There's a reason why New England's trout anglers are die-hard fans of the species -- the fishing is so great here! This region has more wild brook trout habitat than any other part of the country. Stocked ponds, roaring rivers and deep, cool lakes will provide great fishing right through the dog days of summer.

Each state manages its trout resources through stocking and a variety of season dates, length and creel limits. To better manage brookies, browns, rainbows and lake trout, many states have gone to water-specific regulations, so before venturing out, be sure to check the most current law book in your state.

Biologists were more than happy to provide updates on trout management news this year, as well as their picks for best-bet fishing holes. Here's what they had to say:

CONNECTICUT
Browns, brookies, rainbows and tiger trout (a brown trout-brook trout hybrid) are stocked into Connecticut's public-access waters each year.

Last year, more than 700,000 adult and "specialty" trout were stocked into more than 200 rivers and streams and more than 100 lakes and ponds.

More than half of the state's trout allotment is stocked prior to the spring open-water season.

The Farmington River is stocked multiple times over the summer. Nearly 40 lakes and 20 rivers, including a number of trout-management areas, also receive fall infusions of trout. When available, hefty brood stock trout also get stocked.

"Seasonal TMAs stocked with trout in early March improve immediately during the catch-and-release period before the opening-day harvest begins," said Michael Humphreys, a Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection fisheries biologist and the state's Wild Trout Project leader. "Once the regular season opens, there are many good and predictable opportunities for excellent fishing for stocked trout."

The Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection has plans underway to develop and improve runs of sea-run brown trout in certain coastal streams. In recent years, thousands of juvenile browns, as well as yearling brown trout and tiger trout, have been stocked into these waters.

"The cool, wet summer of 2008 was generally good for trout survival and growth," Humphreys said, "and many wild-trout fisheries have rebounded from the droughts and floods in 2005-06.

"Merrick Brook, the Tankerhoosen River and the Mill River are at the top of our Class 1 Wild Trout Management Areas, open year 'round for catch-and-release fishing for wild brook and brown trout."

He said that early-season fishing on these waters could be especially fine during those years when spring arrives early. He also noted that the Upper Housatonic River TMA was stocked last fall with a substantially increased number (1,200) of large brown trout that should hold over and offer excellent fishing this spring.

"In early May," he said, "the West Branch Farmington River TMA will be stocked with about 1,000 large brown trout from 16 to 18 inches long. These Farmington-survivor-strain fish have proven to be fairly easy to catch and are very strong fighters, making them very popular with anglers. In addition, our surveys last September revealed many large brown trout."

For more Connecticut trout-fishing information, call 1-860-424-3474, or visit www.ct.gov/dep.

MAINE
The Pine Tree State is one of the last bastions of excellent wild brook trout habitat in the East, in addition to having all-around excellent coldwater fisheries.

Each year, the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife's regional and research fisheries biologists spend a significant amount of time in the field gathering data, according to Joe Dembeck, an MDIFW research fishery biologist.

"The department is always looking into trout-fishing regulations that will provide the best opportunity to manage waters for trophy fish, quality fish or high catch rates," he said.