DNREC cautions anglers about ice on trout ponds

DNREC Division of Fish & Wildlife cautions anglers about ice on trout ponds

DOVER (March 11, 2015) – Anglers eager for opening day of trout season on Saturday at Tidbury Pond near Dover and Newton Pond near

Greenwood are cautioned not to attempt to break ice on the ponds in order to fish in them, DNREC’s Division of Fish & Wildlife urged today.

“The recent extremely cold weather produced thick ice on many ponds, including our two downstate trout ponds, and despite this week’s rain and warmer temperatures, there’s still a lot of ice left on Tidbury and Newton ponds,” said Michael Stangl, DNREC Fisheries trout stocking program manager. “No boats of any type are permitted on Tidbury Pond,” he stressed. “And we strongly caution anglers against taking a boat out to break up ice, trying to break ice from shore, or certainly not walking on ice that might not be thick enough to support your weight. Anglers should not attempt to cross any ice to get to open water.”

Tidbury Pond is owned and managed by Kent County Levy Court, Department of Parks and Recreation, and anglers are asked to be respectful of the vegetation and fences erected to protect landscaped areas. Newton Pond, a restored borrow pit, is owned and managed as a state wildlife area by the Division of Fish & Wildlife. The 10-acre site includes a boat ramp for car-top boats and canoes with no gasoline motors allowed, plus a fishing pier and plenty of shoreline access.

Delaware’s spring 2015 downstate trout season is slated to open at 7 a.m. Saturday, March 14 at Tidbury Pond and Newton Pond, both of which have been stocked with about 300 pounds of rainbow trout, average size 11 to 13 inches. Some “trophy-sized” rainbows – weighing 2 pounds or more and measuring over 14 inches – were also stocked. Plans call for stocking to be repeated Thursday, March 19, with the same number of fish in both ponds.

For most anglers wishing to try their luck at trout fishing, unless exempted, a Delaware fishing license and trout stamp are required. Both are sold online, at the licensing office in DNREC’s Richardson & Robbins Building, 89 Kings Highway, Dover, and by license agents statewide. To find the participating agent nearest you, or to purchase a license online, visit Delaware Licenses. For additional information on Delaware fishing licenses, call 302-739-9918.

For more details on trout fishing in Delaware, click on 2015 Delaware Fishing Guide. The guide also is available in printed form at DNREC’s Dover licensing desk, and from license agents throughout the state.

To participate in trout fishing, anglers, unless exempted, must have a Delaware fishing license and trout stamp. Due to the change in opening day, a trout stamp will be required to fish the ponds through Wednesday, April 8, extending the April 1 date specified in Delaware regulations by one week, as authorized by an Emergency Regulation Order from DNREC’s Secretary David Small.