Trout Season Begins

Saturday, April 12, marks the beginning of trout fishing season in Rhode Island and things will be hopping over at Ocean State Tackle on Branch Avenue. They will be opening at 4:30am with nightcrawlers, Power Baits, and all your other angling needs. Owner Dave Henault can answer all your questions.

The RI Department of Environmental Management (DEM) has stocked more than 100 freshwater locations, including children’s-only ponds, with 60,000 fish – brook, brown, rainbow, and golden rainbow trout. (Fishing in the stocked locations is prohibited before Opening Day.)

Go here for the list of designated trout waters and info on fishing regulations and prohibited activities. Fishing sites closest to Providence: Olney Pond at Lincoln Woods, Willett Pond and Ten Mile River in East Providence, and Brickyard Pond in Barrington. Several sites are wheelchair accessible and a few are for the kids only, like Slater Park in Pawtucket. Information on applying for licenses can be found at the FAQ page.

Opening day of trout season occurs annually on the second Saturday in April; the season continues through the last day of February at midnight.

Ocean State Tackle will be opening for the season on Friday, April 11th, from 7am to 7pm. 

Trout Season Opening Day, 4:30am to 6pm, Saturday, April 12, Ocean State Tackle, 430 Branch Avenue, (directions)

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Catch one of the golden rainbow trout between opening day and May 5th and earn a golden trout pin. Just email in a photo and follow instructions. Photo from DEM.

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Last August we wrote about Dave’s upcoming kidney transplant — and his donor nephew Andrew — a story also covered by the Providence Journal. Happily, by January of this year we were reporting on his recovery.

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Seen here is Bert Crenca, artist and founder of AS220. Last June he decided to repair the trout artwork on the front of Ocean State Tackle and it looks fantastic now. Fun fact: Crenca recently appeared in “Secret Mall Apartment.” He and Dave are old friends. (It was very hot that day!)