Rhode Island Ponds Stocked For Cold-Weather Fishing

COVENTRY, RI — Three Rhode Island ponds will be stocked full of trout and salmon, just in time for fishing over the long Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday weekend. The Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management have chosen Carbuncle Pond in Coventry, Olney Pond in Lincoln Woods State Park and Upper Melville-Thurston Gray Pond in Portsmouth.

All three ponds are fully wheelchair accessible, the department said. The ponds will be stocked from next Wednesday through Friday, so they will be ready for the long weekend, which is popular for winter fishing.

All anglers must have a current fishing license and a Trout Conservation Stamp to keep a trout or salmon. From Dec. 1 through Feb. 29, the daily limit is two fish.

The department cautioned Rhode Islanders that they do not monitor ice conditions on local ponds, and all anglers are encouraged to check with their local communities for the latest information on ice conditions. To be considered "safe" by the DEM, ice must be uniformly six inches thick. In general, it takes five to seven days of temperatures in the low 20s to reach this stage, though factors such as pond size and depth can affect it.

Never assume ice is a safe thickness, the department said.

In addition, cold-weather anglers are encouraged to take steps to protect themselves from hypothermia, wearing warm layers and a hat and gloves to protect extremities.