More urban ponds stocked with trout this year

“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.”

The DEP is placing a stronger focus on urban fishing by stocking even more ponds in urban areas to ensure that everyone in the state has easy access to attractive fishing spots. The most recent additions to DEP’s new urban fishing program are Keney Park Pond in Hartford and Lake Wintergreen in Hamden. Bunnells Pond (Bridgeport), which was stocked for the first time last year, and Mohegan Park Pond (Norwich), which has been stocked for a number of years, will both again be stocked prior to opening Day.

The late arrival of winter and numerous recent storms did disrupt DEP’s 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 199 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 199 rivers and streams throughout Connecticut. The following species & sizes will be stocked this preseason:

69,000 brook trout (10-11 inch)
205,800 brown trout (10-11 inch)
5,600 brown trout (12 inch)
1,400 tiger trout (10-12 inch brook/brown hybrid)
95,900 rainbow trout (10-12 inch)
20,000 rainbow trout (12-14 inch)
1,750 surplus broodstock (3-10 pound trout)

An additional 400 broodstock Seeforellen strain brown trout ranging in size from 2 to 8 pounds were stocked into 12 lakes and ponds in early January. The broodstock were released into Beach Pond, Black Pond (Middlefield/Meriden), Crystal Lake, Mashapaug Lake, Quonnipaug Lake, Cedar Lake (Chester), West Hill Pond, Mt. Tom Pond, Mohawk Pond, Stillwater Pond, West Side Pond and Tyler Lake. (Norwich Bulletin)