Massachusetts 2015 Spring Trout Stocking Has Begun

Close to 500,000 brook, brown, rainbow and tiger trout will be stocked this spring from MassWildlife’s five hatcheries located in Sandwich, Palmer, Belchertown, Sunderland, and Montague. It has been a challenging year for the hatcheries given the extremely cold, icy, and snowy conditions that have prevailed this winter. Nevertheless, the close to 500,000 fish being stocked this spring, coupled with the more than 67,000 12+ inch trout stocked last fall should provide some excellent fishing in the coming months. Due to the delayed spring thaw, trout stocking may not begin in most areas of the state until the first week in April.

Anglers are encouraged to check the trout stocking schedule for the district near you, or contact individual district offices for the latest stocking information. Trout stocking schedules will be updated at noon every Friday between the end of March and Memorial Day in May.

2015 spring trout stocking stats:

• 45% of the fish average over 14 inches
• 72% of the fish average over 12 inches
• 218,000 rainbows will average over 14 inches
• 46,500 rainbows will average over 12 inches
• 10,000 rainbows will average between 9 and 12 inches
• 750 brown trout will be over 18 inches
• 46,600 brown trout will average over 12 inches
• 79,400 brown trout average between 9 and 12 inches
• 1,350 brook trout will average over 15 inches
• 37,600 brook trout will average over 12 inches
• 47,000 brook trout between 9 and 12 inches
• 2,500 tiger trout that will average over 14 inches