The Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) announced that the two “fishing ponds” at the Quinebaug State Fish Hatchery, Plainfield, will no longer be managed for public fishing. These two-acre ponds have traditionally been open to the public for fishing by reservation on weekends and holidays for a modest fee from early March through mid-May.
“We realize that these ponds are popular with certain anglers but there are a number of significant obstacles in the way of continued operation,” said Bill Hyatt, Acting Chief, DEP’s Bureau of Natural Resources. “The ponds are a revenue loss, a drain on resources, and they serve a shrinking clientele. Staff typically assigned to oversee the ponds need to be reassigned to core fish production and stocking programs. In addition, there are now many areas located around the state where anglers can enjoy year-round trout fishing. The Quinebaug trout ponds are no longer the only option for early season fishing.”
Opened in the mid-1970’s, the Quinebaug Hatchery fishing ponds were originally intended to provide an area where children could learn to fish, and where anglers could fish for trout prior to Opening Day. However, as DEP’s trout management programs have evolved, there are now thirty areas throughout the state that are open for year round trout fishing. Additionally, there are now eleven designated Trout Parks that provide excellent in-season opportunities for children (and adults) to enhance their fishing abilities.
Anglers can find information on Trout Management Areas, Trout Parks and many other trout fishing opportunities in the 2010 Connecticut Angler’s Guide, which is now available online www.ct.gov/dep/fishing.
