Anglers aged 16 and older can learn about, and gain skills in, the increasingly popular sport of fly-fishing by attending free fly-fishing lessons for adults at the DNREC Aquatic Resources Education Center in Smyrna.

The class, taught by local experts who are members of the White Clay Fly Fishers Club, is held at the Aquatic Resources Education Center, located at 2520 Lighthouse Road, in Smyrna. It is a two-part class; participants should plan on attending both days.

Participants should bring their own fly rod, if they have one. There will be free loaner equipment available, to use during the class, for those who don’t have their own.

The class is offered free of charge, but pre-registration is required. To register, email your name and the number of people in your group, to Pearlie Franklin.

Licensing Requirements

Most individuals 16 years of age and older who participate in this program must have a current Delaware fishing license. License-exempt anglers, including Delaware residents 65 and older, must obtain a free FIN number to fish.

Delaware recreational fishing licenses and free FIN numbers are available online at de.gov/fishinglicense and from authorized license agents statewide.

Freshwater Trout Fishing

DNREC’s freshwater trout program is a self-supporting put-and-take fishery. Rainbow, brown and/or brook trout are stocked in selected streams in New Castle County and in selected ponds in Kent and Sussex counties.

Learn more about the trout stocking program and trout fishing opportunities in Delaware, including a section of White Clay Creek — from a point 25 yards above Thompson Bridge at Chambers Rock Road to the Pennsylvania state line — that is designated as a restricted trout stream for fly-fishing only.

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