Connecticut Boosts Ice Fishing Efforts With Seeforellen Stocking! - The Fisherman

Connecticut Boosts Ice Fishing Efforts With Seeforellen Stocking!

Winter is full-on and so is winter stocking! Hatchery staff are working hard for anglers, rain or shine, snow or sleet.

Drumroll please… the state is now beginning to roll out their broodstock Seeforellen brown trout. They have been held for weeks at the hatchery after spawning to get their biomass back up, their colors shining, and to recondition them. After weeks on end being handled and not really eating much during the spawning process, which can be stressful, they are rejuvenated and ready to be released! Connecticut Fish and Wildlife thanked local anglers for their patience and suggested that everyone get out and enjoy these beautiful fish!  If you don’t know what a Seeforellen brown trout is, might we suggest that you read this article from last our March 2024 edition, written by master angler Kierran Broatch. It’s an informative read that will get you prepped and ready to catch one!

 

The following have been stocked over the past several days; locations shown with a double asterisk (**) were stocked with broodstock Seeforellen browns:

 

Amos Lake (TML) –  Preston

Ball Pond – New Fairfield

Beach Pond – Voluntown

Bigelow Pond – Union

Billings Lake – N. Stonington

Black Pond – Middlefield, Meriden**

Branford Supply Pond – Branford

Congamond Lakes – Suffield

Coventry Lake – Coventry

Crystal Lake (TML) –  Ellington**

Higganum Reservoir – Haddam

Highland Lake (TML) –  Winchester**

Mashapaug Lake –  Union**

Millers Pond – Durham

Mt. Tom Pond –  Litchfield/Washington

Squantz Pond (TML) – New Fairfield, Sherman

Wononskopomuc Lake (TML) –  Salisbury

 

Please note- the Fisheries Division has elected to severely reduce the stocking allocation (80% reduction from current) at Lakeville Lake (Lake Wononscopomuc) in Salisbury based on reductions in fishing access and effort since the Town of Salisbury closed the boat launch to outside vessels in the fall of 2023. However, in years where safe ice forms on the lake and ice fishing is possible, we will discuss and attempt situational stocking of additional fish to provide immediate ice fishing opportunities. While parking and boat rental fees limit access and may discourage anglers during the open-water season, no such fees are in place for anglers during the ice fishing season. Thus, the state has opportunistically stocked 10- to 12-inch rainbow trout. The stocking allocation is open to change should angler access and use increase in the future. “Wono” is one of the state’s best trout fisheries and can produce fish of great size, and maintaining equitable angler access to this unique fishery is important to DEEP Fisheries.

 

Please enjoy and be safe. Note – the Fisheries Division does not monitor or routinely report ice conditions. Use caution, routinely test ice thickness, go with a friend, and please consider taking and teaching someone new.

You can read more about ice safety guidelines here: https://portal.ct.gov/deep/outdoor-recreation/ice-safety

Check out tips and tricks for ice fishing here: https://portal.ct.gov/…/general-information/ice-fishing