Connecticut Fishing Regulations

General Rules (barbless hooks are the #1 cause of fines)

• ⚠ From March 1 until 6:00 am on the second Saturday of April, trout fishing is catch and release only statewide.
• ⚠ Taking of Atlantic salmon is prohibited (except stocked Naugatuck/Shetucket/Housatonic rivers and DEEP lakes per Commissioner's Declaration).
• ⚠ Spearing and bow-and-arrow prohibited in trout-stocked streams; spearing prohibited in all lakes and ponds.
• ⚠ Taking of elver eel, glass eel, and silver eel is prohibited.
• ⚠ Trout and Salmon Stamp may be required.
• ⚠ Bass management lakes have different regulations - check the lake/pond page for the specific waterbody.

• CT managed water - Wallingford, (see Wharton Pond)

• CT managed water - Killingly; 215 acres

• CT managed water - Preston; 113 acres

• CT managed water - Meriden; 5.4 acres

• CT managed water - Easton-Weston (T); Intermittent sections from Route 58 along Route 136 to the Saugatuck River.

• CT managed water - Lebanon (T); Intermittent sections from Brewster Pond downstream to Yantic River.

• CT managed water - Bethany-Naugatuck-Beacon Falls (T BK BN); From Route 63 crossing in Bethany to confluence with Naugatuck River.

• CT managed water - Windham-Scotland (BK BN)

• CT managed water - Haddam-Middletown (T); Intermittent sections along Route 154.

• CT managed water - Eastford-Union (T); Intermittent sections downstream of Myers Pond to Natchaug River.

• CT managed water - Norfolk-Canaan (T BN); From one half mile west of Route 272 along Route 44 and Lower River Road to confluence with Housatonic River.

• CT managed water - Bolton-Hebron-Marlborough (T); Intermittent state-owned sections from Gay City State Park to the Salmon River.

• CT managed water - Brooklyn-Canterbury (T); Intermittent sections from Woodward Road to the Quinebaug River.

• CT managed water - Woodbridge-Seymour (BK); From one quarter mile below Bethmour Road along Route 67 to one quarter mile below Chatfield Street, includes tributary (Hopp Brook) along Miller Road.

• CT managed water - Watertown (T);

• CT managed water - Branford-North Branford (T); Intermittent sections from Route 22 to I-95.

• CT managed water - Preston (T); Intermittent sections from Swantown Road to Old Jewett City Road.

• CT managed water - Eastford-Woodstock (T); Intermittent sections from Route 171 downstream to the Still River.

• CT managed water - Litchfield (T); Upstream of Route 202 to confluence with the Bantam River.

• CT managed water - Greenwich (T); Includes East Branch. From Merritt Parkway to Glenville Road (Glen Ridge Road).[](https://www.eregulations.com/connecticut/fishing/rivers-streams)

• CT managed water - Haddam (T); Intermittent sections along Candlewood Hill Road.

• CT managed water - Sterling (BK); Intermittent sections from Portertown Road to the Moosup River.

• CT managed water - Killingworth (T);

• CT managed water - Canton (T BN BK); From Routes 179 and 309, along Route 179 through Canton Center.

• CT managed water - Preston (T); Intermittent sections from Route 165 to the Quinebaug River.

• CT managed water - Durham-Middlefield-Middletown (T); Intermittent sections from Route 17 in Durham through Wadsworth Falls State Park.

• CT managed water - Burlington-Bristol (BK BN); Intermittent sections from South Main Street to Stevens Street.

• CT managed water - Stonington (BK); Access from Route 184.[](https://www.eregulations.com/connecticut/fishing/rivers-streams)

• CT managed water - Newtown (BK BN).

• CT managed water - Stafford (BK BN); Intermittent sections along Route 19.

• CT managed water - Voluntown (BK); In Pachaug State Forest, south of Route 138.

• CT managed water - Marlborough (T); Salmon River State Forest. Downstream of Route 66 to the Salmon River.

• CT managed water - New Milford-New Preston (T BN) Intermittent sections accessible from Routes 45 and 202 to Wells Road.

• CT managed water - Bethel (T); Intermittent sections from Meckaur Municipal Park through Plumtrees Road to Route 302 (includes unnamed flow-through pond in Meckauer/Bennet Memorial Park).

• CT managed water - Middlebury-Oxford (T); Intermittent sections from Judd Hill, through Larkin Trail State Park and Southford Falls State Park to Route 188, then to Barry Road.

• CT managed water - Southington (BN)

• CT managed water - Lebanon (BK); In Bartlett Brook Wildlife Management Area.[](https://www.eregulations.com/connecticut/fishing/rivers-streams)

• CT managed water - Essex-Westbrook (T); Intermittent sections along Witchhazel Road downstream to Mares Hill Road.

• CT managed water - Branford-East Haven-North Branford (T BN); Intermittent sections from Northford to I-95.

• CT managed water - Monroe-Shelton-Stratford (T); Intermittent sections from Moose Hill Road (Monroe) to Route 110 just above the Housatonic River.

• CT managed water - Mansfield-Willington (T BN)

• CT managed water - Thompson-Putnam-Killingly (T); Intermittent sections from New Road to the Quinebaug River.

• CT managed water - East Hampton (T BK); Intermittent sections along Route 16 downstream to the Salmon River.

• CT managed water - Thompson (T); Intermittent sections from North Grosvenordale Pond to Blain Road.

• CT managed water - Enfield (T); Intermittent sections from Route 220 downstream to the Connecticut River.

• CT managed water - Stafford (T); Intermittent sections from Staffordville Lake along Route 19 and Furnace Brook Road to Glenville Pond.[](https://www.eregulations.com/connecticut/fishing/rivers-streams)

• CT managed water - Somers (BK); Intermittent sections from Battle Street downstream to the Scantic River.

• CT managed water - North Stonington-Voluntown (T); Intermittent sections from Green Falls Dam to Rhode Island.

• CT managed water - Somers (BK); Intermittent sections from Gulf Road Marsh downstream to the Scantic River.

• CT managed water - Goshen-Torrington (T BK); Along Route 272 from Hall Meadow Cemetery to the Hall Meadow Brook Reservoir Dam (John Minetto State Park).

• CT managed water - Clinton-Killingworth-Madison (T); Intermittent sections from Route 80 to Route 1.

• CT managed water - Easton-Weston (BK) Within the Trout Brook Valley Property (publicly owned):

• CT managed water - Vernon-Ellington-Manchester-East Hartford (T), Intermittent sections from Rockville to the Connecticut River.

• CT managed water - Middlebury-Waterbury (T), From Route 64 to Hop Brook Flood Control Impoundment.

• CT managed water - Montville-Waterford (T); Intermittent sections from Miller’s Pond to Smith Cove.[](https://www.eregulations.com/connecticut/fishing/rivers-streams)

• CT managed water - Ledyard-Preston (T); Intermittent sections from Route 2 to Poquetanuck Cove. Includes Shewville Brook, Gates and Hallville Ponds, and Poquetanuck Brook.

• CT managed water - Hebron-Colchester (T); Intermittent Sections from Route 66 to the Blackledge River.

• CT managed water - Ledyard (BK); Intermittent sections from Church Hill Road downstream to Poquetanuck Cove.

• CT managed water - Waterford (BK); Intermittent sections along entire length.

• CT managed water - Colchester-Hebron

• CT managed water - Kent (T BK BN)

• CT managed water - Southbury (T BK BN); Through Kettletown State Park to Lake Zoar.

• CT managed water - Canterbury (T); Intermittent sections from Route 14 to the Quinebaug River.[](https://www.eregulations.com/connecticut/fishing/rivers-streams)

• CT managed water - East Lyme-Waterford (T BK BN); Intermittent sections along Route 161 from Silver Falls to Niantic River.

• CT managed water - Middletown (T); From Anderson Road (Laurel Brook Road) through Wadsworth Falls State Park.

• CT managed water - Harwinton-Thomaston (T); Intermittent sections from Route 4 in Harwinton through Roraback Wildlife Management Area to confluence with Naugatuck River (Thomaston Flood Control Area).

• CT managed water - Oxford-Seymour (T BK BN); Intermittent sections along Route 67 from 1 mile above Hogback Road to Hoadley’s Pond (Seymour).

• CT managed water - Voluntown (BK); In Pachaug State Forest.[](https://www.eregulations.com/connecticut/fishing/rivers-streams)

• CT managed water - Kent (T BK BN)

• CT managed water - Norfolk-Winchester (T); From Rugg Brook Road through Mad River Flood Control Impoundment to Route 263 crossing.

• CT managed water - Putnam (BK); Intermittent sections from East Putnam Road downstream to the Five Mile River.

• CT managed water - Pomfret (T); Intermittent sections from Taft Pond through Mashamoquet State Park to Quinebaug River.

• CT managed water - Berlin-Middletown (NP CA LMB); Intermittent sections in Berlin from Brook Street to Lower Lane.

• CT managed water - Colchester

• CT managed water - Killingworth (T); Intermittent sections from Reservoir Road to Pleasant Valley Road.

• CT managed water - Scotland (BK BN)

• CT managed water - Greenwich-Stamford (T); Intermittent sections accessible ¼ mile upstream of June Road to Palmer’s Hill Road (just above Mianus Pond).

• CT managed water - Stafford (T); Intermittent sections from Edson Brook to Willimantic River.

• CT managed water - Cornwall (BK BN); From the Housatonic River upstream along Route 128 for approximately 1 mile.

• CT managed water - Easton-Fairfield (T BN BK); Intermittent sections from confluence with Canoe Brook, as posted by DEEP, to Mohegan Lake, then from base of Samp Mortar Reservoir dam to Sturges Road in Fairfield.

• CT managed water - Portland (BK); Along Gadpouch Road in Meshomasic State Forest.

• CT managed water - Plainfield-Sterling (T); Intermittent sections from the Rhode Island line to the Quinebaug River.

• CT managed water - Barkhamsted (T BN); Intermittent sections accessible from Route 44 (downstream of Route 44 in American Legion State Forest) to the West Branch-Farmington River.

• CT managed water - Ashford-Mansfield (T); Intermittent sections from Route 44 to Mansfield Hollow Reservoir.

• CT managed water - Voluntown (T); Intermittent sections from Hell Hollow Road to the Pachaug River.

• CT managed water - North Haven-Wallingford (T); Intermittent sections from Northford Road below McKenzie Reservoir (Wallingford), along Tyler Mill Road, Route 150, to Spring Street, North Haven.

• CT managed water - Voluntown (T BK); Within Pachaug State Forest to Glasgo Pond.

• CT managed water - Groton-Stonington downstream of confluence of Haleys Brook and Whitford Brook.

• CT managed water - Eastford-Chaplin-Mansfield-Windham (T) Intermittent sections along Route 198 to Shetucket River.

• CT managed water - New Hartford (T BK BN); Intermittent sections from Niles Road to the Route 202 bridge immediately upstream from Nepaug Reservoir.

• CT managed water - East Lyme-Waterford

• CT managed water - Woodbury (T BK BN); Intermittent sections from Old Town Farm Road to Route 47.

• CT managed water - Litchfield-Thomaston (T); From Northfield Cutlery Pond to Northfield Flood Control Dam.

• CT managed water - Waterford-East Lyme (BK BN)

• CT managed water - Montville (T); Intermittent sections from Oxoboxo Lake downstream to Route 32.[](https://www.eregulations.com/connecticut/fishing/rivers-streams)

• CT managed water - Griswold-Voluntown (T); Intermittent sections from Beach Pond to the Quinebaug River. The demarcation line between the Pachaug River and Beachdale Pond is the west side of the bridge on Route 49.

• CT managed water - Durham (T); Intermittent sections from Route 17 downstream to the Coginchaug River.

• CT managed water - Chester (T); Intermittent sections along Route 148.

• CT managed water - Lebanon-Franklin (BN BK)

• CT managed water - Plymouth-Bristol-Plainville (T BN) through Rockwell Municipal Park in Bristol downstream to Route 177 in Plainville.

• CT managed water - East Hampton-Haddam; No longer stocked by DEEP. Downstream of Sexton Road.

• CT managed water - South Windsor (T); Intermittent sections from Ellington Road to Route 5.

• CT managed water - Southbury-Woodbury (T); Intermittent sections from the junction of the Nonewaug and Weekeepeemee Rivers near Route 47 in Woodbury to ¼ mile below Route 172 in Southbury.

• CT managed water - Newtown (T); Intermittent sections from Routes 6 and 25 to Hanover Road just above Lake Lillinonah.

• CT managed water - Haddam (T); Intermittent sections from Route 9 downstream to Higganum Reservoir.

• CT managed water - Newtown (T BK BN) From Sandy Hook through Rocky Glenn State Park to Walnut Tree Hill Road, just above Lake Zoar.

• CT managed water - Preston (T); Intermittent sections from Hallville Pond to Poquetanuck Cove.[](https://www.eregulations.com/connecticut/fishing/rivers-streams)

• CT managed water - Killingly-Sterling (T BN); Intermittent sections from Rhode Island to Moosup River.

• CT managed water - Thompson to Norwich (T SMB S CB WP) Intermittent sections from the Massachusetts line to the Shetucket River.

• CT managed water - Southington-Cheshire-Meriden-Wallingford (T BN) From ¼ mile below Cheshire Road, Cheshire to Route 150, Wallingford.

• CT managed water - Hebron No longer stocked by DEEP.

• CT managed water - Portland (T); Intermittent sections from Portland Reservoir to Connecticut River.

• CT managed water - Stamford (T); Intermittent sections from ¼ mile upstream of Route 137 to Cold Spring Road near downtown Stamford.

• CT managed water - Stafford-Willington (T BN); Intermittent sections through Nipmuck State Forest to the Willimantic River.

• CT managed water - East Hampton; No longer stocked by DEEP.

• CT managed water - Glastonbury (BK BN); Intermittent sections from headwaters to Keeney Cove.

• CT managed water - Colchester-East Haddam-East Hampton-Haddam (T) Intermittent sections from the junction of the Blackledge and Jeremy Rivers to the Leesville Dam. Trophy Trout Stream for entire river in Colchester, Eas

• CT managed water - Barkhamsted-Colebrook-Norfolk (T); Intermittent sections beginning ¼ mile from the Massachusetts line, along Route 183, through Algonquin State Forest to the confluence with the Still River above Rive

• CT managed water - Sherman (T BK BN); From the intersection of Routes 39 and 37 in Sherman Center to Candlewood Lake.

• CT managed water - East Windsor-Enfield-Somers (T); Intermittent sections from Massachusetts state line to Connecticut River.

• CT managed water - Ledyard (BK); Intermittent sections from headwaters to Whitfords Brook.

• CT managed water - Roxbury (T); Intermittent sections along Route 67 from Hodge Park downstream to the Route 67 bridge.

• CT managed water - Windham to Norwich (T SMB NP S); Intermittent sections from Willimantic to Greenville Dam.

• CT managed water - Preston (T); Intermittent sections from Indiantown Brook to Hallville Pond.

• CT managed water - North Stonington (T BK BN); Intermittent sections from Hewitts Fly Pond to the Pawcatuck River.

• CT managed water - Coventry-Tolland (T); Intermittent sections from Route 74 to Hop River.

• CT managed water - Plainfield-Sterling (T); Intermittent sections from its source to the Moosup River.

• CT managed water - Woodbury (BN); Intermittent sections from Painter Hill Road, Route 47 to Paper Mill Road.

• CT managed water - Danbury (T); From Eagle Street downstream through the town linear park.

• CT managed water - Suffield (T); Intermittent sections from South Grand Street to Guild Pond, includes the lower 1/2 mile of Muddy Brook.

• CT managed water - Simsbury (T) Stratton Brook State Park through Massacoe State Forest.

• CT managed water - Plainfield (BK); Within Sugar Brook Wildlife Management Area.

• CT managed water - Middletown (T BK); Intermittent sections from Millbrook Road downstream to Route 155.

• CT managed water - Bozrah-Lebanon (T); Intermittent sections from Route 207 to the Yantic River.[](https://www.eregulations.com/connecticut/fishing/rivers-streams)

• CT managed water - Vernon (T BK BN); Intermittent sections from Valley Falls Road to Hockanum River.

• CT managed water - Woodstock (T); Intermittent sections from County Road downstream to Mill Brook.

• CT managed water - Sherman-Kent (T SMB) From the New York line to confluence with the Housatonic River:

• CT managed water - Norwich to New London (WP YP) Downstream from Greenville Dam, includes coves.

• CT managed water - Woodbury (T BK BN); Intermittent sections from Route 132, Peter Road to the confluence with the Nonewaug River.

• CT managed water - Killingly (T); Intermittent sections from East Killingly downstream to the Fivemile River.

• CT managed water - Groton-Ledyard-Stonington (T); Intermittent sections from Long Pond to the Mystic River.

• CT managed water - North Canaan (T); Intermittent sections from the Massachusetts state line to confluence with Blackberry River.

• CT managed water - Stafford to Windham (T); Intermittent sections from Stafford Springs to confluence with Natchaug River.

• CT managed water - Cheshire (BK BN); Along the bike path beginning at Lock 12 at Route 42 downstream to Mount Sanford Road.

• CT managed water - North Stonington (BK); Intermittent sections from Wyassup Lake downstream to Spalding Pond.[](https://www.eregulations.com/connecticut/fishing/rivers-streams)

• CT managed water - Bozrah-Norwich (T); Intermittent sections from Camp Moween Road to Thames River.