Norwich ― To celebrate the start of “catch and keep” spring fishing season, the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection is inviting the public to help stock Spaulding Pond in Mohegan Park with trout Saturday morning.

Mohegan Park is among a dozen designated trout parks across the state. DEEP officials will be at Spaulding Pond at 8 a.m. Saturday to stock the pond. Day Pond in Colchester also will be stocked at 8 a.m. Saturday.

DEEP has been stocking rivers, streams, lakes and ponds since February and plans to release more than 500,000 fish through mid-to-late May in more than 100 lakes and ponds and 135 rivers and streams.

Trout fishing is open year-round in Connecticut but is a catch-and-release only from March 1 until 6 a.m. April 13, when the season switches to “catch and keep,” DEEP officials said.