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100% of your investment in fishing license fees come to the DEEP Bureau of Natural Resources to support your passion for the outdoors- Thank You! 👍👍
April 2025
Please reach out to mike.beauchene@ct.gov with any suggestions, comments, or questions related to CT's Fisheries.
2025 Fishing Licenses are Available
Fishing licenses are available for 2025. Don't miss a single day of fishing - renew or get your fishing license today.
Opening Day for "Catch and Keep" 4/12
6:00 am sharp on April 12 starts the "catch and keep" season for trout. Public Act 21-12 removed the closed season for trout, however, based on angler input the DEEP established a "catch and release" season for trout. This season starts on March 1 of each year and runs until 6:00 am on the second Saturday of April. We wish all the best of luck in the pursuit of some of CT's finest trout.
Trout fishing shifts to "Catch and Keep" in most waters (see exceptions below) starting at 6:00 am on Saturday, April 12 Please be sure to check the regulations for the waterbody you are fishing. Check our online fishing guide for rivers and streams and for lakes and ponds. A Trout and Salmon Stamp is required to keep trout or salmon (and is required if fishing in some waters - see trout and salmon stamp below).
Waters that are not open for catch and keep:
1) Year-Round Catch and Release Trout Management Areas: There are 10 sections of river where the harvest (keeping or taking) of trout is not allowed at any time, all trout must be released. These sections of river have the ability to support trout survival year-round, unlike most waters in CT where the water temperature becomes lethal for some period of time (but the presence of cold tributaries provide survival via a "thermal refuge"). Some sections have special regulations such as requiring the use of a barbless hooks* or single free swinging hook. Always consult the Fishing Guide for site specific regulations for these year-round catch and release TMAs.
- Hockanum River, Vernon, Manchester
- Housatonic River, Salisbury, Canaan, Cornwall, Sharon
- Housatonic River, (Bulls Bridge TMA), Sherman, Kent
- Mill River (Fairfield)
- Moosup River, Plainfield
- Naugatuck River, Litchfield, Harwinton, Thomaston
- Pequabuck River/Coppermine Brook, Bristol, Plainville
- Tenmile River (Bulls Bridge TMA), Sherman, Kent
- West Branch Farmington River, Barkhamsted, New Hartford
- Willimantic River, Tolland, Willington
2) Class 1 Wild Trout Management Areas A section of river or stream with adequate natural reproduction to support year-round fishing, provided there was no harvest. There is no stocking of hatchery fish into these waters. The regulations on these waters were to protect the population structure by prohibiting harvest, requiring the use of a single barbless hook, and limiting gear to be artificial only (no bait).
- Deep Brook/Pootatuck River, Newtown
- Freeman Hill Brook, Burlington
- Mill River (Fairfield)
- Beaver Brook/Merrick Brook, Scotland
- Wachocastinook (Riga) Brook, Salisbury
- Macedonia Brook, Kent
- Hawley's Brook, Weston
- Quinnipiac River, Southington
- Eightmile River, Southington
- Tankerhoosen River, Vernon
Trout and Salmon Stamp
The Trout and Salmon Stamp is an add on to your fishing license. The cost is $5.00 for all, except those age 16-17 where it is $3.00. Visit our FAQ page for more info.
The Trout and Salmon Stamp is required:
To KEEP any trout or salmon (sign on left below)
Or
To FISH (even if catch and release fishing) in waters designated as (sign on right below)
No Changes to 2025 Freshwater Fishing Regulations
There are no changes 😁 to the regulations for sportfishing in the Inland District 🎣 for 2025. Download your PDF copy. Printed copies are available at many town clerks and tackle shops.
The changes proposed over this past summer are still working through the formal adoption process. As such, the Fisheries Division is opting to keep the regulations as they are. We expect the proposed changes will take effect January 1, 2026, about one year from now.
Come Stock With Us!
Calling all youth!! Bring your muscles, buckets, and smiles. The very popular "come stock with us" is back. Please see a list of locations and times below. We suggest arriving at least 15 minutes prior to the time as our schedule does vary a bit on stocking day. April 12, 2025
Kettletown Brook - Will Not Be Stocked
As a result of the unprecedented flooding in August 2024, the DEEP has decided not to stock Kettletown Brook. Access and instream conditions are challenging and potentially unsafe at this time. Please visit the Pomperaug River, Papermill Pond (Southford Falls), Eightmile River, or the Pootatuck River as nearby alternatives,
Want to learn to fish? Brush up on your techniques? Catch a nutritious and locally sourced meal?
The Fisheries Division's "Fish With CARE" program has announced our schedule of fishing events for 2025. To register for any or all, please visit our web page
Trout Identification Challenge
Do you know your CT trout? Email your guesses to mike.beauchene@ct.gov. We will randomly select one winner, from those with the correct answers, to receive a "Pictorial Guide to the Freshwater Fishes of CT." Deadline is Saturday, April 12 at 6:00 am.
Fish #1
Fish #2
Fish #3
Fish #4
Ferry Landing Fishing Pier CLOSED
Attention anglers who fish the Connecticut River: As part of Amtrak's replacement of the Connecticut River Bridge, the Ferry Landing Fishing Pier at the DEEP's Marine Headquarters is closed and being demolished as of April 1 (not a joke). A new and improved pier will be built in it's place as part of the train bridge reconstruction.
To accommodate anglers, a brand new fishing pier has been built and will be open at Eagle Landing State Park in Haddam (right downstream of the Route 82 swing bridge) later this month.
Aquatic Invasive Species Stamp Info
New for 2025- The Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) Stamp must be purchased separately from your vessel registration. Any person operating a vessel on Connecticut inland waters that is required to be registered, in CT or another state, must have a CT AIS Stamp.
There are two AIS Stamp options:
$7 individual operator
or
$25 AIS decal to cover all operators on the vessel
Visit AIS Stamp FAQs for more information. You can purchase your 2025 AIS Stamp now through the Online Sportsmen Licensing system. This is required for CT registered and out of state registered vessels.
Trout DIY Videos
How to clean your trout
A delicious recipe for fresh caught trout from Chef Arno
Fishing Challenge DIY Videos
To help budding anglers fill their youth fishing passport fishing challenge score card the Fish With CARE program has made a special playlist on the DEEP Video YouTube channel.
The fishing challenge is free for all age 15 and younger. The challenge is a year-long fishing scavenger hunt to try and catch all 33 species on the score card. Catches are submitted online and results displayed on the dashboard. For more info please reach out to mike.beauchene@ct.gov