Trout season opens today, and since early March, nearly 390,000 trout have been released into 103 lakes and ponds and 200 rivers and streams throughout Connecticut and are awaiting anglers, the state Department of Environmental Protection announced.

DEP's spring trout stocking effort continues through the end of May and when completed, it expects to have stocked more than 680,000 catchable size trout.

Among the best places for families to fish on Opening Day are the designated Trout Parks.

"Trout Parks are easily accessible, have picnic areas and other amenities nearby, and are stocked frequently so that there are plenty of trout for children, families, and novice anglers to catch," said Bill Hyatt, director of DEP's Inland Fisheries Division. "And as an added feature, families will be able to help stock trout at eight of the Trout Parks on Opening Day. We have found that these stockings are a real highlight for many families on Opening Day."

All 11 of the Trout Parks have already been stocked by the DEP. The areas that are scheduled to be stocked again on Opening Day are: Black Rock Pond in Watertown, Chatfield Hollow State Park in Killingworth, Southford Falls State Park in Oxford, Stratton Brook State Park in Simsbury, Wharton Brook State Park in Wallingford, Mohegan Park Pond in Norwich, Valley Falls Park Pond in Vernon and Great Hollow Pond/Wolfe Park in Monroe. All the remaining Trout Parks will be re-stocked shortly after Opening Day.

The DEP will again have Keney Park Pond in Hartford, Lake Wintergreen in Hamden, Bunnells Pond in Bridgeport, Mohegan Park Pond and Upper Fulton Park Pond in Waterbury stocked with trout for Opening Day. These waters are being managed as "Urban Fishing Areas" under a program initiated in 2006 as part of No Child Left Inside initiative.

Anglers are advised to consult the 2010 Connecticut Angler's Guide for the current fishing regulations that apply to the waters they plan to fish. It is available at town clerks' offices, many DEP offices and at tackle stores that sell fishing licenses.

Anglers can purchase their fishing licenses on-line or at participating town halls, DEP field offices and at fishing tackle vendors. Both the angler's guide and the on-line licensing system can be accessed at: www.ct.gov/dep/fishing.

Southeastern Connecticut Trout Parks that will be stocked, with approximate times, are: Mohegan Pond Park and Day Pond in Colchester, both 8:15 a.m.