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Vermont trophy trout stocking under way

Submitted by tim on

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."

"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."

For a complete list of trophy trout waters and the 2015 stocking schedule, see below.

Trophy Stocking 2015
Waterbody Town Week of: 2YR Rainbow 2YR Brown Trout Total
Black River Cavendish-Weathersfield 5/4, 5/11, 5/18, 5/25 1500 500 2000
East Creek Rutland 4/27, 5/25 1250 1250
Lamoille River Fairfax 4/27, 5/11 600 600
Mississquoi River Enosburg 4/27, 5/11 1000 1000
Otter Creek Danby/Mt Tabor 5/4, 5/25 500 500 1000
Passumpsic River St. Johnsbury 5/4, 5/18 500 500 1000
Walloomsac River Bennington 5/4, 5/18 750 250 1000
Winooski River Waterbury, Duxbury 5/4, 5/18 1000 350 1350
In addition to annual stockings of yearling trout, the following ponds will also receive 2-year old trout.
Additional Trophy Stocking 2015
Waterbody Town Species Number Planned
Adams Reservoir Woodford BKT 60
Amherst Lake Plymouth RBT 60
Black Pond Hubbardton RBT 200
Colby Pond Plymouth BKT 60
Colton Pond Sherburne BKT 250
Echo Lake Plymouth RBT 70
Goshen Dam Goshen BKT 350
Harriman Reservoir Wilmington-Whitingham BKT 1000
Holland Pond Holland RBT 300
Kent Pond Sherburne RBT 500
Kent Pond Sherburne BKT 150
Knapp Pond No 1 Reading-Cavendish RBT 90
Knapp Pond No 2 Reading-Cavendish BKT 80
Lake Paran Bennington/Shaftsbury RBT 500
Lake Raponda Wilmington RBT 770
Lake Rescue Ludlow RBT 330
Lake Shaftsbury Shaftsbury RBT 40
Lefferts Pond Chittenden BKT 150
May Pond Barton BKT 350
McIntosh Pond Royalton BKT 200
McIntosh Pond Royalton RBT 300
Mill Pond Windsor RBT 300
Miller Pond Strafford RBT 600
Miller Pond Strafford BKT 200
Osmore Pond Peacham BKT 100
Rood Pond Williamstown,Brookfield BKT 550
Searsburg Reservoir Searsburg BKT 250
Smith Pond Pittsford BKT 250
Stoughton Pond Weathersfield RBT 600
Sunset Lake Brookfield BKT 250
Sunset Lake Brookfield RBT 300
Zack Woods-Perch Ponds Hyde Park/Wolcott BKT 50
*Trophy area stocking dates are subject to change based on weather and water conditions.
Yearlings/Smolts 2015
Species Inland Waters Lake Champlain
Brook Trout 56300
Brown Trout 62150 48000
Lake Trout 13700 57000
Landlocked Atlantic Salmon 33000 148839
Rainbow Trout 67500
Steelhead Trout 10000 58000
Total 242650 311839
The destruction of the Roxbury Fish Hatchery by Tropical Storm Irene has resulted in fewer trout being stocked in inland lakes and streams. Roxbury produced a significant number of yearling and trophy fish every year and the department plans on rebuilding the hatchery. For more information, please email Dave Yasharian ([email protected]) or phone at 802-467-3660.

Source: Vermont Fish & Wildlife May 7, 2015