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05/01/2020 12:00 AMOn May 1, over 250 wriggling rainbow trout splashed down in Chet's Pond in Branford, located on town-owned Tabor property along the Shoreline Greenway Trail (SGT). Now, town officials are hoping to see residents with fishing permits come out and cast at the scenic site, where a six-foot safe social distance between anglers is about the length of a standard fishing pole, said Branford Parks and Rec Director Alex Palluzzi.
Branford applied for and received a CT Dept. of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) permit to "liberate" the scads of 10" to 12" rainbow trout into the spring-fed pond, which covers over two acres. Palluzzi thanks his wife, Karen, for additional research assistance on the stocking program.
Branford contracted Todd Bobowick of Rowledge Pond Aquaculture (Sandy Hook), the oldest private trout hatchery in the state, to stock the pond with premium quality rainbow trout. At 9:30 a.m. on May 1, Palluzzi, together with Branford First Selectman Jamie Cosgrove and Dept. of Public Works' (DPW) Gary Zielenski, came out to watch Bobowick shuttle nets filled with dozens of lively trout from his truck's holding tank into the water. It took just a few minutes to liberate 255 rainbow trout. The trout are already above regulation size for catching, and will be lurking in deepest parts of the pond, said Bobowick. The fish will need to be restocked about every other year, said Bobowick.
Cosgrove said the idea to stock the pond was a discussion he'd had with Zielinski just ahead of Gov. Ned Lamont announcing COVID-19 social distancing rules in March. At that point, stocking Chet's Pond became a priority, as a way to offer the community another option for enjoyment and activity while practicing social distancing.
"It's a great activity. It gets people outside and it's great for the kids," said Cosgrove, noting Chet's Pond also draws a number of interesting birds, including heron and osprey. Several Great White heron were visible on the opposite bank on May 1.
Zielenski and DPW crew members have cleared invasive growth alongside the pond and added passive recreation components including a new wildflower meadow at one end, and three wooden benches overlooking the pond at different points. The benches were built by DPW member Eddie Fay. Zielenski recommends the bench overlooking the length of the pond as a great place to watch the sunset. The handicapped accessible SGT winds past the pond and continues into the Tabor property, where DPW has recently planted some shade trees and is continuing upkeep a walkable, stone-lined labyrinth installed last year. The trail is also accessible from the trail head on Tabor Road.
Chet's Pond can be accessed from the Pine Orchard Road entrance to the Shoreline Greenway Trail (next to Shoreline Pet Lodge). The pond is located just a short walk in from the parking area at the trail head. Parking is limited and all social distancing rules must be obeyed. The trail and pond are open from dawn to dusk. Anglers age 16 and over need to have a current inland fishing license, which can be secured through CT DEEP by clicking here. The annual license, which is good through Dec. 31, costs $14 for ages 16-17 and $28 for ages 18 – 64.