2026 regulation year
Connecticut Trout (rainbow + brown + brook + tiger) 2026 — Season, Bag Limit, Size Rules
Oncorhynchus mykiss / Salmo trutta / Salvelinus fontinalis
Last updated
Connecticut runs one of New England's largest stocking programs through DEEP Inland Fisheries' Burlington + Quinebaug Valley + Kensington hatcheries — over 750,000 catchable-size rainbow + brown + brook + tiger trout stocked annually across designated stocked streams + ponds + lakes. The Housatonic River main stem from Falls Village powerhouse to Boardman's Bridge is CT's flagship wild brown trout Trout Management Area (year-round catch-and-release artificial-lures-only). The Farmington River West Branch from Goodwin Dam at Riverton to the New Hartford Diversion is the destination tailwater TMA — cold-water releases from Colebrook River Lake support wild brown trout year-round (C&R artificial-lures-only TMA). The Salmon River at Comstock Covered Bridge (East Hampton) is a year-round C&R artificial-only TMA on the historic Atlantic salmon spawning habitat — the CT Atlantic salmon broodstock program ran through 2017 then phased out. Eight Mile River, Mianus River (Mianus Pond TMA), and select other reaches carry additional Trout Management Areas. CT-distinctive: separate Trout & Salmon Stamp ($5 / year) required to retain trout from any Trout Park or stocked trout / salmon water — without the stamp, anglers may target trout but must release them. Trout Parks (heavily-stocked accessible sites with stocked trout): Mohegan + Black Rock + Wharton Brook + Mashamoquet Brook + others operate on an open year-round basis after the second-Saturday-in-April opener for harvest.
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Season
Open second Saturday in April – end of February on stocked reaches; year-round catch-and-release on Trout Management Areas; pre-season Apr 1 – mid-June 2 / day rule on listed reaches.
– Stocked reaches (Opening Day second Saturday in April)
Open harvest; pre-season 2 / day Apr 1 – mid-June on some listed reaches
– Trout Management Areas (Housatonic, Farmington West Branch, Salmon River Comstock, Mianus Pond, others)
Year-round catch-and-release artificial-lures-only
Bag & possession
- Daily bag
- 5 / day combined trout statewide in-season (2 / day Apr 1 – mid-June pre-season period on listed reaches); 2 / day Trophy Trout Lakes
- Possession
- 10 in possession
Size, slot, trophy rules
- Size
- 9 in min stocked trout statewide; 12 in min + 1 / day Trophy Trout Lakes; 18 in min lake trout listed lakes
- Trophy rule
- CT Atlantic salmon broodstock program retired 2017 — broodstock returns no longer stocked; lake trout to 12+ lb regularly from East Twin Lake + Highland + Wononscopomuc
Gear restrictions
- Trout & Salmon Stamp ($5 res/NR) REQUIRED to retain trout from any Trout Park, TMA, or stocked trout/salmon water
- Housatonic River main stem TMA (Falls Village to Boardman's Bridge): C&R artificial-lures-only year-round
- Farmington River West Branch TMA (Goodwin Dam to New Hartford Diversion): C&R artificial-lures-only year-round
- Salmon River Comstock Bridge TMA: C&R artificial-lures-only year-round
- Mianus Pond TMA (Mianus River, Greenwich): C&R artificial-lures-only year-round
- Trout Parks: heavily stocked, opening day second Saturday in April for harvest
Named water-body overrides
Where statewide rules differ on specific Connecticut waters:
Housatonic River main stem
C&R artificial-lures-only TMA Falls Village to Boardman's Bridge year-round
Farmington River West Branch Trout Management Area
C&R artificial-lures-only TMA Goodwin Dam to New Hartford Diversion year-round
Salmon River
Comstock Bridge TMA C&R artificial-lures-only year-round
Eight Mile River
Wild + Scenic TMA C&R artificial-only listed reaches
Mianus River
Mianus Pond TMA C&R artificial-only year-round
East Twin Lake
18 in min lake trout, 2 / day; carry-over stocked lake trout
Official source
Connecticut Department of Energy & Environmental Protection (DEEP) — Inland Fisheries + Marine Fisheries Divisions publishes the authoritative 2026 Connecticutfishing regulations. Always verify the current rule before fishing — emergency closures and in-season changes can override what's published here.
The trout (rainbow + brown + brook + tiger) rules on this page are sourced from Connecticut Department of Energy & Environmental Protection (DEEP) — Inland Fisheries + Marine Fisheries Divisions's official trout (rainbow + brown + brook + tiger) regulation page.
Visit official Connecticut fishing regulations →
Emergency-order channel
Trout (rainbow + brown + brook + tiger) closures, slot-limit changes, and harvest pauses are posted to Connecticut Department of Energy & Environmental Protection's emergency-order feed — check it before any Connecticut trip during the active season.
Frequently asked questions
- When is trout (rainbow + brown + brook + tiger) season in Connecticut?
- Open second Saturday in April – end of February on stocked reaches; year-round catch-and-release on Trout Management Areas; pre-season Apr 1 – mid-June 2 / day rule on listed reaches. Those are the 2026 Connecticut dates; always confirm against Connecticut Department of Energy & Environmental Protection (DEEP) — Inland Fisheries + Marine Fisheries Divisions before a trip, because an emergency order can shift an opener with little notice.
- What is the Connecticut bag limit for trout (rainbow + brown + brook + tiger)?
- The Connecticut daily bag limit for trout (rainbow + brown + brook + tiger) is 5 / day combined trout statewide in-season (2 / day Apr 1 – mid-June pre-season period on listed reaches); 2 / day Trophy Trout Lakes. The possession limit is 10 in possession. Some named waters set a different limit — check the water-body overrides above.
- What size trout (rainbow + brown + brook + tiger) can you keep in Connecticut?
- The Connecticut size rule for trout (rainbow + brown + brook + tiger) is 9 in min stocked trout statewide; 12 in min + 1 / day Trophy Trout Lakes; 18 in min lake trout listed lakes. Trophy rule: CT Atlantic salmon broodstock program retired 2017 — broodstock returns no longer stocked; lake trout to 12+ lb regularly from East Twin Lake + Highland + Wononscopomuc.
- Do you need a license to fish for trout (rainbow + brown + brook + tiger) in Connecticut?
- Yes. Connecticut requires a valid fishing license to fish for trout (rainbow + brown + brook + tiger), with the usual exemptions for young children, state free-fishing days, and some senior or disabled-veteran categories. A license is valid only in the state that issued it, so non-residents need a Connecticut license — compare resident and non-resident Connecticut fees on the state regulations page below.
- Are there gear restrictions for trout (rainbow + brown + brook + tiger) in Connecticut?
- Yes. In Connecticut, trout (rainbow + brown + brook + tiger) fishing carries these gear rules: Trout & Salmon Stamp ($5 res/NR) REQUIRED to retain trout from any Trout Park, TMA, or stocked trout/salmon water; Housatonic River main stem TMA (Falls Village to Boardman's Bridge): C&R artificial-lures-only year-round; Farmington River West Branch TMA (Goodwin Dam to New Hartford Diversion): C&R artificial-lures-only year-round; Salmon River Comstock Bridge TMA: C&R artificial-lures-only year-round; Mianus Pond TMA (Mianus River, Greenwich): C&R artificial-lures-only year-round; Trout Parks: heavily stocked, opening day second Saturday in April for harvest.
- Do specific Connecticut waters have different trout (rainbow + brown + brook + tiger) rules?
- Yes. 6 named Connecticut waters carry rules that override the statewide trout (rainbow + brown + brook + tiger) regulation, including Housatonic River main stem, Farmington W Branch TMA, Salmon River, and 3 more. See the named water-body overrides above for the exact rule on each.