March 2021
2021 Fishing Licenses are Available Online
Fishing Fuels Conservation!
100% of your investment funds fish and fishing
CT DEEP Fisheries Division Covid-19 update web page
SOCIAL DISTANCING WHILE FISHING IS A MUST!
Fishing is a great way to spend time outdoors, reduce stress, and possibly catch a tasty meal. The Fisheries Division along with the CDC, State of CT DPH, and the DEEP strongly encourage social distancing and not fishing with anyone other than people living in the same space.
Connecticut Fishing COVID-19 Updates
Latest Updates from the Fisheries Division
Circle Hooks Required for Striped Bass. Effective December 1, 2020 it is mandatory to use inline circle hooks whenever fishing with bait (live, dead, or cut) for Striped Bass. Please view our web page for the latest information and details.
Many Waters are now CLOSED to fishing. Effective the last day of February, most of the waters stocked with trout are closed to fishing. Some exceptions include the Trout Management Areas, Wild Trout Management Area - Class 1, and Trout Management Lakes. The trout season is set to open on the second Saturday of April, which is April 10, 2021. When in doubt, check the waterbody specific regulations within the Fishing Guide.
New Rules for Freshwater Fishing in 2021? We are compiling and finalizing the public comments on the proposed changes for inland sport fishing regulations for 2021. The next step in the process is to get approval for the changes from the State Legislative Regulation Review Committee. So, until that happens, there are no changes from 2020 to 2021. Stay tuned as we will let you know as soon as anything changes.
ICE! Many lakes and ponds have frozen over, as we progress into the warmer temperatures, please take extreme care and caution. Please check the ice thickness frequently if you venture out ICE FISHING! A reminder that the DEEP does not monitor or measure ice thickness. Ice fishing is still allowed on our Trout Management Lakes and most lakes/ponds that are not stocked with trout (check the lake and pond section within our Fishing Guide)
Congratulations Leah and Leon
Please join in us in congratulating Leah and Leon Hutchinson who submitted the winning cover shot for the 2021 Fishing Guide. While it is a great Bluefish, the memory of the catch captured in this image is one to last forever.

The 2021 Fishing Guide is being shipped this week. Look for a copy where you get your fishing license or tackle. We expect to have a PDF version on our webpage soon.
Trout Management Lakes - open until March 31
Trout management lakes have an extended fishing season, until March 31. Connecticut has a total of 9 TMLs that were selected because of their coldwater habitat, forage base (primarily landlocked alewife), or in some cases both. It is the coldwater habitat and food availability that make certain lakes able to support and grow large holdover brown trout. Management efforts on these lakes have focused on size and timing of trout stocking, specific fishing regulations, and also forage fish monitoring and manipulation (e.g., efforts to restore rainbow smelt into West Hill Pond) as a means of producing sustainable and, in some cases, notable brown trout fisheries.
Video of the Month
Ever wonder what goes into growing the trout we stock? Join fish culturist Tom Chairvolotti of the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection at Burlington State Fish Hatchery as he explains how eggs are cared for and early life stages of trout and salmon. Learn more about the Connecticut Fish Hatcheries.
Ice Safety
Safety first: A rule of thumb for ice safety is “there is no 100% guarantee”. Ice thickness and strength will vary from place to place. Be sure to “test” the thickness as you go – do not assume that the ice is uniform. Generally, four to five inches or more of clear ice is acceptable for a small group ice fishing. Learn more about ice safety.

Ice formation depends on the combination of many things including:
  • the size of the water (small pond versus large lake),
  • the depth of the water,
  • objects sticking out of the water like boulders and logs,
  • proximity to moving water (like the inlet and outlet),
  • amount and angle of the sun,
  • recent weather conditions (air temperatures, wind, and precipitation).
Top 5 Reasons To Fish CT Trout Management Areas in March
Trout Management Areas are freshly stocked and open for fishing right now (Catch and Release only). Here are the top 5 reasons to get out and fish one today!

#5 the scenery is spectacular -especially on a early spring day,

#4 environmental conditions are perfect for trout, good flow and not too warm,

#3 way better than a ZOOM meeting or remote learning from home,

#2 fishing and being outdoors boosts and improves your mental health,

#1 the fish are big and beautiful!!!
Circle Hooks Now Mandatory - Striped Bass
"We're trying to help conserve a stock of fish that is in an overfished condition and needs help. By using inline circle hooks, people are pitching in to that effort."- Justin Davis, Assistant Director, Marine Fisheries Program

This regulation was mandated by Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission and is being adopted by all Atlantic coast states. View the emergency regulation change.

For more info visit our web page, view our fact sheet, or watch the video below.
Learn to Fish Videos on YouTube
Let's Go Fishing YouTube playlist: To enhance our very popular "Let's Go Fishing" workbook, we have created a short series of instructional fishing videos on DEEP's YouTube channel. These videos are a DIY way to get the instruction delivered during our Introduction to Fishing classes, which have been suspended indefinitely due to the Corona Virus Pandemic.
This Month's Mystery Fish
Fishing Challenge - For YOUth
Youth Fishing Passport
Fishing is the perfect family activity during this time of "distance learning" and being "socially distant". CT's FREE Youth Fishing Passport is your child's ticket to all of the amazing outdoor discoveries fishing has to offer. Fishing involves knowing about habitat, environmental quality, food webs, life history of species, and so much more. You can get a Youth Fishing Passport, for those 15 or younger, using our online licensing system. Register your child as a new user. If you have questions please contact us.
Fishing Challenge Scorecard
The Youth Fishing Passport Fishing Challenge is a year long fishing scavenger hunt. To have your catch count, simple snap a photo of your fish (from our scorecard) and email it to us. The top four anglers (who catch the most different types on our list) receive a prize pack full of fishing swag.
Fishing Guide - Access Online Anytime
The 2021 Fishing Guide is available in English and Spanish. The best and fastest way to get your copy is online. We have a couple of options for you:
  1. The DEEP Webpage as a pdf
  2. In digital book format at the e-regulations page




Mystery Fish Revealed
Last month's mystery fish was the Bluegill. A member of a group of fish called 'panfish', the Bluegill Sunfish is super delicious when fried. Check out our DIY video below on how to fillet a panfish, like a bluegill.
How to Fillet a Panfish
Your E-Tackle Box