Fishing Opening Day is Saturday, April 8!
No matter which species you’re angling for, fishing season opening day is Saturday, April 8, 2017!
The Connecticut DEEP has been in the process of stocking more than 530,000 catchable size trout (average size of 12 inches) into Connecticut’s lakes, ponds, rivers, and streams this spring (before opening day and until mid-May).
If you’re looking to land a trout on opening day the best places for families are designated State Trout Parks.
The state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection created a network of 11 trout parks on rivers and ponds throughout the state where fish are abundant for anglers. These fishing access points are set up like parks for a family-friendly fishing spot. Anglers can easily approach the river or pond without hacking their way through the woods. Shoreline access is safe, and cleared of obstructions. The Trout parks usually have bathroom facilities nearby, and picnic tables.
There are 11 Trout Parks in the state:
- Black Rock State Park, Watertown
- Chatfield Hollow State Park, Killingworth
- Southford Falls State Park, Oxford
- Stratton Brook State Park, Simsbury
- Wharton Brook State Park, Wallingford
- Wolfe Park, Monroe
- Day Pond, Colchester
- Kent Falls State Park, Kent
- Natchaug River, Eastford
- Spaulding Pond, Norwich
- Valley Falls Pond, Vernon
Connecticut fishing licenses are free for state residents age 65 and up, and licenses are also free for disabled state residents.
A Youth Fishing Passport is a free printable certificate available through the DEEP Online Sportsmen Licensing System or by phone (860-424-3474) to any person who is under the age of 16. For more information, please visit the Youth Fishing Passport page.
To obtain your fishing license, or for more information, please click here.
I hope this information is helpful.
