DEM
Stocking Local Waters with Trout for Thanksgiving Week
The
Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (DEM) will be stocking
2,000 hatchery-raised trout in four ponds across Rhode Island next week in
advance of Thanksgiving weekend – a popular time for recreational fishing.
"I
hope anglers of all ages will take time on Thanksgiving weekend to reconnect
with the outdoors and head out to a favorite fishing spot to reel in these
beautiful brook, brown and rainbow trout," said DEM Director Janet Coit.
"Fishing is a time-honored Rhode Island tradition and a wonderful way to
create memories with family and friends, especially during the holiday
season."
The
following waters will be stocked with trophy-sized brown trout: • Coventry –
Carbuncle Pond
Winter
trout stocking will be offered in January 2019.
A
2018 fishing license is required for anglers 15 years of age and older. A Trout
Conservation Stamp is also 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 only be purchased
online at www.dem.ri.gov/huntfish.
Online fishing licenses and the Trout
Conservation Stamp can also be obtained via an authorized agent. Visit the DEM
website for a current list of licensed vendors. Anglers are encouraged to check
the list prior to visiting a vendor to purchase a license.
License
fees are $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. Licenses
are free for anglers over 65 (trout stamp not required) - as well as for those
with a 100-percent disability.
The
daily creel and possession limit for trout is five from April 14, 2018, through
November 30, 2018; and two from December 1, 2018, to February 28, 2019.
Anglers
are reminded to be careful about hypothermia. Hypothermia is caused by exposure
to cold weather, wind, rain, or submersion in cold water.
It can set in when
the body core temperature reaches 95 degrees Fahrenheit and is marked by
shivering, dizziness, trouble speaking, lack of coordination, confusion, faster
heartbeat and shallow breathing.
It is important to look for these symptoms in
children and the elderly who may not be focused on this hazard. When in the
outdoors, especially in low temperatures, dress in layers and wear a warm hat
and gloves.
If hypothermia is suspected, call for help immediately and move the
victim to a warmer environment, removing wet clothing and covering with warm
layers of clothing or blankets.
State
law requires that boaters always have personal flotation devices for each
person, and that they do not consume alcohol and operate a boat. Boaters should
also be sure their craft is seaworthy before going out on the state's
waterways.
To
prevent the spread of invasive weeds and other harmful aquatic "hitch
hikers," Rhode Island strictly prohibits the use of external felt soled or
any natural or synthetic porous material capable of absorbing water in any
freshwaters in the state. This includes any waters shared with adjacent states
in which Rhode Island fishing regulations apply. For more information about the
harm caused by invasive plants, click here.
For
a list of designated trout waters and information of interest to anglers visit
www.dem.ri.gov.
Follow DEM on Twitter (@RhodeIslandDEM) or Facebook at
www.facebook.com/RhodeIslandDEM for timely updates.
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