Norwich, Conn. —
A month after Norwich leaders urged regulators to lengthen trout fishing season by up to two weeks, top state officials say the idea is gaining support and could become a reality as soon as 2014.
“I am personally in favor of it and want it to happen,” Pete Aarrestad, director of the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection’s inland fisheries division, told The Bulletin. “We’re very serious about it. But we really need to look at how we do this on a statewide basis.”
The City Council today will receive a letter from DEEP that says it’s exploring the idea of a longer fishing season, but no decision has been made yet.
The DEEP’s stance comes a month after receiving a letter from the Norwich City Council urging it to re-examine its traditional third Saturday in April launch for trout fishing, which is weeks after opening dates in surrounding states, including Massachusetts and Rhode Island.
“We know that people leave Connecticut on its western and northern borders to fish in New York and Massachusetts. That’s revenue lost to our area,” said Norwich alderman Charlie Jaskiewicz, who sponsored the resolution asking for a longer fishing season. “Let’s open our waters to be consistent with other states and get some of that revenue.”
http://www.norwichbulletin.com/newsnow/x1931755938/State-says-it-may-extend-fishing-season-by-up-to-two-weeks#axzz282FnWiu2
A month after Norwich leaders urged regulators to lengthen trout fishing season by up to two weeks, top state officials say the idea is gaining support and could become a reality as soon as 2014.
“I am personally in favor of it and want it to happen,” Pete Aarrestad, director of the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection’s inland fisheries division, told The Bulletin. “We’re very serious about it. But we really need to look at how we do this on a statewide basis.”
The City Council today will receive a letter from DEEP that says it’s exploring the idea of a longer fishing season, but no decision has been made yet.
The DEEP’s stance comes a month after receiving a letter from the Norwich City Council urging it to re-examine its traditional third Saturday in April launch for trout fishing, which is weeks after opening dates in surrounding states, including Massachusetts and Rhode Island.
“We know that people leave Connecticut on its western and northern borders to fish in New York and Massachusetts. That’s revenue lost to our area,” said Norwich alderman Charlie Jaskiewicz, who sponsored the resolution asking for a longer fishing season. “Let’s open our waters to be consistent with other states and get some of that revenue.”
http://www.norwichbulletin.com/newsnow/x1931755938/State-says-it-may-extend-fishing-season-by-up-to-two-weeks#axzz282FnWiu2
