Connecticut Department of Energy & Environmental Protection

Proposed Fishing Regulations

Changes to Inland Fishing Regulations Effective January 1, 2026

These regulations have been adopted under authority of Sections 26-48a and 26-112 of the General Statutes and took effect on January 1, 2026.

Definition changes

  • Established a definition for “Artificial Lure/Lure” and for “Catch and Release Fishing”
  • Modified the definitions for “Bait”, “Fish Hook/Hook”, “Fly”, “Fly Fishing”, “Daily Creel Limit”, and “Possession Limit”
  • Removed the definition of “Bobbing”

Trout regulations

  • 9-inch statewide default minimum length limit for harvest (not applicable to areas subject to catch-and-release-only regulations or a more restrictive harvest length limit)
  • Added three waters to the list of Trout Parks: Mashamoquet Brook, Macedonia Brook, and Kettletown Brook.
  • Special regulations were removed from the following waterbodies, which will now be subject to default statewide regulations:
    • East Branch Naugatuck River (previously Wild Trout Mgt. Area-Class 3)
    • Shunock Brook (previously Wild Trout Mgt Area-Class 3)
    • Eightmile River, East Haddam/Lyme (previously Sea-Run Stream)
    • Whitford Brook (previously Sea-Run Stream)
    • Mianus River-outside of the Trout Mgt. Area (previously Sea-Run Stream)
    • Crystal Lake, Ellington (previously Trout Management Lake)
  • Addition of 22  waters to the list of Class 1 Wild Trout Management Areas (entirety or portions of the following):
    • Beaver Brook, Barkhamsted
    • Belden Brook, Granby
    • Bonemill Brook, Tolland/Ellington
    • Cold Brook and tributaries, Glastonbury
    • Green Falls River, North Stonington
    • Gulf Stream and tributaries, Somers
    • Hall Meadow Brook, Norfolk
    • Thorne Brook and tributaries, Hartland
    • Hurricane Brook, Hartland
    • Indian Hole Brook, Shelton
    • Jericho Brook, Thomaston
    • Lowden Brook, Voluntown
    • Mohawk Pond Outflow, Goshen
    • Morgan Brook, Barkhamsted
    • Pease Brook, Bozrah
    • Railroad Brook, Vernon
    • Sages Ravine Brook, Salisbury
    • Spruce Brook and tributaries, Litchfield
    • Stony Brook, Montville
    • Stratton Brook, Simsbury
    • West Branch Salmon Brook and tributaries, Hartland
    • Willow Brook and tributaries, Hamden/Cheshire
  • Establishment of a protective thermal refuge in Highland Lake at the mouth of Taylor Brook (no fishing allowed July 1 to October 15).

Regulation changes for other species

  • Largemouth and Smallmouth Bass: catch-and-release year-round in the Housatonic River from CT/MA state boundary to the Bleachery Dam in New Milford.
  • Establishment of three Chain Pickerel Management Lakes: Lake Wononskopomuc, East Twin Lake, West Twin Lake. New chain pickerel regulations on these lakes: 22-inch harvest minimum length limit, 1 chain pickerel per day bag limit.
  • Channel Catfish: Daily limit of 3 catfish in Wharton Brook Park Pond (Allen Pond).

Content last updated March 2026