NEW SALEM — A good crowd showed up at Gate 31 in New Salem Saturday to help stock the Quabbin Reservoir with trout. Tony Brighenti of the North Worcester County Quabbin Anglers Association said this marked the 40th anniversary of the annual event, organized by the Hatcheries Division of the state Department of Fisheries and Wildlife.
According to Ken Simmons, Chief of Hatcheries for Fisheries and Wildlife, about 200 trout were to be released Saturday, with the help of a lot of area children, as well as a few adults. In all, he said, about 500,000 trout will be released in lakes, ponds, and waterways across the Commonwealth this spring.
According to the department’s website, other area fishing spots that have been stocked include Sheomet Lake, Moore’s Pond and Richards Reservoir in Warwick, Laurel Lake in Erving, Lake Mattawa in Orange, Connor Pond in Petersham and the Millers River in Winchendon. Stocking will also take place in the Tully River, West Brook and other spots in and around Athol in the near future.