Downstate trout season begins March 5

The Delaware Division of Fish & Wildlife has announced its spring 2016 downstate trout season will begin Saturday, March 5, with the opening of two downstate ponds stocked with rainbow trout, weather permitting. Tidbury Pond near Dover in Kent County and Newton Pond outside of Greenwood in Sussex County will open for trout fishing beginning at 7 a.m.

“As in past years, we plan to stock these ponds before opening day, and we plan to do a second stocking later in the month,” said Fisheries Administrator John Clark. “We will include trophy-sized trout again this year as an added attraction for trout anglers.”

Trout anglers planning to ply the waters of Tidbury and Newton ponds will want to note Fish & Wildlife regulatory requirements:

• A trout stamp is required to fish these ponds from the first Saturday in March through April 1, unless otherwise exempted by law.

• Following the opening-day 7 a.m. start, trout fishing at these two ponds is permitted one half-hour before sunrise to one half-hour after sunset, unless otherwise restricted by area rules.

• The daily possession limit is six trout.

• Both ponds are closed to all fishing for 14 days prior to the season opening, with this restriction in effect from Saturday, Feb. 20 until opening day March 5.

“These rules serve several purposes,” said Michael Stangl, fisheries program manager. “Closing these ponds to all fishing for two weeks before the season provides a better opportunity to complete our stocking and eliminates incidental trout hooking mortality by those who are fishing for other species. In addition, the closure gives stocked trout time to adjust and spread out in their new waters. The preseason closure also eliminates any harvest prior to the opener and improves fair access to the fishery.”

Each pond will initially be stocked with about 300 pounds of rainbow trout, average size 11 to 13 inches. Trophy-sized rainbows weighing 2 pounds or more and measuring well over 14 inches also will be stocked. Plans call for stocking to be repeated Thursday, March 17, with the same amount of fish in each pond.

Upstate, trout season will open at 7:30 a.m., Saturday, April 2, in six designated trout streams in northern New Castle County: White Clay Creek, Christina Creek, Pike Creek, Beaver Run, Wilson Run and Mill Creek, which will all be stocked with thousands of rainbow and brown trout. All of the streams will receive a heavy stocking just prior to the season opener on the first Saturday in April. Trout stocking in the spring will continue on a regular weekly basis in some streams through Thursday, April 28. For more information, go to http://de.gov/troutstocking.

A Delaware fishing license is required for most anglers wishing to try their luck at trout fishing. For nonresident anglers age 16 and older, a Delaware fishing license costs $20.

Both resident and non-resident anglers age 16 and older are required to obtain a Delaware Fisherman Information Network number. The free number is included as part of a Delaware fishing license purchase. License-exempt anglers, including Delaware residents 65 and older, may visit www.delaware-fin.com or call 800-432-9228 toll-free to obtain their free FIN number.

In addition to Delaware’s normal fishing license requirements, most trout anglers also must purchase a Delaware trout stamp. For residents age 16 through 64, a trout stamp costs $4.20. For residents age 12 through 15, a young angler trout stamp costs $2.10. Resident anglers younger than age 12 or age 65 and older are not required to purchase a trout stamp. For nonresidents, a trout stamp is required for all anglers age 12 and older and costs $6.20.

All proceeds from the purchase of Delaware trout stamps are used to help purchase next year’s fish for stocking. The popular fishery also is supported by Federal Aid in Sport Fish Restoration funds generated from anglers purchasing fishing equipment.

“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,” Clark said.

Delaware fishing licenses are sold online, at the licensing desk in DNREC’s Richardson & Robbins Building, 89 Kings Highway, Dover, and by license agents statewide. To find a participating agent, or to purchase a license online, go to www.dnrec.delaware.gov/fw/Services/Pages/Lic-Perm-Reg.aspx. For more information on Delaware fishing licenses, call 302-739-9918.