For more information, call MassWildlife at (508) 792-7270, or visit them at www.Mass.gov/dfwele/dfw.

RHODE ISLAND
Trout anglers in Rhode Island can expect some 80,000 to 100,000 stocked fish of the same high quality and size that Ocean State anglers have come to expect, said Christine Dudley, supervising freshwater fisheries biologist.

Stocked varieties include rainbows, brookies and browns in nearly 100 waters around the state. Last year, the Department of Environmental Management boosted its sea-run brown trout program with some 20,000 fish released in the Pawtucket River. These fish spend time in the river’s estuary and spawn inland. The browns turn silvery in the brackish, salty water, Dudley said, and provide great sport for anglers.

Brook trout are the gems of the state’s wild trout fishery, he noted. “They have a wide distribution in the state and are an indicator species -- like a canary in a coal mine -- indicating the water in the Ocean State is high quality,” Dudley said. “These brightly colored fish typically run up to 10 inches.”

For more information, contact the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management at (401) 789-0821, or visit the agency’s Web site at Dem.Ri.Gov.

CONNECTICUT
Bill Hyatt, director of the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection’s Inland Fisheries Division, said the state hatchery system has become more efficient and has made some changes, enabling it to produce larger fish.

This year, anglers can expect over 700,000 trout averaging 11 to 12 inches, with some 12- to 15-inch fish in the mix for spring. A slight cutback in production, Hyatt said, allows the state to produce better-quality fish. Browns make up 50 percent of the mix, while 40 percent are rainbows and 10 percent are brookies.

The DEP is pleased with its Trout Management Area (TMA) program. Hyatt said that a large number of catch-and-release TMAs are open prior to opening day in April, but few anglers take advantage of the opportunity prior to opening day.

He noted that improvement and momentum are expected in the next five to six years as the EBTJV defines the future of trout fishing in Connecticut and New England.

Fishermen are important to the future of any trout-management programs, which can succeed only through education and establishing the next generation of fishermen. Hyatt said that getting children involved in fishing is part of securing the future of the sport.

“Connecticut’s fishing future is dependent upon continued good habitat,” he said. “Today’s anglers need to be environmental stewards and pay attention to construction projects in their towns so we can protect our trout-fishing heritage.”

For more information, contact the Connecticut DEP at (860) 424-3474, or visit the agency’s Web site at Dep.State.CT.US.

Find more about New England fishing and hunting at: NewEnglandGameandFish.com.