Trout stocking the Quinnipiac
QRWA trout stocking draws record crowd
Photos by Ian Christmann
QRWA trout stocking draws record crowd
One hundred and sixty slippery newcomers made quite a splash in the upper Quinnipiac on Thursday, April 18. The rainbow, brown and brook trout were released into the river at five spots alongside the Gorge Linear Trail in Meriden in preparation for the opening day of fishing season on April 20.
The annual event – organized by the Quinnipiac River Watershed Association (QRWA) – drew its biggest crowd ever with approximately 70 eager helpers. By foot, bike or stroller, the volunteers followed the Harding Trout Hatchery truck through the 1.3 mile Gorge. When the truck stopped, the youngest stockers clamored for buckets and coolers, carried the trout to the river’s edge, and carefully released them in the shallows and slow current.
“Stocking the river introduces people to its potential,” said Peter Picone, a member of the QRWA board of directors. “It allows people to understand and appreciate what kind of fish are in there and get people excited about the opportunities the river provides them.”
The trout ranged from 12 – 20 inches, with the three biggest drawing special excitement from the crowd. QRWA purchased the trout with proceeds from a game dinner organized by Michael Roberts, Woods ‘n Water magazine column writer.
QWRA is one of the many grant recipients of the Qunnipiac River Fund, which is the only Fund in the State solely dedicated to the preservation and protection of the River. The Fund supports projects and organizations that help improve both the quality and our understanding of the Quinnipiac River, New Haven Harbor and it’s surrounding water sheds – through research, public access, land use planning, land acquisition, habitat restoration, advocacy, and education on the Quinnipiac River and New Haven Harbor.
Adding further excitement to the fishing season on the Quinnipiac River, the QRWA tagged seven fish and offers prizes to those who catch the tagged fish. Within the first week of the season, two of the seven tagged fish were caught. If you catch a tagged fish, contact the QRWA Fish Stocking Program chairperson at 860-919-7236.