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E-Tackle Box
(links to fishing info)
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150 Years of Natural Resource Conservation in Connecticut
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Visit our special web page frequently throughout 2016 for new features and information related to 150 years of natural resource conservation. |
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Mystery Fish
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 Do you recognize this fish?
Email your guess to DEEP.inland.fisheries@ct.gov
The January mystery fish was the Yellow Perch ( Perca flavescens).
One of the most popular panfish Yellow Perch are a favorite among ice fishermen because they school together, actively feed throughout the winter, and are very tasty.
Yellow Perch are a very colorful fish often with bright orange fins and dark green vertical bands contrasting against a golden yellow background.
Closely related to the Yellow Perch is another very popular gamefish, the Walleye and some of our smallest freshwater fish the darters (swamp and tessellated).
Despite sharing the name "perch" White Perch are not in the perch family (Percidae) but are in the family Moronidae, which includes the Striped Bass. |
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Are you 16-17 years old?
Get 50% off fishing and hunting licenses
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All 16 and 17 year old Connecticut residents can purchase 2015 fishing and hunting licenses, tags, permits, and/or stamps at 50% of the full resident cost. Get your license now!.
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Have a Tip or Photo You Would Like to See in CT Fishin' Tips?
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Email your tip to DEEP.Inland.Fisheries@ct.gov
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Budding Angler in Your Family?
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Wondering what's new in fisheries?
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Get the latest in fisheries through our quarterly reports.
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Connecticut Wildlife Magazine
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Every issue of this bi-monthly publication includes great wildlife photography, in-depth feature articles written by DEEP biologists, information about hunting and fishing, and natural history articles.
Connecticut Wildlife Magazine is published six times each year.
Subscriptions are $8 for one year, $15 for two, or $20 for three years.
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License Fees Fund Fishing and Hunting Programs
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100% of the fees collected from the sale of fishing and hunting licenses, tags, permits, and stamps goes to support fish and wildlife conservation, preservation, and recreation programs administered by the Bureau of Natural Resources.
Each time you purchase a license your contribution goes to support fishing, hunting, and open space right here in CT.
So the next time you catch a Walleye, Brown Trout, or Striped Bass, see a Bald Eagle, harvest a white-tail, pheasant, or turkey, give yourself and your fellow sportsmen a pat on the back!
You are making a difference and we thank you for your support!
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Report a Violation
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Help to protect our natural resources for future outdoor sports enthusiasts. Report suspected violations by calling DEEP Environmental Conservation Police at 1-800-842-HELP
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Missed an Issue of CT Fishin' Tips?
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Winter 2016 "A Bust!" Well at least if you are a winter sport enthusiast. Unfortunately for many, conditions did not support consistent and reliable safe ice. Some very experienced and knowledgeable ice anglers were able to get out and fish on waters in some of the traditionally coldest areas.
SPRING is spreading! We are getting reports of wood frogs and spotted salamanders making their annual migrations from wooded uplands to their breeding grounds in vernal pools. We are also getting reports of some great fishing in our lakes and ponds during the period of "ice out" the few days immediately following the loss of ice. Spring is coming - now is the time to prep your fishing gear!
Trout Season Closes*: The majority of waterbodies that are stocked with trout will close to trout fishing on the last day of February and will re-open on April 9th at 6:00 am. This short-term closure allows our hatchery staff to distribute approximately 350,000 catchabable-size trout to your favorite trout stream and ponds. Start making your opening day plans now.
*Some exceptions include Trout Management Lakes (open until March 31st) and our trout management areas (sections of river or stream with specific regulations). Check out the Angler's Guide for specific details and follow instructions on any posted signs.
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| Daily Fish Stocking Report Survey |
 For the past 3 years we have been posting daily fish stocking reports to the CT FishandWildlife Facebook page. We are looking for your opinion about the distribution of this information. Please take our short survey, it will take only a minute to complete.
The survey will close on March 11, 2016. Thank you for t aking the survey (here) . |
2016 Save the Dates!
Fishing events you and your family will not want to miss.
April 9, 2016: Trout season opens at 6:00 am.
May 7, 2016: Statewide Free Fishing Day (no license needed). No Child Left Inside Great Park Pursuit and CARE Family Fishing Day, Stratton Brook State Park, Simsbury.
June 19, 2016: First Free Fishing License Day (free 1-day license is needed and are available starting 3 weeks prior to the event).
June 25, 2016: Women can fish too! On this day, our basics of fishing class will be only open to women (16 and up). Come to our class, held at our CARE education center in Killingworth (10 am to 3 pm), to get a leg up on your significant other- show them you can fish too! Call 860-663-1656 to reserve your place (FREE!).
August 13, 2016: Second Free Fishing License Day (free 1-day license is needed and are available starting 3 weeks prior to the event). The CARE saltwater fishing event and No Child Left Inside Great Park Pursuit, Fort Trumbull State Park, New London.
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Fishing is simple, easy, and inexpensive:
Gear: The best gear for a beginner is a push button spin-cast rod and reel (found anywhere that has fishing equipment). Try using worms or small lures.
Classes: Free learn to fish classes are ready for you. Check out our ever growing schedule here.
Licenses/Youth Fishing Passport: Anyone 16 or older is required to have a fishing license (Inland License is $28.00). The price for anglers that are 16 or 17 years is 50% off of the adult fee. All fishing licenses can be purchased online or at many town halls and fishing stores. Free to children under 16 years old is the Youth Fishing Passport. The free passport is available online with details about the program here.
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The 2016 Angler's Guide is being printed and should be available approximately mid-March and will be available online here.
Inland Fishing Regulations remain unchanged from 2015. A change in the Marine Regulation sets the minimum length for Black Sea Bass at 14", with a daily limit of 3 fish from June 1 to August 31. The limit increases to 5 fish from September 1 to December 31.
Each year we receive many suggestions to have the guide released by January 1. As our inland and marine regulations are published together, we must wait for any marine changes, which may not be set until mid to late February.
This year's cover goes to Taylor Kemp who took this shot of Roland Salvatore fly fishing in the Farmington River.
To get your photo on next year's cover, send your high quality photos to deep.inland.fisheries@ct.gov attn: 2017 Angler's Guide Contest. Details here.
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Youth Fishing Passport - Fishing Challenge Top Anglers 2016
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Congratulations top anglers!
In addition to incentives offered by various members of the fishing industry (see sponsors), the youth who catch the greatest number of fish on the fishing challenge list receive a prize pack of great fishing items. This year our top anglers were: Evan Kamoen, Lauren Kuzinski (pictured with State Representative Melissa Ziobron, 34th District and DEEP Commissioner Rob Klee), Lucas Johnson, Xavi Eurbridge, and Nicholas Bourdolous.
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Congratulations to all of out Trophy Fish Award Winners.
In 1965 the state board of fish and game established the Trophy Fish Award Program to recognize angler skill and to showcase the excellent fisheries Connecticut has to offer.
On February 13th, we held our 8th annual trophy fish awards ceremony. We would like to thank State Representatives Melissa Ziobron, 34th District, and Doug Dubitsky, 47th District for assisting DEEP Commissioner Rob Klee in handing out the awards. Seventy-one awards were distributed to the angler who captured the largest fish for a species.
We also recognized the inland anglers of the year; David Murawski (Male), Jennifer Zuppe (Female), and Joey Takeman (Youth), and the marine anglers of the year, Albert Zuppe (Male) and Jennifer Zuppe (Female).
Each earned the title by catching the greatest number of different species with each fish being a trophy fish.
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Looking Back - 150 Years of Natural Resource Conservation
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Stocking fish is a longstanding tradition:
It may be hard to believe but in the 1700's Connecticut's residents had caused large scale changes to the landscape. The damning of rivers and streams, the clearing of land for lumber and agriculture, and over harvest of fish and wildlife resulted in almost complete elimination of our fish and game.
Established in 1866, the Fish commission was charged with the restoration Connecticut's fisheries. Stocking fish, both adult and juvenile, was a quick and easy solution to replenish our waters. The commissioners looked to native species and to species not previously found in CT to accomplish their goals. Today's stocking practices share a similar mission, to enhance recreational fisheries.
Join us as we celebrate throughout 2016! Visit our special web page dedicated to our past, present, and future. Including our 150th video.
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 By purchasing a fishing license, you help to support conservation and improvement of Connecticut's fisheries. Thank you! |
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