Proposed Changes to Inland Fishing Regulations for 2025
The Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection, pursuant to Sections 4-168(a) and 22a-6 of the General Statutes of Connecticut, hereby gives notice of her intention to amend sections 26-112-43, 26-112-45, 26-112-46, and 26-112-48 of the Regulations of Connecticut State Agencies. These regulations will be adopted under authority of Sections 26-48a and 26-112 of the General Statutes.The following information, documents, and links are provided to assist in public review of the proposed changes to the regulations for sport fishing within the inland district.
All of the details related to these proposed changes can be found online via the eRegulations system.
View a simple summary of the proposed changes
Watch the Public Hearing (Passcode: L*BDLSe3) held on May 8, 2024 at 7 pm.
How to submit formal written comment:
The Fisheries Division encourages all to submit formal written comment either for or against the proposed regulations via one of three ways. Based on public comment, the proposed regulations may be adjusted to meet the objective of the proposal.
The deadline for submitting formal comment is no later than 11:59 PM on May 31, 2024.
1. Directly through the online eRegulations system (https://eregulations.ct.gov/eRegsPortal/) on the Secretary of State’s website. Go to “Open for Public comment”, select this regulation and follow instructions for submitting comments.
2. Via email to William.foreman@ct.gov
3. Via hardcopy mail to:
William Foreman
CT DEEP Fisheries Division
79 Elm Street
Hartford, CT 06106
Summary
PROPOSED CHANGES TO THE REGULATIONS FOR SPORTFISHING IN THE INLAND DISTRICT
Changes to take effect January 1, 2025
The proposed 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.
Below is a summary of the proposed changes:
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
All information is available online via the eRegulations system. The tracking number for this package is PR2023-034
Proposed modifications: Please note that text in [brackets] is proposed to be removed while underlined text is proposed addition.
Content last updated in May 2024.