MassWildlife is restocking North Central Mass. fishing holes with trout - where to go

Spring is here, and the weather is finally warm enough for Greater Gardner residents to enjoy outdoor activities, from hiking to fishing, in the many natural spaces.

The Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife plans many programs annually to promote hunting and fishing best practices, from preserving state parks to restocking fish for its fishing programs.

MassWildlife has a biannual program that stocks trout across the state into freshwater ponds, rivers and lakes every fall and spring. This spring, the agency will release 455,000 adult trout into recreational freshwater bodies.

Here's what to know about this year's fishing season in Greater Gardner.

Why do they stock Kendall Pond with trout?

Todd Olanyk, the MassWildlife central district supervisor, said the agency started the trout restocking program to promote recreational fishing and encourage people to try outdoor activities. He said the agency started to breed and release thousands of trout to ensure there are enough fish for all fishermen across the commonwealth.

In the North Central and Worcester County region, over 100,000 trout are released every year, Olaynk said.

"Studies show that being out in nature is good for mental health, and we saw this as an opportunity to get folks out in nature," he said. "People love to fish for recreational enjoyment, so we need to make sure there is enough fish to sustain fishing."

Olanyk said 300 rainbow trout were released at Kendall Pond, which is across from the Polish American Citizens Club in Gardner, on April 18. He said the majority of fishermen prefer rainbow trout, and the trout that were released are about 2 years old.

MassWildlife has five fish hatcheries in different regions of the state. The Bitzer Hatchery in Montague breeds the trout released in the Central Mass. region. Olanyk said the agency breeds four species of trout: Eastern brook, brown, rainbow, and tiger trout. He said tiger trout are usually released in the Cape Cod region of the state.

Where else have trout been released?

Kendall Pond isn't the only body of water in the Greater Gardner area restocked with trout seasonally. According to the MassWildlife trout stocking report, the spring trout stocking program started on March 4.

In the past month, the Otter River, Dunn Pond, and Perley Brook Reservoir in Gardner and the Otter River in Templeton have been restocked with trout.

In Hubbardston, the East Branch Ware River has been restocked. Trout releases will soon happen at Burnshirt River, Canesto Brook, Joslin Brook, Natty Pond Brook, and West Branch Ware River in Hubbardston.

This spring, no restocking has happened yet in Ashburnham, Westminster or Winchendon. MassWildlife plans to stock several freshwater ponds and rivers in these areas in the next few weeks.

In Ashburnham, Phillips Brook and Whitman River will be restocked. In Westminster, Phillips Brook, Crow Hills Pond, and Wyman Pond will be restocked. In Winchendon, Lake Dennison, Millers River, Priest Brooks, and Tarbell Brooks are on the MassWildlife schedule for trout release.

Olanyk said trout need bodies of water that are cold enough and deep enough for them to survive the summer season. As long as the body of water is below 70 degrees, the agency will stock it with trout in the spring or fall.

Do you need a fishing license?

Anyone over the age of 15 must have an up-to-date freshwater fishing license, which expires annually on Dec. 31. People can buy a fishing license through MassFishHunt.mass.gov. To buy a license, you must create an account with the MassFishHunt website. After Massachusetts residents apply for a fishing license for the first time, they can renew the license online every year.

Anglers must carry their licenses when fishing and provide their license or a picture of their license any time the authorities ask for it.

A Massachusetts resident freshwater fishing license costs $33. There is no fee for residents aged 15 to 17 years old and those over 70 to get a freshwater fishing license. Residents between the ages of 65 and 69 have a discounted fee of $16.50. Any Massachusetts resident with a paraplegic or intellectual disability or is blind can obtain the freshwater fishing license for free.

Massachusetts residents who are disabled and want the freshwater fishing license fee waived will have to mail MassWildlife a free license application with a copy of a Certification of Blindness issued by the Massachusetts Commission for the Blind or have a signed document from their doctor certifying their disability.

This article originally appeared on Gardner News: Freshwater fishing in Greater Gardner - where trout has been restocked