DNREC Fisheries announces freshly stocked trout
swim in White Clay Creek, Newton Pond for fall fishing 

DOVER (Oct. 17, 2011) – The Fisheries Section of the Delaware Division of Fish and Wildlife announced today that White Clay Creek in New Castle County and Newton Pond near Greenwood were stocked with trout last week. 

The Fisheries staff, along with the help of numerous volunteers, stocked 1,000 pounds of rainbow trout throughout White Clay Creek from near the border with Pennsylvania downstream to Newark at all of the normal stocking locations. The volunteers used float boxes to carry hundreds of fish upstream and down from the truck access points along White Clay. Newton Pond was stocked with 200 pounds of trout.

“The fish looked great! The average size was 11 inches, and they were all healthy, just a beautiful bunch of fish!” enthused Fisheries staff member Mark Zimmerman, who heads up the trout stocking efforts.

Fisheries Program Manager Stewart Michels noted that fall trout stocking is handled with less hoopla than the spring stocking to give anglers a different flavor in a mellower season. “We try to avoid the crowds and hype that often overshadow the spring opener on the first Saturday in April,” Michels said, noting that the stocking schedule is included in the annual Fishing Guide and online but the exact date of the fall delivery is not typically publicized in advance. 

“By keeping the stocking more low-key, anglers can go to one of their favorite locations, find fish swimming around in it, and have the stream mostly to themselves. It’s a beautiful time of year to enjoy some peace and quiet and catch some nice fish,” Michels said. “And, since trout are a coldwater species, fish stocked in the fall should provide action throughout the winter.”

For more information, visit www.dnrec.delaware.gov/fw/Fisheries or check the 2011 Delaware Fishing Guide, available online or from fishing license dealers statewide.

Delaware’s trout stocking is conducted under the Federal Aid in Sportfish Restoration program administered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Trout anglers support the program directly through the purchase of the required trout stamp along with the normal resident or non-resident fishing license. Proceeds from trout stamps go directly towards the purchase of the rainbow and brown trout that are contracted from out-of-state producers, typically in Pennsylvania. 

Vol. 41, No. 396