Freshwater Fishing Guide

Species Regulations

Statewide Inland Fisheries Species Regulations

As of January 1, 2026, all trout (brook, brown, rainbow, tiger, lake) must be at least 9 inches to keep.

December 27, 2022 - From March 1 until 6:00 a.m. on the second Saturday of April, trout fishing is catch and release only statewide. There are exceptions, so please refer to the river/stream or lake/pond pages for regulations on a specific waterbody.

March 1, 2022 - The passage of Public Act 21-12 by the legislature eliminated the closed season for trout. For more information on Legal Methods and Gear, Length Limits, Creel and Possession Limits, and Species, refer to the "definitions" option on the menu. Note: Regulations for several marine species found in the Inland District are subject to change. Quick Species Look Up (select the species to jump to the statewide regulation)

Jump to a specific species or group:

Alewife/Blueback Herring
American Eel
American Shad and Hickory Shad
Atlantic Salmon
Bass (Largemouth, Smallmouth)
Bowfin, Tench, Suckers, and Lampreys
Bullhead (Brown, Yellow)
Burbot
Catfish (Channel, White)
Common Carp
Chain Pickerel
Kokanee
Northern Pike/Tiger Muskie
Panfish (Sunfish, Yellow Perch, Rock Bass, Calico Bass)
Smelt
Striped Bass
Sturgeon
Trout (Brook, Brown, Rainbow, Tiger, other hybrids)
White Perch
Walleye

Alewife and Blueback Herring

The taking of migratory (anadromous) alewife and blueback herring from all Connecticut waters is prohibited. An emergency closure is in effect. See the Commissioner's declaration for more information.

Exception: Landlocked alewife only may be taken from specific lakes (see Commissioner's declaration for list of lakes). Methods, seasons, and creel limits for these lakes are as follows:

Legal Methods: Angling
Area: Lakes and Ponds
Season: Open year-round
Minimum Length: No minimum length
Daily Creel Limit: 25

Legal Methods: Scoop Net
Area: Lakes and Ponds
Season: April 1 – June 15
Minimum Length: No minimum length
Daily Creel Limit: 25

American Eel

Spearing and bow and arrow use prohibited in streams or stream sections stocked with trout. Spearing prohibited in all lakes and ponds. The taking of elver eel, glass eel, and silver eel is prohibited.

Legal Methods: Angling, Ice Fishing, Bow and Arrow Fishing, and Spearing
Area: All waters
Season: Open year-round
Minimum Length: 9 inches
Daily Creel Limit: 25

American Shad and Hickory Shad

(about shad assessments )

Harvest of American shad allowed only in the Connecticut River system.

Legal Methods: Angling
Area: Connecticut River (including tributaries)
Season: Open year-round
Minimum Length: No minimum length
Daily Creel Limit: 6 in aggregate with Hickory Shad

Atlantic Salmon

(about Atlantic Salmon Management Areas)

Taking of Atlantic Salmon is prohibited. Exception: Naugatuck River, Shetucket River, Housatonic River and lakes/ponds stocked by CT DEEP. (For current season and daily limits, please see the Commissioner's Declaration.)

Area: Lakes and Ponds
Legal Methods: Angling, Ice Fishing
Season: Open year-round
Minimum Length: No minimum length
Daily Creel Limit:
- 1 fish from 6:00 a.m. on the second Saturday of April until the last day of February
- 0 fish from March 1 until 6:00 a.m. on the second Saturday of April (catch and release only)

Area: Naugatuck River, Shetucket River, and Housatonic River
Legal Methods: Angling, Ice Fishing
Season: Open year-round
Minimum Length: No minimum length
Daily Creel Limit:
- 1 fish from December 16 until August 31
- 0 fish from September 1 until December 15 (catch and release only)
Gear: A fly or an artificial lure with a single free-swinging hook. No additional weight may be added to the line. A bobber/float is not considered added weight.

Atlantic salmon management areas. From September first through March thirty-first, angling for all species in the following areas is restricted to those methods specified by the commissioner for the taking of Atlantic salmon in accordance with section 26-112-45(c) of the Regulations of Connecticut State Agencies:

The Upper Naugatuck River Atlantic salmon management area is that portion of the Naugatuck River from Route 118, Harwinton and Litchfield, downstream to Thomaston Dam, Thomaston.
The Lower Naugatuck River Atlantic salmon management area is that portion of the Naugatuck River from Prospect Street, Naugatuck, downstream to Pines Bridge Road, Beacon Falls.
The Shetucket River Atlantic salmon management area is that portion of the Shetucket River from the Scotland Dam, Windham, downstream to the Occum Dam, Norwich and Sprague.

Largemouth Bass and Smallmouth Bass

(about bass management) (about bass tournaments)

Daily creel limit is for both species in aggregate.

Area: Lakes and Ponds and the Connecticut River
Legal Methods: Angling, Ice Fishing
Season: Open year-round
Minimum Length: 12 inches
Daily Creel Limit: 6 fish in aggregate

Area: Rivers and Streams (except for the Housatonic River)
Legal Methods: Angling, Ice Fishing
Season: Open year-round
Minimum Length: No minimum length
Daily Creel Limit: 6 fish in aggregate

Area: Housatonic River from the MA/CT state line downstream to the Bleachery Dam (New Milford)
Legal Methods: Angling
Season: Open year-round
Daily Creel Limit: 0. Catch and Release Only at all times

Bass Management lakes have different regulations that listed here. Please check the Lake and Pond regulation page by waterbody.

Bullheads (brown and yellow)

(about catfish fisheries)

Area: All waters
Legal Methods: Angling, Ice Fishing
Season: Open year-round
Minimum Length: No minimum length
Daily Creel Limit: No daily creel limit

Burbot

The taking of burbot is prohibited.

Catfish (Channel Catfish and White Catfish)

Area: All waters except for those designated as Community Fishing Waters
Legal Methods: Angling, Ice Fishing
Season: Open year-round
Minimum Length: No minimum length
Daily Creel Limit: 6 fish in aggregate

Area: Community Fishing Waters
Legal Methods: Angling, Ice Fishing (where allowed)
Season: Open year-round
Minimum Length: No minimum length
Daily Creel Limit: 3 fish in aggregate

Common Carp

Spearing and bow and arrow use prohibited in streams or stream sections stocked with trout. Spearing prohibited in all lakes and ponds.

Area: All waters
Legal Methods: Angling, Ice Fishing, Bow and Arrow Fishing, Spearing
Season: Open year-round
Minimum Length: No minimum length
Daily Creel Limit: 5, only 1 of the 5 fish may be greater than 30 inches

Trophy Carp Management Areas have different regulations.

Bow and Arrow Bonus: The daily creel limit for common carp taken by bow and arrow fishing shall be twelve (12), not more than three (3) of which may exceed thirty inches in length, in the following areas: West Thompson Lake, the Thames River and its coves, including the Shetucket River downstream from Greenville Dam and the Yantic River downstream of the falls at Indian Leap in Norwich, the Connecticut River and its coves downstream of the Arrigoni Bridge, the Mattabesset River (Sebethe River) downstream of Route 3, including the Cromwell Meadows Wildlife Management Area, the Coginchaug River downstream of Route 3, the Quinnipiac River downstream of Route 40 and the Housatonic River downstream of the Derby Dam.

Bowfin, Tench, Suckers and Lampreys

Spearing and bow and arrow use prohibited in streams or stream sections stocked with trout. Spearing prohibited in all lakes and ponds.

Area: All waters
Legal Methods: Angling, Ice Fishing, Bow and Arrow Fishing, Spearing
Season: Open year-round
Minimum Length: No minimum length
Daily Creel Limit: 5, only 1 of the 5 fish may be greater than 30 inches

Possession of live Bowfin or Tench is prohibited. Bowfin and Tench may be fished for and either immediately released to the water from which taken or dispatched and kept.

Chain Pickerel

Area: Lakes and Ponds
Legal Methods: Angling, Ice Fishing
Season: Open year-round
Minimum Length: 15 inches
Daily Creel Limit: 6

Area: Rivers and Streams
Legal Methods: Angling, Ice Fishing
Season: Open year-round
Minimum Length: No minimum length
Daily Creel Limit: No daily creel limit

Chain Pickerel Management Lakes have different regulations

Kokanee

(about Kokanee fishery)

The Trout and Salmon Stamp may be needed.

Area: Lakes and Ponds
Legal Methods: Angling, Ice Fishing
Season: Open year-round
Minimum Length: No minimum length
Daily Creel Limit:
- 5 fish from 6:00 a.m. on the second Saturday of April until the last day of February
- 0 fish from March 1 until 6:00 a.m. on the second Saturday of April (catch and release only)

Northern Pike and Tiger Muskie

(about Pike Management)

Area: All waters except for Bantam Lake, Little Pond, Connecticut River, and Lake Lillinonah.
Legal Methods: Angling, Ice Fishing
Season: Open year-round
Minimum Length: 26 inches
Daily Creel Limit: 2 fish

Panfish (Calico Bass/Black Crappie, All Sunfish Species, Yellow Perch, Rock Bass)

Area: All waters
Legal Methods: Angling, Ice Fishing
Season: Open year-round
Minimum Length: No minimum length
Daily Creel Limit: No daily creel limit

Smelt

Taking of smelt in rivers and streams is prohibited.

Area: Lakes and Ponds
Legal Methods: Angling, Ice Fishing
Season: Open year-round
Minimum Length: No minimum length
Daily Creel Limit: 50 fish

Striped Bass

Effective May 26, 2023, Connecticut's Striped Bass regulations changed to become a slot of 28 inches to 31 inches. Any striped bass that is less than 28 inches or greater than or equal to 31 inches must be released without avoidable injury. This change was the result of emergency action by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission on May 2, 2023. This action set a maximum size of 31 inches for striped bass coast-wide. As a result, Connecticut's previous slot of 28 inches to 35 inches is now reduced to 28-31 inches.

Area: All waters
Legal Methods: Angling, Ice Fishing
Season: Open year-round
Slot: 28 inches to to 31 inches
Daily Creel Limit: 1 fish

Note: Circle hooks required when using bait.

Sturgeon

The taking of sturgeon is prohibited.

Trout (Brook, Brown, Lake, Rainbow, Tiger and other hybrids)

Lake Trout: Same season and daily limits below. Occasionally the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service donates Lake Trout they no longer need to Connecticut. These fish are stocked into select lakes in order to create an immediate unique fishery. The CT Fisheries Division does not have a program to manage lake trout. Please enjoy when a stocking opportunity arises.

The Trout and Salmon Stamp may be needed.

Many waters have different regulations for trout than are listed here. Please check the regulations for the specific lake/pond or river/stream you are fishing.

Area: Rivers/Streams and Lakes/Ponds
Legal Methods: Angling, Ice Fishing
Season: Open year-round
Minimum Length: 9 inches
Daily Creel Limit:
- 5 fish from 6:00 a.m. on the second Saturday of April until the last day of February
- 0 fish from March 1 until 6:00 a.m. on the second Saturday of April (catch and release only)

White Perch

Area: Rivers/Streams and Lakes/Ponds
Legal Methods: Angling, Ice Fishing
Season: Open year-round
Minimum Length: No minimum length
Daily Creel Limit: No daily creel limit

Area: Connecticut River (including coves and tributaries) and Tidally influenced Rivers and Streams
Legal Methods: Angling, Ice Fishing
Season: Open year-round
Minimum Length: 7 inches
Daily Creel Limit: 30 fish