Connecticut’s Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) today announced that 21,000 channel catfish were stocked into 20 lakes and ponds located throughout the state on Tuesday, May 28. These stockings mark the seventh year that the DEEP has released catfish into state waters. Included among the lakes and ponds stocked this year are five waters that are part of DEEP’s Community Fishing Program and two other waters also located in urban areas.
“Stocking catfish in urban areas provides excellent family recreational opportunities close to home for the many local residents,” said DEEP Deputy commissioner Susan Whalen. “The Community Fishing Program is one of our many efforts to promote fishing throughout the state and to provide opportunities for all to enjoy the great outdoors.”
The goal of DEEP’s Community Fishing Program is to create and enhance year-round fishing opportunities in urban areas by combining trout stocking (in the spring and fall) with catfish stocking (in late spring or early summer). This program began seven years ago and has continued to expand. Two of the locations stocked with catfish yesterday, Freshwater Pond (Enfield) and Pickett’s Pond (in Osborndale State Park, Derby) are being evaluated for inclusion in the Community Fishing Program. The Community Ponds are stocked with large adult catfish weighing over two pounds each and measuring 14–18 inches in length. (See below for a complete list of areas stocked).
In addition to the Community Fishing waters, 13 other Connecticut lakes and ponds were stocked with catfish this year. These lakes and ponds are stocked with smaller juvenile (9-12 inch) catfish that are expected to survive for many years and grow to a much larger size. Four areas, Batterson Park Pond (Farmington/New Britain), Burr Pond (Torrington), Scoville Reservoir (Wolcott) and Uncas Lake (Lyme) were stocked for the first time this year. One area stocked with catfish in the previous years of the program, Lower Bolton Lake (Bolton), will not be stocked in 2013 but is expected to be again be stocked in future years.
“This DEEP program establishes channel catfish in lakes where we know there is sufficient habitat to support a population of large gamefish,” said Deputy Commissioner Whalen. “Anglers have reported that some of the stocked catfish are getting large with 5-7 lb fish being taken from several of the lakes. DEEP believes that the combination of a popular gamefish stocked into waters that are selected based on scientific data is a winning combination. We’ve had great success in using this approach to develop exciting fisheries for northern pike and walleye and now we’re looking forward to similar results with catfish.”
Anglers can find fishing regulations in the 2013 Connecticut Angler’s Guide, found online at www.ct.gov. Print version of the guides are available at more than 350 locations statewide, including town halls, bait & tackle shops and other vendors selling outdoor equipment, DEEP facilities, and commercial marinas and campgrounds, or by contacting DEEP’s Inland Fisheries Division (860-424-FISH). Additional fishing and fisheries related information can be found on the DEEP web site at www.ct.gov and on Facebook.
Lakes and Ponds Stocked with Channel Catfish – 2013:
Community Fishing Ponds (14- to 18-inch catfish)
- Bunnells Pond (Bridgeport)
- Mohegan Park Pond (Norwich)
- Freshwater Pond (Enfield
- Pickett’s Pond (Derby – in Osborndale SP)
- Keney Park Pond (Hartford)
- Lake Wintergreen (Hamden)
- Lakewood Lake (Waterbury)
Other Lakes & Ponds (9- to 12-inch catfish)
- Batterson Park Pond (Farmington/New Britain)*
- Pattaconk Lake (Chester)
- Black Pond (Meriden, Middlefield)
- Quinebaug Lake (Wauregan Reservoir- Killingly)
- Burr Pond (Torrington)*
- Scoville Reservoir (Wolcott)*
- Hopeville Pond (Griswold)
- Silver Lake (Berlin, Meriden)
- Lake Kenosia (Danbury)
- Stillwater Pond (Torrington)
- Maltby Lakes #2 and #3 (Orange, West Haven)
- Uncas Lake (Lyme)*
*NEW for 2013
