Bay State anglers can look forward to over 579,900 feisty brook, brown, rainbow and tiger trout being stocked this spring, according to figures released by MassWildlife. As long as weather and water conditions permit, MassWildlife stocking trucks will be making their spring trout stocking runs beginning with selected lakes and ponds in the eastern areas of the state by mid-March. Other bodies of water in the state still covered with snow will be stocked when weather, snow, water and mud conditions permit. “Half of the 341,000 rainbow trout we will be putting out will be over 14 inches long,” observes chief fish culturist Dr. Ken Simmons. “They’ll be distributed statewide throughout the stocking season by our five regional Wildlife District offices.” Over 147,500 brown trout will be stocked, of which more than 36,000 are larger than 13 inches. The larger water bodies will receive the larger fish with the smaller brooks and streams receiving the smaller fish. Eighty-six thousand brook trout, some of which weigh more than three pounds, will be stocked in a similar fashion. Anglers can also anticipate trying to take some of the 5,000 tiger trout to be released. These handsome fish, a cross between a female brown trout and a male brook trout, will average over 14″ in length. Once the stocking season begins, weekly trout stocking reports will be updated each Friday on the MassWildlife website. Anglers without Internet access may also call the nearest District office for information on trout-stocked waters. In the Northeast, call 978/263-4347. Don’t forget to “hook” a new angler of any age on to fishing.Despite another turbulent and wet day in parts of the state, Mainers were able to harvest 1,859 deer on opening day, an increase of 37 percent from 2006. This led to a total fall harvest of 28,884 deer. This is slightly lower than the preseason predictions and higher than the 20-year average of 28,700. Colder weather and tracking conditions in many parts of the state made this season a pleasant and productive one. Black powder enthusiasts came up strong this season, with a harvest of 1,964 deer, which is a 50 percent increase from 2006 and by far is the highest muzzleloader harvest that Maine has seen. Hunters this year harvested 16,103 adult bucks and 12,781 antlerless deer.Paddlers, come experience the excitement, the splash, the hottest canoe/kayak event this spring! Sponsored by Kittery Trading Post, The New England Paddlesports Show takes place on the campus of the University of New Hampshire in the Lundholm Gymnasium complex. Here is your opportunity to see it all under one roof. This is the best time of the year to purchase the kayak or canoe you have always wanted! Meet the leaders of the paddle sports industry ? Old Town Canoe, Perception Kayak, Wilderness Systems, Necky Kayak and many more! April 4, 5, and 6 at the UNH Field House in Durham, NH. Admission is $6; under 16 is free.Looking for something to do this week? Take advantage of the lowest prices on fishing equipment and spring hunting equipment during the year at the Kittery Fishingfest and the newly added Spring Turkey Event, March 24-30. The trading post has the largest inventory of fishing and hunting equipment in the Northeast. We’ll see you there!In closing this week’s column, I have to mention that if you are a skier, don’t be fooled by looking out your window for snow. We spent last weekend with our friends, Joan and Ernie, in Jackson, NH where there is more snow than I have ever seen at one time in my life. They have so much snow that at times it seemed as if we were in another country. The snowbanks are as high as the speed limit signs, and the skiing conditions were superb, especially at Attitash. We skied for two full days and then dined with some wonderful people. Thanks again, JEM, Dave and Jeannie, and say hello to Charlie and John.All for now.