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E-Tackle Box
(links to fishing info)
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Mystery Fish
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Do you recognize this fish found the Connecticut River?
Email your guess to DEEP.inland.fisheries@ct.gov
The January mystery fish was a Tessellated Darter (
Etheostoma olmstedi).
A small bottom-dwelling fish found in almost all of our rivers and streams. The tessellated is one of two darter species found in Connecticut, the other being the swamp darter. Tessellated darters grow to a maximum length of 2-3 inches. Hard to believe that its closest relatives are the Walleye and Yellow Perch.
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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 here.
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Budding Angler in Your Family?
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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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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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Teach Fishing With CARE
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If you would like to share your passion for fishing and help to inspire the next generation to get hooked on fishing, then we need you!
All
CARE fishing programs are offered at no cost due, in part, to our core of hundreds of State certified volunteer instructors. Join
CARE today. Contact Tom or Justin at 860-633-1656 for more information.
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Need a Permit?
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P
lanning a fishing tournament or derby? Would you like to stock some fish in your pond? You can now take advantage of our new on-line permit application system, ezFile. To get started, download Google Chrome, create your user account, and submit an application. If you have questions, give us a call at 860-424-FISH (3474).
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Missed an Issue of CT Fishin' Tips?
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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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Pack Your Camera
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We are accepting your high quality digital photos of your great CT fish catches for the 2016 Angler's Guide. Ideal photos are sharp, well focused, high resolution images representing the great fishing opportunities in Connecticut. Email your entries to deep.inland.fisheries@ct.gov.
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Caught a Big One?
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Be proud of you catch! By meeting the minimum size requirements and rules you can earn a trophy fish award pin. Details are available here.
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| Feburrrrary- what a month of extremely cold and stormy winter weather. Despite what Mother Nature had in store for us, many were able to get some quality time ice fishing (thanks for all of the great photos posted to our Facebook page - www.Facebook.com/CTFishandWildlife |
| Opening Day of trout season is now the second Saturday of April. This year it is April 11. We can't wait. |
ICE FISHING CONTINUES: Many lakes and ponds are open to fishing year round (those that are not stocked with trout) and with an abundance of thick ice these waters will support ice fishing for the foreseeable future. All lakes and ponds stocked with trout close to fishing on February 28th with the exception of trout management lakes which close March 31st.
The closure affords us the opportunity to stock these waters in advance of Opening Day of trout season on April 11th (the second Saturday). Check the Angler's Guide or call the Inland Fisheries Division at 860-424-FISH if you have any question about the status of a lake or pond.
Be SAFE: This winter temperatures have remained well below freezing resulting in a continual thickening of the ice. As temperatures begin to warm the ice will become thinner and often softer particularly on the edges. Be cautious, the thickness and hardness of ice can vary greatly on any given waterbody as spring approaches. Consult with a local bait and tackle shop for information on ice conditions where you plan to fish and use additional caution by drilling test holes in the ice as you venture out from shore. Don't forget your safety gear (see the January 2015 edition of CT Fishin' Tips): ice picks, a throw rope, a change of clothes, and a cell phone. Also take a buddy with you, and let someone know where you will be fishing and when you expect to return. Good luck and enjoy the remaining ice while it is safe.
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| Plans for the new Seaside State Park (Waterford) are in the works. The state of Connecticut is working with Sasaki Associates and Oak Park LLC to develop a master plan for the new Seaside State Park, located in Waterford, Connecticut. The property boasts open fields and woods consisting of 36 acres and 1,000 feet of shoreline on Long Island Sound. Four historic buildings anchor the site, formerly used as a tuberculosis sanatorium for children. Tell us what you'd like to see in the form of public access, recreation, and adaptive re-use ideas for the historic buildings at this remarkable site. Let your voice be heard! Fill out the survey at fluidsurveys.com/s/seaside/ and follow the project at http://www.ct.gov/deep/cwp/view.asp?a=2716&Q=557916&deepNav_GID=1650 |
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Changes to Inland Fishing Regulations for 2015
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New Regulations: On February 24, 2015 the Legislative Regulation Review Committee of the Connecticut General Assembly approved the proposed fishing regulations changes as detailed in the 2014 Angler's Guide. They will take effect as soon as they are posted on the Secretary of State Web site
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Over 800 people attended the No Child Left Inside - Winterfest, held Saturday, February 7, 2015 at Burr Pond State Park. Many of those in attendance gave ice fishing a try complements of the DEEP's CARE program. Check out this great slide show of the event produced by Jim Murtagh, a CARE instructor. CARE provided the bait, equipment, and a small army of State Certified Fishing Instructors as people used over 500 jigging rods and tip ups combined to give ice fishing a try.
CARE offers free learn to fish classes throughout the year and we are continually recruiting motivated people who wish to share their passion for fishing with the next generation. For info visit
CARE or call Tom or Justin at 860-663-1656.
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| Congratulations to our Trophy Fish Award
recipients! 70 anglers were recognized for catching 1 or more fish meeting trophy fish criteria.
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Joey Takeman being presented his 3 trophy fish awards by Bill Hyatt, Chief of the DEEP Bureau of Natural Resources. Joey was also the Male Youth Inland Angler of the Year.
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Stephanie Spadaccini awarded for her 24 pound 9 ounce / 38 inch Striped Bass caught on long sand shoal in the Long Island Sound.
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Cameron Hammond
was recognized for his 12.5 pound, 26 inch Tautog.
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David Murawski,
the Inland Male Adult Angler of the year being recognized for his nine trophy fish caught in 2014.
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Kevin McCafferty captured a state record Roughtail Stingray weighing 86 pounds 15 ounces and was 88 inches in length.
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Sara Roman with her two trophy fish awards for Fluke and Black Sea Bass. Sara was also co-marine adult female angler of the year.
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Karen Westerberg with her two trophy fish awards for Scup
. Karen was also co-marine adult female angler of the year.
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| 2015 Angler's Guide Cover |
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Immanuel "Manny" Smyrnow and his catch of a Broodstock Atlantic Salmon from the Shetucket River captured the grand prize in the 2015 Angler's Guide Cover photo contest.
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Honorable Mention: Over 200 photos were submitted during the second year of our contest. The quality of the fish and photos made picking the winner very difficult. Five photos received honorable mention and will be featured within the 2015 Angler's Guide. Congratulations (upper left to right) Zakkary Wallace, Cassie Ganio, and Gabby Ferraiolo and (lower) Kristina Akers and Raymond Lass and Ron Merly.
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| YOUth Fishing Passport -Top Anglers |
Top angler awards were presented last week to four Connecticut youth during DEEP's 7
th
annual Trophy Fish Awards Ceremony. Each participated in the "Fishing Challenge", part of Connecticut's Youth Fishing Passport program. The "Fishing Challenge" requires the participants to try and catch one of 20 common Connecticut game fish. After a successful catch, a digital photo of the angler with the fish is emailed to the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) for verification. We thank Andrea Repko, the 2014 Angler's Guide Cover winner and proud supporter of youth fishing, for distributing these awards.
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Eric Hagglund of Middletown caught the following:
Bluegill, Northern Pike, Brook Trout, Brown Trout, Chain Pickerel, Brown Bullhead, Smallmouth Bass, Largemouth Bass, Common Carp, Yellow Perch, Channel Catfish, Bluefish, Striped Bass, and Blackfish (Tautog)
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Lauren Kusinski of Monroe caught the following
: Pumpkinseed, Bluegill, Rainbow Trout, Brook Trout, Brown Trout, Chain Pickerel, Smallmouth Bass, Largemouth Bass, Walleye, and Yellow Perch
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Max Carney of West Hartford caught the following:
Pumpkinseed, Bluegill, Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout, Chain Pickerel, Brown Bullhead, Smallmouth Bass, Largemouth Bass, Common Carp, Yellow Perch,
and Bluefish.
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Nicholas Bourdoulous of Glastonbury caught the following:
Pumpkinseed, Bluegill, Chain Pickerel, Brook Trout, Yellow Perch, Largemouth Bass, Striped Bass, Bluefish, and Fluke.
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DEEP's free
Youth Fishing Passport is your family's ticket to great fishing adventures. Available to youth 15 years old or younger, the Youth Fishing Passport can be obtained through DEEP's online
sportsmen licensing system. The printable certificate is a favorite among kids as it provides a tangible connection to our outdoor resources.
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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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