Ice cut to stock ponds for opening day

Posted 4/10/15

The Department of Environmental Management’s Division of Fish & Wildlife had to cut holes in the ice for to stock ponds this past Saturday.

Most of the state’s freshwater anglers are expected to turn out at 6 a.m. to fish on opening day, …

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Ice cut to stock ponds for opening day

Posted

The Department of Environmental Management’s Division of Fish & Wildlife had to cut holes in the ice for to stock ponds this past Saturday.

Most of the state’s freshwater anglers are expected to turn out at 6 a.m. to fish on opening day, Saturday, April 11. Hatchery- raised brook, brown, and rainbow trout with an average individual weight of one and a half pounds are being stocked by Division staff in ponds and streams for opening day (see dem.ri.gov for a complete listing). Several of these ponds will be stocked a second and third time as well during the spring.

Last week Cathy Sparks of DEM said, “The Division of Fish & Wildlife has been stocking trout, cutting holes in ice where necessary. We expect to be ready for opening day. Some management area roads will likely be wet and muddy and we will post cautionary signage where necessary.”

There is no minimum size for trout and the creel or bag limit is five fish from April 11 to November 30, and two fish from December 1 to February 29. There is no closed season for largemouth and smallmouth bass in Rhode Island, 12” minimum size for both with a creel limit of five fish/angler/day. Northern pike minimum size is 24”, no closed season with a two fish/angler/day limit. Chain pickerel also has no closed season, minimum size is 14” with a five fish/day/angler limit.

Some of the more popular ponds DEM plans to stock prior to opening day include Barber Pond, South Kingstown; Carbuncle Pond, Coventry; Chickasheen Brook, South Kingstown; Frenchtown Park Pond, East Greenwich; Hunt River, East Greenwich and No. Kingstown; Meshanticut Brook, Cranston; Moosup River, Coventry; Pawcatuck River in several towns; Silver Spring Lake, North Kingstown; Tiogue Lake, Coventry; Eight Rod Farm Pond, Tiverton; and Saint Mary’s Pond, Portsmouth.  Other popular trout ponds include Willett Pond, East Providence and Simmons Mill Pond in Little Compton.

Ponds open for children 14 years of age and younger only include Cass Pond, Woonsocket; Frosty Hollow Pond, Exeter; Geneva Brook & Pond, North Providence; Lapham Pond, Burrillville; Lloyd Kenney Pond, Hopkinton; Ponderosa Park Pond, Little Compton; Seidel’s Pond, Cranston; Silvy’s Pond, Cumberland; and Slater Park Pond, Pawtucket.

Where to get a fresh water license and trout stamp

A 2015 fishing license is required for anglers 15 years of age and older wishing to catch fish. A Trout Conservation Stamp is also required of anyone wishing to keep or possess a trout or to fish in a catch-and-release or 'fly-fishing only' area.  Fishing licenses and the Trout Conservation Stamp ($5.50) can be obtained at any city or town clerk's office or authorized agent such as bait and tackle shops, Wal-Mart and Benny’s.  A current list of license vendors is available on the DEM website.  Licenses may also be purchased on line or obtained at DEM’s Boat Registration and Licensing Office located at 235 Promenade Street in Providence.

License fees remain at $18 for Rhode Island residents and current members of the Armed Forces, $33 for a combination hunting and fishing license, $35 for non-residents, and $16 for a tourist three-consecutive-day license. Anglers over 65 must have a license, which for them is free, but do not need a trout stamp.

Where’s the bite

Freshwater opening day is this Saturday, April 11, at 6 a.m.  Capt. Ron Mouchon of Breachway Bait & Tackle, Charlestown, said, “Not much is going on with saltwater fishing right now. But we are ready for opening day with extended hours until 9 p.m. Friday and we are open at 4 a.m. on Saturday.” Quaker Lane Outfitters associate Neil Hayes said “It all happens before opening day with guys spooling new line onto their reels and buying fishing licenses.” Concern over all the ice on local ponds and rivers has been diminished as the warmer weather this past week has melted ice. “The ice in ponds has melted so we are in good shape and ready to go.  We are opening at 4 a.m. opening day.” said John Littlefield of Archie’s Bait & Tackle, Riverside.

Saltwater fishing has been put on hold for the most part, the larger party boats fishing for cod did not get out much last week as the weather was not good. Although most of the ice is melted in bays and covers, the water is still in the high thirties. Littlefield said, “Customers have been catching winter flounder by accident. They should know they are illegal to catch in the Bay.” Littlefield said, “An easy way to tell the difference between winter flounder and summer flounder (fluke) is that winter flounder has a black back and a small mouth, summer flounder are lighter in color (shades of brown) and have a larger mouth with visible teeth.”  Winter flounder stocks are rebuilding so the following restrictions apply “The harvesting or possession of winter flounder is PROHIBITED in Narragansett Bay north of the Colregs Line of Demarcation as well as in Potter and Point Judith Ponds.” So the east to west Colregs Line at the mouth of the Narragansett Bay is drawn from Brenton Point in Newport, through Beavertail Light to Boston Neck in Narragansett. Anything north of this line cannot be fished for winter flounder. The minimum size for winter flounder is 12” with a two fish/angler/day limit in legal waters.

Captain Dave Monti has been fishing and shellfishing for over 40 years.  He holds a captain’s master license and a charter fishing license. He is a RISAA board member, a member of the RI Party & Charter Boat Association and a member of the RI Marine Fisheries Council. Contact or forward fishing news and photos to Capt. Dave at dmontifish@verizon.net or visit his website at www.noflukefishing.com.

Dave Monti

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