For anglers who enjoy winter fishing, the Connecticut Department of Energy & Environmental Protection has begun putting more than 400 broodstock trout in selected waters throughout the state.
These are some of the largest fish DEEP has stocked ever, which some weighing more than 20 pounds and the average weighing 15 pounds.
The lakes with the trout are Black Pond in Meriden/Middlefield, Cedar Lake in Chester, East Twin Lake in Salisbury, Highland Lake in Winchester, Long Pond Ledyard/North Stonington, Mashapaug Pond in Union, Squantz Pond in New Fairfield, and West Hill Pond in Barkhamsted/New Hartford. Each lake will receive approximately 50 fish, with the stockings fished by Christmas Eve.
The trout are from the Kensington State Fish Hatchery, are all at least five years old, and have produced millions of eggs to support future stocking efforts. Due to their size, the hatchery can no longer hold the fish until spring.