Trout fishing season ENDS on Sunday

2015 Freshwater Fishing Licenses Are Required Beginning March 1 and are Available for Purchase Online and at Numerous Locations Throughout Rhode Island

PROVIDENCE - The Department of Environmental Management's Division of Fish & Wildlife is reminding anglers that Saturday is the last day of the 2014-2015 freshwater fishing season, and that fishing in trout-stocked waters is prohibited from March 1 until Opening Day on Saturday, April 11.

Anglers may fish from March 1 through April 10 in waters that are not stocked with trout. However, a 2015 fishing license is required for anglers 15 years of age and older wishing to catch fish. All 2014 freshwater fishing licenses will expire on February 28.

Ice fishing is a popular winter activity in Rhode Island, and there are many ponds and lakes throughout the state where anglers can fish in waters that are not stocked with trout. Among the popular locations for winter fishing are Worden Pond in South Kingstown; Chapman Pond in Westerly; Johnson's Pond in Coventry; Stump Pond in Smithfield; Waterman's Reservoir in Glocester; Wilson Reservoir in Burrillville; Echo Lake in Pascoag; and Simmons Mill in Little Compton.

The 2015 freshwater fishing license and the Trout Conservation Stamp ($5.50) are available and can be obtained at any city or town clerk's office or authorized agent such as bait and tackle shops, Walmart, and Benny’s. A current list of license vendors is available on theDEM website, www.dem.ri.gov, by clicking on "Hunting, Fishing, Boating Licenses" at the top left of the homepage, and scrolling down to "Hunting/Fishing Agents." Anglers are encouraged to check the list prior to visiting a vendor to purchase a license. Licenses may also be obtained weekdays at DEM’s Boat Registration and Licensing Office located at 235 Promenade Street in Providence. As an added convenience, anglers may purchase their fishing license online via ri.gov by clicking on "Hunting, Fishing, Boating Licenses" on the left side of the homepage on the DEM website at www.dem.ri.gov.

License fees remain at $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 non-resident tourist three-consecutive-day license. Anglers over 65 must have a license, which for them is free, but do not need a trout stamp. The license is also free for anyone with a 100 percent disability. Anglers are reminded of the prohibition of the use of any wading foot gear with external felt soles or other natural or synthetic porous material capable of absorbing liquid, statewide on freshwaters.

A list of trout-stocked ponds and other information of interest to anglers can be found in the new Freshwater Fishing Guide magazine for 2015, on DEM's website, www.dem.ri.gov, by clicking on "Fish and Wildlife" under "Offices and Divisions," then choosing "Freshwater Fisheries," then "Trout Stocked Waters." Regulations governing freshwater fisheries are posted on the DEM website.

In addition to providing an opportunity for residents and visitors to engage in outdoor recreation, fishing contributes to the economic health of the state. Residents and tourists spend over $37 million annually in Rhode Island on trip and equipment-related expenditures for freshwater fishing, according to the American Sportfish Association’s 2011 report, "Sportfishing in America."

The Department advises anglers to check with individual communities about safe ice conditions on local ponds before ice fishing, as DEM does not monitor ice conditions in local communities. Ice must have a uniform thickness of at least six inches before it is considered safe by DEM. It generally takes at least five to seven consecutive days of temperatures in the low 20s and is determined by a number of factors such as the size and depth of a pond, presence of springs or currents, and local temperature fluctuations. DEMhas an ice safety guide that can be found online at its parks website, www.riparks.com.