The Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management has been actively stocking rainbow trout in ponds throughout Rhode Island for the winter ice-fishing season. In February, staff from DEM’s Division of Fish and Wildlife stocked 3,000-4,000 rainbow trout in six ponds statewide.
Barber Pond in South Kingstown and Silver Spring Lake in North Kingstown were stocked with rainbow trout. In addition, Olney Pond in Lincoln, Stafford Pond in Tiverton, Round Top Ponds in Burrillville, and Carbuncle Pond in Coventry were stocked. The hatchery-raised trout weigh between one and two pounds each.
The US Fish and Wildlife Service’s Nashua, New Hampshire federal hatchery provided DEM with 150 surplus domestic Atlantic salmon broodstock for this year’s ice fishing season. The salmon were stocked in Olney Pond, Carbuncle Pond, and Barber Pond. The fish range from three to eight pounds each.
Poor weather conditions and recent availability of salmon delayed this season’s winter stocking. Anglers can be assured that winter stocked fish will hold over for the April 9th opening day of the freshwater fishing season.
A current fishing license and a Trout Conservation Stamp are required to keep or possess a trout. The daily creel and possession limit for trout currently stands at two per day.
source: Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management