Getting ready to fish is easy as one, two, three

Opening Day of the freshwater fishing season in Rhode Island is 6 a.m. on Saturday, April 11. The Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (DEM) plans to stock more than 60,000 trout and golden rainbow trout in select waterways in advance of the season. Visit Designated Trout Waters | Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management for a list of over 100 freshwater locations to be stocked, including the children-only ponds.

A 2026-2027 fishing license is required for anglers 15 years of age and older. A Trout Conservation Stamp is also required of anyone wishing to keep, possess a trout or to fish in a catch-and-release or “fly-fishing only” area. Trout Stamps are not required for persons possessing trout taken from a lake or pond that shares a border with Rhode Island, such as Beach Pond in Exeter, R.I./Voluntown, Conn., and Wallum Lake in Burrillville, R.I./Douglas, Mass.

In Rhode Island, the minimum size for trout is eight inches (8”), and the daily creel or possession limit is five, from April 11, 2026, through Nov. 36, 2026, and two from Dec. 1, 2026, through Feb. 28, 2027.

In Massachusetts, regulations are different. In lakes, ponds and major waterways designated on their website, three fish may be taken year-round from these select major waterways. However, on all other rivers and brooks, eight fish may be taken from April 1 to Sept. 10 and three fish Sept. 11 to March 31.

There is no minimum size for trout unless otherwise noted at Freshwater fishing regulations | Mass.gov .  Visit this website for freshwater fishing and access to an interactive map that shows when waterways are stocked. Massachusetts plans on stocking over four hundred waterways this year.

Getting ready to fish

Freshwater fishing in Rhode Island and Massachusetts is outstanding. Both states stock waterways with a variety of trout and salmon, which makes catching them easy this time of year. Freshwater fishing is a good way to start fishing, as anglers of all ages can fish from the safety and comfort of a pond, lake, or river shore.

Fishing provides adventure, excitement, and food if you like to clean and cook your catch (which is not necessary, as many anglers practice catch and release). And it gives us an opportunity to be outdoors with family and friends and/or gain a bit of solace with the environment.

Here are three simple steps to get started.

One: fishing licenses and regulations. The states of Massachusetts and Rhode Island regulate freshwater fishing. See links to licensing information above and below.

Two: what you need to get started. For freshwater fishing use a light to medium action rod and reel starter combination such as a Daiwa, Ugly Stick, Berkley, or other rod/reel combination ($39 to $79).

You will also need some hooks and bobbers that float baits in the water column and move to signal that you have a bite. If recently stocked, trout can be fished with synthetic bait with success like Power Bait ($4 to $7), or as the fish acclimate to the natural environment live bait such as night crawler worms or shiners can be used. Once anglers have mastered casting and retrieving, lures can be used such as spinner baits and jerk baits.

Three: where to catch fish. As noted above, Rhode Island DEM’s Division of Fish & Wildlife stocks over one hundred ponds, rivers, brooks, and lakes with a variety of trout and salmon, so you might want to check waterways in your area. Massachusetts stocks more than four hundred designated trout waterways. Many of them are stocked two or three times a year.

Some popular stocked ponds in the North Attleboro area include Whiting and Falls Ponds. In Rhode Island, Baber Pond, South Kingstown; Beach Pond, Exeter; Carbuncle Pond, Coventry; Hunt River, East Greenwich; Silver Spring Lake, North Kingstown; Spring Gove Pond, Gloucester; and Wallum Lake, Burrillville to name a few.

For a complete list of stocked ponds, license information and a copy of the RI Freshwater Fishing Regulations and Guide visit www.eregulations.com/rhodeisland/fishing/freshwater . In Massachusetts visit Freshwater Fishing | Mass.gov.

Where’s the bite?

Freshwater fishing.  Trout season in Rhode Island opens Saturday, April 11, however, many trout ponds are open for fishing in Massachusetts. Also, the largemouth bite has been good in area ponds. David Danis of Quaker Lane Bait & Tackle, North Kingstown said, “Anglers have been catching largemouth bass at Silver Spring Lake and Ryan Park in North Kingstown and Carbuncle Pond, Coventry. Shinners have been producing fish for customers.”

I spoke with Dave Henault of Ocean State Tackle, Providence, who was still wintering in Cambodia. “We are gearing up for opening day. We are opening Friday, April 10, and will have a good supply of Power Baits which have been the hot bait for the past few years.”

For freshwater fishing information and licenses in Massachusetts visit Freshwater Fishing | Mass.gov; and in Rhode Island www.dem.ri.gov/fishing.

Saltwater

Anglers continue to find holdover striped bass in estuaries. Fishing for holdover stripers in our estuaries was very good this winter, even though the ice that melted earlier this month. “Anglers have been catching good sized striped bass in Potter Pond,” said Elisa Cahill of Snug Harbor Marina, South Kingstown. “Unfortunately, we had a DEM arrest on the pond last week. Someone was in possession of thirteen illegal striped bass. What a shame.”

Snug Harbor Marina will be holding their annual used tackle sale on May 2 and 3. “We have some great items that will be offered on consignment at the sale. A Van Staal reel that has hardly been used, and other great items are rolling in every day,” said Elisa Cahill. For information about offering some of your used items for sale visit www.snugharbormarina.com .

Dave Monti holds a master captain’s license and charter fishing license. He serves on a variety of boards and commissions and has a consulting business focusing on clean oceans, habitat preservation, conservation, renewable energy, and fisheries related issues and clients. Forward fishing news and photos to dmontifish@verizon.net  or visit www.noflukefishing.com .