Feb. 24, 2009
Vol. 39, No. 67

For more information, contact Craig Shirey, Fisheries, Division of Fish and Wildlife, 302-739-9914, or Joanna Wilson, Public Affairs, 302-739-9902.

DNREC Division of Fish and Wildlife Announces Spring 2009
Trout Stocking Plans for Up- and Downstate Waters

The DNREC Division of Fish and Wildlife today announced that its spring 2009 trout season will begin Saturday, March 7 with the opening of two downstate ponds stocked with rainbow trout.  On that date, Tidbury Pond near Dover in Kent County and Newton Pond outside of Greenwood in Sussex County will be open for trout fishing beginning at 7 a.m. 

“This represents a couple of new twists for pond trout fishing in Delaware. In the past the season started earlier in the week, but this year we are delaying the opening until Saturday morning,” said Program Manager Craig Shirey. Kent County Parks and Recreation requested the change to give the fish an opportunity to spread out in the pond and to give everyone a chance at opening day, Shirey explained.

The second change in trout stocking tradition is the first-time stocking of Newton Pond, a restored borrow pit, in Sussex County. The 10-acre site was renovated using Federal Aid in Sportfish Restoration funds and features a boat ramp for car top boats and canoes (no gasoline motors allowed), a fishing pier and plenty of shoreline access to allow anglers to spread out, as well as freshly seeded banks and new plantings.

“This new pond is presently open for catch and release fishing until the recently stocked population of bass and bluegill become more established, but the trout are fair game and we encourage fishermen to keep them up to the limit of six,” Shirey said, noting that trout are a cold water species and can only survive while water temperatures in the pond remain cool.

"We appreciate the Town of Lewes allowing us to stock Blockhouse Pond for the past several years while the Newton Pond project was underway,” Shirey added.

Tidbury Pond is owned and managed by Kent County Parks and Recreation, and anglers are asked to be respectful of the vegetation and fences erected to protect landscaped areas. Newton Pond is owned and managed as a state wildlife area by the Division of Fish and Wildlife.

Each pond will be stocked with approximately 550 rainbow trout, average size 11 inches and weighing about ½ pound each. Some “trophy-sized” rainbows weighing 2 pounds and measuring well over 14 inches also will be included. Stocking will be repeated Thursday, March 19 with the same number of fish in each pond.

On 10 separate dates beginning in late March, more than 31,000 trout will be stocked in six designated trout streams in northern New Castle County: White Clay Creek, Christina Creek, Pike Creek, Beaver Run, Wilson Run and Mill Creek. All of the streams will receive a heavy stocking just prior to the April 4 season opener. Trout stocking will continue on a regular weekly basis through Thursday, May 1.

Anglers wishing to try their luck are reminded that in addition to the normal fishing license requirements, they also must purchase a trout stamp, which costs $4.20 for ages 16 and older, or a youth stamp, which costs $2.10 for boys and girls ages 12 to 15. A resident annual fishing license, which now covers fresh and tidal waters as well as crabbing and clamming, costs $8.50 for ages 16 to 65; persons under the age of 16 and residents over the age of 65 are not required to purchase fishing licenses in Delaware. Higher stamp and license prices apply to non-resident anglers.

All proceeds from trout stamps are used to purchase next year’s fish. Since the price of trout is not expected to decrease in the immediate future, the Fisheries Section is hoping plenty of anglers will come out this season to help support the program, Shirey added.

To purchase a fishing license or stamps or for more information about the trout stocking schedule, visit www.fw.delaware.gov, consult the new 2009 Fishing Guide, or call the Fisheries section at 302-739-9914. Trout stocking schedules will be posted at all license dealer locations.