Opening Day of trout season has just passed, on April 12, but the 60,000 fish stocked by the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (DEM) in more than 100 freshwater locations, will provide great fishing all spring long. Some of these locations have been designated as ‘children only’ providing an enhanced fishing opportunity for youngsters across the Ocean State. A complete list of stocked waters can be found here, additionally, the 2025-26 freshwater fishing abstract, which includes all rules and regulations, is available here.
Go for the gold – anglers who catch a golden rainbow trout through May 5 will be eligible to receive a golden trout pin. Simply take a picture and email it to dem.fishri@dem.ri.gov for verification. Submissions must be received no later than Monday, May 5, 2025, to be eligible and there is a one pin per person limit. For more information on stocking, visit DEM’s Division of Fish and Wildlife’s (DFW) Facebook Page, visit www.dem.ri.gov/troutwaters, or call DEM’s Great Swamp Field Office at 401-789-0281, or DEM’s Aquatic Resource Education office at 401-539-0019.
DEM Director Terry Gray said, “The work and logistics involved in raising and stocking 60,000 trout are intense, and I am proud to recognize all members of DEM’s Freshwater Fisheries Team who pull off this feat every year – and keep freshwaters stocked throughout most of the year.” And a feat it certainly is, raising trout, keeping them healthy, feeding them and protecting them from predators is a full-time job. And it’s a job worth doing with the main goal being to keep families fishing and encourage residents to get outside.
DEM is reminding anglers – particularly those fishing from a boat – to exercise personal safety precautions while in pursuit of their first trout of the season. State law requires boaters to have personal flotation devices (PFDs) for each person, and all operators and passengers of canoes, kayaks, and any other paddle craft must always wear a PFD, regardless of age. DEM also reminds anglers to protect themselves from hypothermia. When outdoors, especially in low temperatures, dress in layers and wear a warm hat and gloves. Hypothermia is caused by exposure to cold weather, wind, rain, or submersion in cold water. For information on Rhode Island boating laws, please visit www.dem.ri.gov/safeboating. Following personal safety precautions and staying up to date on the weather forecast is the best way to ensure a safe and fun fishing experience.
Information about stocked freshwaters, size and creel limits for all freshwater fish species is available in the 2025-2026 Freshwater Fishing Abstract. A 2025 fishing license is required for anglers 15 years of age and older and a Trout Conservation Stamp is required to keep or possess trout. Trout stamps are not required for persons possessing trout taken from a lake or pond that shares a border with a neighboring state. Fishing licenses can be purchased online through DEM’s Rhode Island Outdoors (RIO) portal.
DEM reminds anglers of current Freshwater Fishing Regulations: the daily creel/possession limit for trout and/or landlocked domestic salmon singly or in aggregate, is five from April 12, 2025, through November 30, 2025, however, only two salmon may be possessed per day. The number is reduced to two December 1, 2025, to February 28, 2026.
The creel/possession limit for trout or charr, taken in the Wood River between RT. 165 Arcadia Check Station and Barberville Dam at Arcadia Road is two fish from the second Saturday in May through the last day of February 2026. There is an 8-inch minimum size for any trout, stocked or wild caught in any state waters. The minimum size limit for domestic, (landlocked) Atlantic Salmon is 11 inches.
The use of external felt soled waders or boots or those soled with any natural or synthetic porous material capable of absorbing water in any freshwaters in Rhode Island is strictly prohibited. This includes any waters shared with adjacent states in which Rhode Island fishing regulations apply.
