Trout Stocked Across Rhode Island For Memorial Day Weekend

RICHMOND, RI — The Department of Environmental Management will be stocking trout and landlocked salmon in Rhode Island's inland waters ahead of Memorial Day weekend.

Beginning Friday, the following locations will receive a supplementary spring stocking of hatchery-raised fish, RIDEM announced:

- Alton Pond, Richmond/Hopkinton

- Barber Pond, South Kingstown

- Breakheart Pond, Exeter/ West Greenwich

- Browning Mill Pond, Exeter

- Carbuncle Pond, Coventry

- Eight Rod Farm Pond, Tiverton

- Meadowbrook Pond, Richmond

- Melville Ponds, Portsmouth

- Mooseup River, Coventry

- Olney Pond, Lincoln Woods State Park, Lincoln

- Pawcatuck River, Bradford/ Hopkinton/Westerly; John Cronan River Access, Charlestown, Burdickville Access, Hopkinton/Charlestown; Lower Shannock Access, Charlestown

- Pawtuxet River North and South Branches, Scituate/Cranston/Coventry/West Warwick

- Peck Pond, Burrillville

- Roundtop Ponds, Burrillville

- Shippee Saw Mill Pond, Foster

- Silver Spring Lake, North Kingstown

- Simmons Mill Pond, Little Compton

- Spring Grove Pond, Glocester

- Upper Rochambeau Pond, Lincoln

- Willett Pond, East Providence

- Wood River Rt. 165 check station to Barberville Access and KG Ranch Road, Richmond /Hopkinton; Hope Valley Fishing Area (Dow Field), Hope Valley; Richmond Landing (Switch Road), Richmond; Grantville (Route 95), Richmond /Hopkinton; Woodville Access, Richmond /Hopkinton

- Wyoming Pond, Hopkinton/Richmond

The boat ramp at Olney Pond in Lincoln Woods State Park is closed as construction of a new boat ramp is underway. Car-top boats such as canoes and kayaks can access the pond at an alternative location, but larger watercraft and trailered boats will not be able to access the pond until Memorial Day.

A 2021 fishing license is required for anglers 15 years of age and older. A Trout Conservation Stamp is required of anyone wishing to keep or possess a trout, or to fish in a catch-and-release or "fly-fishing only" area. Trout Stamps are not required for persons possessing trout taken from a lake or pond that shares a border with Rhode Island. Fishing licenses can be purchased online at www.dem.ri.gov/huntfish.

The minimum allowed size of trout or charr species is 8 inches, measured from the tip of the snout to the tip of the tail. The creel and possession limit for domestic or landlocked Atlantic salmon in the fresh waters of the state is two fish per day and shall be included in the daily limit for trout, salmon, or charr. The minimum size for domestic or landlocked stocked Atlantic salmon is 11 inches in total length. No person shall take any Atlantic salmon from the Pawcatuck River downstream of the Potter Hill Dam.

The daily creel and possession limit for trout is five from April 7 through November 30, and two from December 1 through February 28, 2022. The use of external felt-soled or any natural or synthetic porous material capable of absorbing water in any freshwaters in Rhode Island is strictly prohibited. This includes any waters shared with adjacent states in which Rhode Island fishing regulations apply. For more information on preventing the spread of aquatic invasive species, which can be transported in felt soles or other porous materials, click here.

If you are using a boat, new regulations mandate that no vegetation can be on your boat, and other equipment in or out of a state boat ramp.

State law requires that boaters have personal flotation devices for each person. Drinking alcohol while operating a boat is against the law. Boaters should be sure their craft is seaworthy.