DEM ANNOUNCES PLANS FOR ADDITIONAL WINTER STOCKING OF TROUT IN ANTICIPATION OF ICE FISHING

PROVIDENCE - The Department of Environmental Management's Division of Fish and Wildlife next week will stock about 9,000 rainbow trout in several locations throughout the state for an added winter stocking. The stocking will be taking place in anticipation of the winter ice-fishing season.

Trout stocking locations will include Olney Pond in Lincoln, Barber Pond in South Kingstown, Meadowbrook Pond in Richmond, Wyoming Pond in Hope Valley, Wood River Rt. 165 to Barberville in Exeter, Silver Spring Pond in North Kingstown, Watchaug Pond in Charlestown and Carbuncle Pond in Coventry. A current fishing license and a Trout Conservation Stamp are required. The daily creel and possession limit for trout are two per day.

As the winter season progresses, anglers should check with individual communities about safe ice conditions on local ponds before ice fishing, as DEM does not monitor ice conditions in local communities. For ice conditions at Olney Pond at Lincoln Woods State Park, they can call DEM's 24-hour ice safety hotline at 222-2632.

Ice must have a uniform thickness of at least six inches before it is considered safe by DEM. It generally takes at least five to seven consecutive days of temperatures in the low 20s before ice may become safe. Even then, the strength of the ice is determined by a number of factors such as the size and depth of a pond, presence of springs or currents, and local temperature fluctuations. DEM has an ice safety guide that can be found online at its website, www.dem.ri.gov, by clicking on "Parks and Recreation" under "Offices and Divisions".