Fish Stocking Underway Across Vermont
Vermont Fish & Wildlife to stock 1.2 million fish in 2017
Vermont Fish & Wildlife has begun fish stocking across the state. This effort will ultimately result in over 1 million fish being distributed into Vermont waters in 2017.
“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 Vermont 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.”
The Department’s fish stocking work includes strategic distribution of brook, brown, lake, rainbow and steelhead rainbow trout, as well as landlocked Atlantic salmon and walleye.
A popular part 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 Winooski River
Stocking of trophy trout in the following lakes and ponds is also in progress:
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 Sunset Lake
For a complete 2017 stocking schedule, to purchase a fishing license, or for more information on fishing in Vermont, visit www.vtfishandwildlife.com.