Preseason trout stocking underway

• The Department of Environmental Protection is also gearing up for the 2007 season. DEP’s Inland Fisheries Division began its annual spring trout stocking on March 1st, and expects to have 400,000 trout stocked throughout the state by Opening Day on April
  21, 2007.
• “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 21.”
• 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.”
• 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.
• Trout anglers looking for an early start to the fishing season can visit one of the state’s sixteen Trout Management Areas (TMA).
  
• Anglers should consult their 2007 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 stores that sell fishing licenses. The Angler’s Guide can also be accessed on the DEP web site at: www.ct.gov/dep (Norwich Bulletin)
  

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