Vermont Fish & Wildlife Fish Stocking April, 2015

                                                

By Wayne G. Barber 

 

 

                                             

Fish Stocking Underway in Vermont

Vermont Fish & Wildlife to stock over 1 million fish in 2015

 

MONTPELIER, VT – The Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department has started its annual fish stocking work, an effort that will ultimately put over 1,000,000 adult fish, fry and fingerlings – including over 18,000 trophy trout, into Vermont waters in 2015. 

 

“Our fish culture and stocking program is designed to help maintain and restore fisheries, while also increasing angling opportunities,” said Adam Miller, fish culture operations manager with Vermont Fish & Wildlife. “The entire effort is critical to supporting local fisheries and to promoting the sport of fishing in Vermont.”

 

A key component of the program is the trophy trout initiative, which has been fully restored for 2015 with the reestablishment of the trophy brook trout program.

 

“We’ll be stocking nearly 18,500 large, two-year old trout across Vermont, and anglers will have the opportunity to fish over 34 miles of rivers and 28 lakes and ponds that are designated as trophy water,” said Miller. “This means excellent fishing opportunities and an even better chance for anglers to catch the fish of a lifetime.”

 

The following streams will be stocked with trophy trout, starting in late April:

 

Black River – Cavendish /Weathersfield

East Creek – Rutland

Otter Creek – Danby / Mt. Tabor

Walloomsac River – Bennington

Winooski River – Waterbury / Duxbury

Lamoille River – Fairfax

Mississquoi River – Enosburg

Passumpsic River – St. Johnsbury

 

Stocking of trophy trout in the following lakes and ponds is in progress:

 

Adams Reservoir – Woodford

Amherst Lake – Plymouth

Colby Pond – Plymouth

Echo Lake – Plymouth

Harriman Reservoir – Wilmington / Whitingham

Knapp Pond No. 1 – Reading / Cavendish

Knapp Pond No. 2 – Reading / Cavendish

Mill Pond – Windsor

Lake Raponda – Wilmington

Lake Rescue – Ludlow

Searsburg Reservoir – Searsburg

Lake Shaftsbury – Shaftsbury

Stoughton Pond – Weathersfield

Black Pond – Hubbardton

Goshen Dam – Goshen

Lake Paran – Bennington / Shaftsbury

Lefferts Pond – Chittenden

Smith Pond – Pittsford

Colton Pond – Killington

Kent Pond – Killington

McIntosh Pond – Royalton

Miller Pond – Stafford

Rood Pond – Williamstown / Brookfield

Sunset Lake – Brookfield

May Pond – Barton

Osmore Pond – Peacham

Zack Woods-Perch Ponds – Hyde Park / Wolcott Holland Pond – Holland

 

“Vermont is fortunate to have many rivers, lakes and ponds which support naturally reproducing trout populations, including everything from small upland streams and beaver ponds that support abundant wild brook trout to larger rivers which hold wild brown and rainbow trout, as well as large cold water lakes with wild lake trout” said Rich Kirn, fisheries biologist with Vermont Fish & Wildlife.

 

“That being said, where habitat conditions have limited the ability of a waterbody to sustain wild trout, hatchery reared fish can be used to support popular fisheries in select waters,” said Kirn. “In determining stocking locations, trout species and densities, our biologists consider the existing fish community, angler use and public access to ensure we are making effective use of these fish while minimizing competition with wild populations.”

 

In addition to the trophy trout, over 230,000 yearling landlocked Atlantic salmon, brook, brown, rainbow and lake trout, as well as steelhead rainbow trout, will be stocked into Vermont streams, lakes and ponds other than Lake Champlain.

 

Lake Champlain is scheduled to be stocked with over 434,000 landlocked Atlantic salmon, steelhead rainbow trout, brown trout and lake trout – including fry and fingerlings.

 

Lake and pond stocking will begin as soon as ice starts to clear, while river and stream stocking generally occurs in late April and May after spring flows have receded and temperatures are more conducive to fishing. However, anglers are advised to keep in mind that stocking dates may be subject to change based on weather and water conditions.

 

“Together, cultured and wild trout are critical pieces of our fisheries management plan, but they also provide immense recreational benefit,” said Miller. “Both stocked and wild fish create quality experiences for various anglers, including children, which helps to support outdoor activity and promote a greater connection to our natural resources.”

 

Miller also noted the role trout have toward the substantial economic impact of fishing in Vermont.

 

“Collectively, wild and hatchery reared trout provide a diverse recreational trout fishery and make a significant contribution to the $131 million expended annually on fishing in Vermont,” said Miller. “Stocked fish alone generate roughly $31.6 million annually to Vermont’s economy through angler expenditures, while costing only $3.3 million to raise. Fishing really is a vital component of Vermont from a variety of angles.”

 

For a complete 2015 stocking schedule, to purchase a fishing license or for more information on fishing in Vermont, visit www.vtfishandwildlife.com.