DEEP032726CM - Northern Pike frylings - Specifications.pdf

SPECIFICATIONS FOR FRYLING NORTHERN PIKE - 2026

Number: 20,000 Northern Pike frylings (2-3-inches) for stocking up to four Pike Management Lakes (Bantam Lake, Winchester Lake, Mansfield Hollow Reservoir, and Pachaug Pond).

Size: Fryling Northern Pike must be at least 2-inches in length.

Strain: Preference is that Northern Pike broodstock originate from a lake dwelling population.

Date of delivery: Preferred date of delivery is between June 1, 2026, and June 14, 2026, however, with appropriate justification from the vendor and approval by Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) Fisheries biologists delivery can be extended to a later date. Weekend deliveries are allowed. No holiday deliveries.

Condition of fish: For payment by DEEP, the fish must be delivered alive and deemed in good health by the State of Connecticut Fish Pathologist or a DEEP Fisheries biologist. The Northern Pike will be made available for inspection by the State of Connecticut Fish Pathologist or DEEP Fisheries biologist upon entering the State of Connecticut at a designated location. The State of Connecticut Fish Pathologist or DEEP Fisheries biologist will be allowed to sample the fish for disease and general health. Sample counts of fish and possibly weights will also be taken by a DEEP Fisheries biologist. Dead and unhealthy fish will not be stocked but may be retained for analysis if necessary. Any dead or dying fish will be counted and the final bill will be adjusted to reflect said loss.

Disease status: A comprehensive disease inspection and report is required. The Northern Pike must be free of serious diseases, including lymphocystis, heterosporous, infectious pancreatic necrosis, furunculosis, and enteric redmouth. Testing of fish for viral hemorrhagic septicemia (VHS) is mandatory per Connecticut’s request and each separate lot of fish within the same shipment must be VHS free. Fish health inspection reports (from a certified pathology laboratory in the vendor’s state or region) will be submitted to the Connecticut Fish Pathologist or DEEP Fisheries biologist no less than 10 days prior to departure from the originating facility.

Aquatic Nuisance Species: No other aquatic animals or plants are to be transported to Connecticut (including other fish, amphibians, crayfish or aquatic plant species). Transportation water must be free of dreissenid mussels (i.e.

zebra mussel Dreissena polymorpha and quagga mussel Dreissena rostriformis bugensis) adults or larvae.

Communication from the vendor's State Department of Natural Resources should indicate that no viable populations of dreissenid mussels have been documented in the waters from which Northern Pike are obtained. Shipments will be inspected for the presence of Aquatic Nuisance Species. No water, except from a well-water source, is to be added to the transportation truck prior to or during transportation to Connecticut. After all fish have been off loaded, transportation water will be released away from inland waters under the inspection of a DEEP Fisheries biologist.

Coordination agreement: The initial meeting location will be determined by a DEEP Fisheries biologist. The vendor will notify DEEP Fisheries biologists Chris McDowell (860-707-2767 [cell]) or Andrew Bade (860-490-0701 [cell]), at least two weeks before loading, again on the day of loading, and then 2 hours before reaching the Connecticut border. Stops within the State of Connecticut will include: an initial meeting location (most likely a boat launch, highway rest stop, commuter lot, or weigh-in area), and potentially stops at several lakes in Connecticut. Fish may be offloaded at several locations on each lake. The vendor will be responsible for obtaining any state or federal permits necessary for transport of live fish across or through all intervening states on route to Connecticut.

Care of fish: Driver(s) should be knowledgeable with pH, dissolved oxygen, and water temperature requirements of juvenile Northern Pike. They should also be experienced in proper acclimation and handling procedures of said species.

The driver(s) should be prepared to remain at the designated meeting location while their tank water temperatures are tempered to meet DEEP staff stocking truck(s) water temperatures or receiving waterbody temperatures, if required.

Other Conditions: Selected vendor should have experience delivering large loads of live fish to the State of Connecticut.