CHICOPEE, Mass. - It’s been a busy week for MassWildlife as employees stock up ponds and lakes all across the state with trout for the season.

On Wednesday, dozens of families stopped by the Chicopee Reservoir, waiting eagerly in line for their turn to fill up a bucket and release the fish into the water.

Brian Keleher, a district fisheries biologist for MassWildlife, said employees always look forward to public trout stocking events.

“We’re drawing people in who maybe have never had exposure to fishing, and maybe this is something they’re interested in,” Keleher said. “It’s a great way to get outside. We’re hoping we draw folks in from the area, encourage them to go fishing, maybe get some new anglers out there.”

Brook trout, brown trout, rainbow trout and tiger trout are currently being stocked in 450 lakes, ponds, rivers and streams throughout Massachusetts. Keleher said they’re all raised by local hatcheries.

“Today specifically, we have folks from the McLaughlin Hatchery in Belchertown and the Sunderland Hatchery,” Keleher said. “The Sunderland truck brought a very nice large brook trout, the McLaughlin truck brought very big rainbow trout. So, we’re offering kids an opportunity to see some of the differences between some of the species that we stock.”

There was quite a long line of people waiting to pitch in and dump trout into the Chicopee Reservoir, as well as plenty of people already taking advantage of the good fishing.

Quite a few of them had already been to several stocking events.

“Yesterday, at Hampton Pond in Westfield,” said Austin Connor. “I like to help nature whenever I can.”

Brian Bensley and his daughter Madelyn have also made it an April vacation routine.

“My favorite part is that we’re releasing more and more fish into the pond and it’s really fun to just let them go, and have them live another life,” Madelyn said.

“It’s awesome to be able to get outside and do something in nature like this, it’s just really good for them,” added Brian.

There are four more public trout stocking events this week, and a full schedule can be found on the MassWildlife website. The site also has several other interactive features, including a map of areas which have already been stocked.