Connecticut Department of Energy & Environmental Protection

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04/06/2026

DEEP Invites You to Celebrate Spring Fishing Day on April 11

Enjoy a Great Day of Fishing and Help DEEP Stock Trout

(HARTFORD) — The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) invites residents and families to participate in Spring Fishing Day on Saturday, April 11. As part of the celebration, DEEP will host public trout stocking events across Connecticut, giving families and young anglers a unique opportunity to work alongside DEEP staff releasing fish into waterbodies statewide.

Each year, the second Saturday in April marks the start of the “catch and keep” trout fishing season in Connecticut. Beginning at 6:00 a.m. on April 11, 2026, anglers may keep the trout they catch, though the number and size of fish that can be kept varies by waterbody. Trout fishing is open year-round in Connecticut, but from March 1 until 6:00 a.m. on April 11, most waters are limited to catch-and-release fishing only (see DEEP’s Online Fishing Guide for complete details).

Between March and May, DEEP plans to release more than 500,000 trout into over 100 lakes and ponds and 135 rivers and streams statewide. Among the best places for families to fish are Connecticut’s 13 Trout Parks, which are family-friendly, easily accessible, and regularly stocked with trout during the spring fishing season, and the State’s 16 Community Fishing Waters (CFWs), which provide accessible fishing opportunities in cities and large towns.

“Connecticut’s investment in our trout hatcheries produces hundreds of thousands of spectacular fish each year, helping position fishing and boating at the top of our outdoor recreation economy,” said DEEP Commissioner Katie Dykes. “Thanks to our dedicated hatchery staff, we’re able to provide exceptional fishing experiences statewide for anglers of all skill levels.”

As part of the Spring Fishing Day celebration, DEEP will host several public trout stocking events across the state. Attendees at the highly popular events get an opportunity to interact with DEEP staff, learn about DEEP’s trout program, and enjoy a hands-on experience releasing trout raised at our state’s hatcheries into their new homes.

“Our ‘Come Stock with DEEP’ events on Spring Fishing Day have become annual traditions for many families,” said Pete Aarrestad, Director of DEEP’s Fisheries Division. “It’s great to see the excitement and enthusiasm from young people who help stock the fish. Our Trout Parks and Community Fishing Waters help ensure equitable access to trout fishing across Connecticut, and we hope to see many families join us at these locations on April 11.”

Public Trout Stocking Events – April 11, 2026

The public is invited to join DEEP staff at the following state and municipal locations to help stock trout. Approximate stocking times are listed below:

Media Availability

DEEP staff will be available for interviews immediately following the stocking events at the following locations:

About Catch and Keep Trout Season: CT Public Act 21-12 opened trout fishing year-round in Connecticut beginning in 2022, but per regulations subsequently enacted by DEEP, all trout caught must be released during the period between March 1 (inclusive) and 6:00 a.m. on April 11, 2026. There are exceptions for Trout Management Lakes (TML) where harvest of one trout is allowed (check each lake for specific size limits via DEEP's Online Fishing Guide) and Sea-Run Trout Streams or “Tidal Waters and Tributaries” where the daily limit is two trout with a 15-inch minimum length. 

Starting at 6:00 a.m. on April 11, 2026, anglers are allowed to keep the trout they catch from most waters, with the exception of year-round catch-and-release sections of Trout Management Areas and Class 1 Wild Trout Management Areas. The numbers and sizes of fish that can be kept varies by waterbody as many trout fishing areas have special regulations, including Trout Parks, Trout Management Areas, Trophy Trout Streams, Sea-Run Trout Streams, and Wild Trout Management Areas. Fishing regulations are available on DEEP's CT Fishing webpage as well as on the world’s largest fishing app FishBrain. 

Cold Water Safety: Boaters are reminded to wear a personal flotation device (PFD). Despite the warm air temperatures we often experience in Connecticut during spring months, water temperatures will remain cold throughout the spring. Whether paddling in a canoe or kayak or fishing from a motorized vessel, a PFD can save your life should you capsize. While DEEP recommends all boaters wear a PFD when on the water, State law requires anyone aboard manually-propelled vessels – both operators and passengers regardless of age – to wear a PFD during the cold-water months between October 1 and May 31. 

Trout Stocking Information: Anglers can find more information on trout stocking online using DEEP’s Interactive Trout Stocking Map. This mobile-friendly application provides the number of days since the last stocking at each of our stocked waters, enabling anglers to search for their favorite waterbody, find a new favorite, or look for those that have been stocked most recently.  

Trout Stamp Information: Trout anglers ages 16 and older are reminded that they may need to purchase a Trout & Salmon Stamp in addition to their fishing license. This stamp is required to fish in any designated Trout Management Area, Wild Trout Management Area, Trout Park, or Atlantic Salmon Broodstock Area and is required for anglers harvesting trout or salmon anywhere throughout the state. 

There are several exceptions to the requirements for a Trout & Salmon Stamp. Holders of lifetime fishing licenses issued to people that are blind, have an intellectual disability, or have certain physical disabilities are exempt from the requirement. Additionally, those individuals who are fishing waters that are not stocked by the State but have been stocked by another entity (e.g., a fish and game club, or stockings by a town or other organization for a local fishing derby) do not need the stamp. 

The fees for the Trout & Salmon Stamp are $5 for Connecticut residents who are 18 and older, $3 for Connecticut residents ages 16 or 17, and $5 for nonresident anglers aged 16 and older. Information on the stamp can be found in the 2026 Fishing Guide and on DEEP’s CT Fishing webpage.  

You can purchase your 2026 fishing licenses and Trout & Salmon Stamps directly online through our mobile-friendly Online Licensing Site. You also can obtain them at one of the many participating town halls, tackle retailers and DEEP offices throughout the state. Remember that fishing, hunting, and trapping licenses for 16- and 17-year-olds are reduced from the adult rate (most hunting and fishing permits, stamps and tags are also reduced for 16- and 17-year-olds). 

For a complete list of fishing license vendors, visit the DEEP CT CT Fishing website or call DEEP Licensing and Revenue at 860-424-3105. 

Brook trout

Hundreds of thousands of trout, like this Brook Trout, are stocked by the Fisheries Division in preparation for Spring Fishing Day. Credit: CT DEEP

DEEP staff stocking fish

The Fisheries Division will stock more than 500,000 trout into over 100 lakes and ponds and 135 rivers and streams statewide to provide quality fishing experiences. Credit: CT DEEP

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Contact

DEEP Communications  
DEEP.communications@ct.gov
860-424-3110