Rhode Island Waters Stocked With Trout For Columbus Day Weekend

Columbus Day weekend is just a few days away, and the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management is hard at work. Freshwaters across the state will be stocked with trout in time for the holiday, which is popular for fishing.

The following waters will be chock-full with fish just in time for anglers heading out over the holiday weekend.

• Bradford – Pawcatuck River
• Burrillville – Round Top Ponds
• Charlestown – Lower Shannock - Pawcatuck River
• Exeter – Breakheart Pond, Browning Mill Pond, Rte. 165 Check Station – Wood River
• Glocester – Spring Grove Pond
• Hopkinton – Barberville Dam, Hope Valley Fishing Area (Dow Field Ball Park), Wyoming Pond – Wood River
• Lincoln – Olney Pond (Lincoln Woods State Park)
• North Kingstown – Silver Spring Lake
• Richmond – Grantville (Rt 95 underpass), Meadowbrook Pond, Woodville, Wyoming Pond – Wood River
• Richmond – Beaver River
• Scituate – Hope Mill Landing – Upper Pawtuxet River
• South Kingstown – Barber Pond
• Tiverton – Stafford Pond

The department also provides daily updates on fish stocks on the DEM Outdoor Education Facebook page.

Anyone over the age of 15 is required to have a valid 2019 fishing license. Those who wish to keep trout or fish in catch-and-release, or fly-fishing only areas must also have a Trout Conservation stamp. Stamps are not needed for trout caught in a lake or pond that shares a border with Rhode Island, the DEM said.

Licenses cost $18 for Rhode Island residents and current members of the Armed Forces, $33 for a combination hunting and fishing license, $35 for non-residents, and $16 for a tourist three-consecutive-day license. They are free for anglers over 65 (trout stamp not required) and for those with a "100-percent" disability, the department said.

Until November 30, anglers can keep up to five trout per day. Starting December 1, the limit goes down to just two per day until February 29. The Wood River has a two trout per day limit between Route 165 and the Barberville Dam from May 11 through February 29 of next year. The department encourages catch-and-release for wild brook trout.

Exposure to the mosquito-borne illness Eastern equine encephalitis is still possible, since Rhode Island has yet to see its first hard freeze of the season. This year has been especially bad for EEE in Rhode Island and across the country. To date, there have been three human cases of the disease in the state, causing one death.

To reduce the risk of contracting mosquito-borne illnesses, the department recommends that anglers avoid fishing during the early morning and evening hours, wear long pants and sleeves and use insect repellent.

Another possible threat to anglers this time of year is dangerous cyanobacteria, or blue-green algae, in area lakes and ponds. There are currently algae advisories for: JL Curran Reservoir, Cranston; Carbuncle Pond, Coventry; Almy Pond, Newport; Melville Ponds, Sisson Pond, Portsmouth; Elm Lake, Mashapaug Pond, Roosevelt Lake, Pleasure Lake, Providence and Little Pond, Warwick. Both humans and animals should avoid direct contact with the water.