglers to visit 19 sites designated as special Trout Parks and Trophy Trout Streams. “These are the biggest and best trout we've ever produced,” said Bill Hyatt, director of inland fisheries for the DEP. The improvements, he said, are due to changes in the food given the hatchery trout, reductions in the number of fish kept in hatchery ponds, and cool summers over the past two years that were conducive to the growth of the fish.

In Eastern Connecticut, Trout Parks are at Horse Pond in Salem and the Natchaug River in Eastford. The Trophy Trout Streams are in the Salmon River, from Colchester to Haddam, and in the Shetucket River, from Windham to Norwich. “These areas are stocked more frequently so that children, families and novice anglers can be certain that there are trout to be caught,” said Edward C. Parker, chief of the bureau of Natural Resources. “The Trophy Trout Streams have been stocked with some larger size fish mixed in to add to the angler's excitement. Our standard 9-to-12-inch trout are again much larger and are averaging around 12 inches this year.” There is a two-trout-per-day limit at Trout Parks and Trophy Trout Streams. In most other areas, the limit is five per day.

Since 2002, the DEP has created sea-run trout streams for larger brown trout that have migrated to Long Island Sound and returned to freshwater. Also, Wild Trout Management areas are alternatives for anglers to catching hatchery-raised fish. Catch-and-release rules apply to wild trout.

On the morning of opening day, DEP fisheries staff will be available to answer questions from the public at these state parks: Stratton Brook in Simsbury; Southford Falls in Oxford; Chatfield Hollow in Killingworth; Wolfe Park in Monroe; Black Rock in Watertown. Residents between 18 and 65 years old must purchase a license to fish. Licenses are $20 for one year. Senior citizens and those younger than 18 are not required to have a license. Bill Hyatt, director of inland fisheries, estimated that about 155,000 fishing licenses will be issued this year. Along with the license, fishermen receive a copy of the Connecticut Anglers Guide, which lists fishing regulations and places to fish around the state. The guide can be accessed on the DEP's Web site at: http://www.dep.state.ct.us/burnatr/fishing/fishinfo/angler.htm. By JUDY BENSON 4/14/2005