The Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department has kicked off fish stocking work across the state, an effort that will ultimately result in over 1 million fish being distributed into Vermont waters in 2017. The work includes the strategic distribution of brook, brown, lake, rainbow and steelhead trout, as well as landlocked Atlantic salmon and walleye.
“While we did some pond and lake stocking earlier in April, our stream and river stocking work is beginning this week and will be in full swing for the month of May,” said Adam Miller, fish culture operations manager with Fish & Wildlife. “Our stocking efforts, which are supported by our fish culture program, are designed to help maintain and restore fisheries, while also increasing recreational angling opportunities.”
One popular component of the stocking program is the trophy trout initiative, which stocks large, 2-year-old brook, brown and rainbow trout in lakes, ponds and rivers throughout Vermont.
“Nearly 15,000 trophy trout will be stocked this year, and anglers will be able to fish almost 21 miles of rivers and 16 lakes and ponds that are designated as trophy water,” Miller said.
The following streams will be stocked with trophy trout between now and mid-May: Black River, Otter Creek, East Creek, Passumpsic River, Lamoille River, Walloomsac River, Missisquoi River and Winooski River.
Stocking of trophy trout in the following lakes and ponds is also in progress at Amherst Lake, Lake Rescue, Black Pond, Lake Shaftsbury, Echo Lake, McIntosh Pond, Holland Pond, Mill Pond, Kent Pond, Miller Pond, Knapp Pond No. 1, Smith Pond, Lake Paran, Stoughton Pond, Lake Raponda and Sunset Lake.
For a complete 2017 stocking schedule, to purchase a fishing license, or for more information on fishing in Vermont, visit vtfishandwildlife.com.
Photo courtesy of Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department
Fish & Wildlife are busy stocking ponds and lakes around the state.
