DEEP Begins Fall Atlantic Salmon Stockings

Press Releases

10/10/2023

DEEP Begins Fall Atlantic Salmon Stockings

Crystal Lake and Mount Tom Pond Stocked This Week Followed by the Naugatuck and Shetucket Rivers

(HARTFORD) — Connecticut’s Department of Energy & Environmental Protection (DEEP) today announced that its 2023 autumn stockings of Atlantic salmon have begun. DEEP’s Fisheries Division last week released 250 salmon into Crystal Lake (Ellington/Stafford – 125 fish), Mount Tom Pond (Morris/Litchfield/Washington – 125 fish) and the Shetucket River. In addition to these two lakes and this river, the Naugatuck River is typically stocked with salmon several times throughout the fall and will begin soon.

“Fall fishing is one of the many great ways to get outside in Connecticut, and our staff do an amazing job preparing a world-class recreational fishery for anglers,” said DEEP Commissioner Katie Dykes. “As one of the most sought-after gamefish in the state, Atlantic salmon provides Connecticut residents and visiting tourists excellent outdoor recreational opportunities.”

“Atlantic salmon are renowned for their size, beauty and fighting ability,” said Peter Aarrestad, Director of DEEP’s Fisheries Division. “The Atlantic salmon recreational fishery has become quite popular, and catching one of these large leapers provides a thrilling experience for anglers.”

DEEP expects to stock more than 1,500 Atlantic salmon this fall, which are specifically raised at DEEP’s Kensington State Fish Hatchery for this very popular recreational fishery. Most of these fish range in weight from 2-5 pounds each. Of the remaining fish to be stocked, approximately 275 will range in weight from 10 to 15 pounds each.

The regulations for fishing methods, seasons, and minimum lengths for salmon in the two lakes are the same as for trout in that specific water body but the daily creel limit is one salmon per day. In the rivers, fishing for Atlantic Salmon requires the use of a fly or an artificial lure with a single free-swinging hook. Fishing is catch-and-release until December 15, 2023. Starting on December 16, 2023, anglers may keep one salmon per day.

The specific regulations for salmon fishing can be found on the main DEEP fisheries webpage (https://portal.ct.gov/DEEP/Fishing/CT-Fishing), the DEEP digital fishing guide (https://portal.ct.gov/DEEP/Fishing/Freshwater-Fishing-Guide), printed in the 2023 Connecticut Fishing Guide, which is available at many town clerks, bait and tackle shops, or available electronically (https://portal.ct.gov/-/media/DEEP/fishing/anglers_guide/2023-Fishing-Pocket-Guide.pdf).

Anglers may contact the DEEP’s Fisheries Division (860-424-FISH) should they have any questions about the regulations.

Additional fishing and fisheries related information, including updates on DEEP’s Atlantic salmon stockings and the fall trout stockings can be found in the Fall Stocking Report, on the DEEP Fisheries web page at https://portal.ct.gov/DEEP/Fishing/CT-Fishing, and on the DEEP Fisheries and Wildlife Facebook page at www.facebook.com/CTFishandWildlife.

Atlantic salmon fishing regulations in Connecticut 2023-2024

Crystal Lake

From September 1, 2023, through August 31, 2024, inclusive.

Legal Methods: Angling and Ice Fishing - Fishing with hook and line. May include fishing with bait, flies, or lures.
Minimum Length: Salmon must be greater than or equal to 16 inches to keep.
Daily Creel Limit: 1 Atlantic salmon

Mount Tom Pond

Legal Methods: Angling and Ice Fishing – Fishing with hook and line. May include fishing with bait, flies or lures.
From September 1, 2023, through February 29, 2024, inclusive, the daily creel limit for Atlantic salmon is one. No minimum length requirement.
From March 1, 2024, to 6:00 a.m. on April 13, 2024, inclusive, angling for Atlantic salmon is catch-and-release only.
From 6:00 a.m. on April 13, 2024, through August 31, 2024, inclusive, the daily creel limit for Atlantic salmon is one. No minimum length requirement.

Naugatuck River and Shetucket River

Atlantic salmon stocked in the Shetucket and Naugatuck rivers are typically released into three designated Atlantic Salmon Management Areas:

Between Scotland Dam (Scotland) and Occum Dam (Norwich) on the Shetucket River
The “Campville Section” of the upper Naugatuck River from Route 118 downstream to the Thomaston Flood Control Dam (Litchfield-Thomaston)
The “Beacon Falls Section” of the lower Naugatuck from Prospect Street (Naugatuck) downstream to Pines Bridge Road (Route 42 bridge, Beacon Falls).

Anglers are allowed to fish for salmon in the Naugatuck River from the confluence of the East and West Branches (Torrington) downstream to the Housatonic River (Derby). Anglers may also fish for Atlantic salmon in the Housatonic River downstream of Derby Dam.

On the Shetucket River, anglers can fish for salmon downstream from the Scotland Dam (Windham) to the Water Street Bridge in Norwich (the first bridge upstream of Norwich Harbor).

In the Naugatuck, Housatonic, and Shetucket rivers, angling for Atlantic salmon is restricted to catch-and-release only from September 1 through December 15. From December 16, 2023, through August 31, 2024, the daily creel limit for Atlantic salmon will be one. The legal method for taking Atlantic salmon is limited to angling using a single fly, or an artificial lure with a single free-swinging hook and no additional weight can be added to the line above the fly or lure. Also, from September 1^st through March 31^st, fishing for other species in the designated Atlantic Salmon Mangement Areas is restricted to the gear legal for Atlantic salmon.

Atlantic Salmon Stocking