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 take effect on January 1, 2026.
Summary
CHANGES TO THE REGULATIONS FOR SPORTFISHING IN THE INLAND DISTRICT
Changes take effect January 1, 2026
The amendments to the regulations will amend, establish, or remove definitions; will modify the minimum length for Lake Trout; establish a statewide nine inch (9") minimum length for trout; establish a three catfish daily limit at Wharton Brook Park Pond (Allen Pond); establish a thermal refuge in Highland Lake at the mouth of Taylor Brook; will modify the list of waters classified as trout management lakes, wild trout management areas, trout parks, and sea run trout streams; and will make several minor technical changes, corrections, and updates.
Section 1. Eliminates the existing definition of "bobbing"; establishes definitions and restrictions for “artificial lure” and “catch and release fishing”; and modifies the definitions of bait, daily creel limit, fly, fly fishing, hook, and possession limit.
Section 2. Eliminates "bobbing" as a legal method for some species; Eliminates the twenty inch (20") minimum length for Lake Trout; Establishes a nine inch (9") minimum length for all trout statewide; Establishes a three (3) fish daily limit for catfish in Wharton Brook Park Pond; Establishes a thermal refuge in Highland Lake at the mouth of Taylor Brook; Establishes an exception for the minimum length of Chain Pickerel in newly created Chain Pickerel lakes.
Section 3. Modifies language for Boundary Waters; Establishes "Keach Pond" as the name for Peck Pond; Updates language in Trout Management Areas to take advantage of the new definition for "catch and release fishing"; Removes Crystal Lake (Ellington) from the list of Trout Management Lakes; Reclassifies three (3) wild trout management areas; Establishes nineteen (19) Class 1 wild trout management areas; Establishes three (3) new trout parks; Establishes three (3) Chain Pickerel Management Lakes; Extends Catch and Release for Black Bass from the state line to the Bleachery Dam on the Housatonic River;
Section 4. Establishes catch and release for all species year-round at Plymouth Reservoir.
Additionally, there are several technical changes and updates.
Documents
View a simple summary of the changes
All information is available online via the eRegulations system. The tracking number for this package is PR2023-034
Modifications: Please note that text in [brackets] is proposed to be removed while underlined text is proposed addition.
Watch the Public Hearing (Passcode: L*BDLSe3) held on May 8, 2024 at 7 pm.
Content last updated December 2025