Tag Archives: Fish

August 6 Declared Hatchery Day in Vermont

August 6 Declared Hatchery Day in Vermont

Open houses & activities to be held at fish hatcheries across the state
Governor Peter Shumlin and officials from the Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department today announced the declaration of August 6, 2016, as “Hatchery Day” in Vermont in recognition of the important role the state’s fish hatcheries play toward benefiting Vermont’s environment and outdoor recreationalists.

“First and foremost, Vermont’s fish hatcheries play an integral role in the successful management of the state’s fisheries,” said Shumlin. “They’re also a symbol of Vermont’s commitment to our natural resources, a tremendous tool for educating the public about the environment, and a significant part of the state’s history. I’m excited to help celebrate the importance and tradition of Vermont’s fish hatcheries through this declaration.”

Hatchery Day, which will be celebrated by open houses and other activities at the state’s hatcheries, will also commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Bennington Fish Culture Station and the 125th anniversary of the Roxbury Fish Culture Station, a facility soon to be rebuilt following impacts from Tropical Storm Irene.

“Much has changed since the state’s first hatchery opened in 1891, but our commitment to raising fish to restore fisheries and provide quality recreational angling opportunities has remained steadfast,” said Fish & Wildlife Commissioner Louis Porter. “Hatchery staff work extremely hard, often around-the-clock, to ensure the hatcheries run efficiently and effectively and meet these overarching objectives. Hatchery Day will be a celebration of the past, present and future of the program — one that we’re very proud of.”
The public is invited to attend open houses at all five of the state’s fish hatcheries on Saturday, August 6, beginning at 9 a.m. These hatcheries include: Ed Weed Fish Culture Station in Grand Isle; Roxbury Fish Culture Station in Roxbury; Ball Hill Fish Culture Station in Newark; Salisbury Fish Culture Station in Salisbury; and Bennington Fish Culture Station in Bennington.

“We encourage families and people of all ages to take a tour of our hatcheries, participate in a range of fun activities for the day and learn how we raise fish and why raising them is so important to Vermont,” said Adam Miller, fish culture operations manager with Vermont Fish & Wildlife.

Each year Vermont’s hatcheries produce approximately 1.5 million fish for stocking, including a range of species such as brook, brown, rainbow, lake and steelhead trout, as well as walleye and landlocked Atlantic salmon.

Along with their role in fisheries restoration, stocked fish also serve as an economic driver for the state, accounting for roughly $31.6 million annually in angler expenditures added to Vermont’s economy.

To learn more about Hatchery Day in Vermont, Vermont’s fisheries programs, fishing regulations, or to purchase a fishing license, visit www.vtfishandwildlife.com.

VT Walleye Fishing Starts May 7

VT Walleye Fishing Starts May 7

The best walleye fishing in New England will begin soon in several Vermont rivers and lakes, according to the Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department. The department is reminding anglers that walleye fishing season starts in much of the state on the first Saturday in May and that regulations vary, depending on the water you are fishing.

VT Walleye Fishing Starts May 7

 

There is no open season on sauger, a close cousin to the walleye. Once more abundant in southern Lake Champlain, sauger may still appear there rarely. If caught while fishing for other fish, sauger must be immediately released. (See: VT Fish & Wildlife To Hold Hearings Lake Champlain Sauger Fishing Regulation Change)

In all waters of Vermont except Lake Carmi, Chittenden Reservoir and the Connecticut River, walleye have an 18″ minimum length requirement and three-fish daily limit. The open season is from Saturday, May 7 to March 15, 2017.

 

Lake Champlain Walleye Fishing

Excellent walleye fishing opportunities occur each spring in Lake Champlain and its tributaries: the Missisquoi River, Lamoille River, Winooski River, and Otter Creek. Vermont’s state record walleye weighed 14.55 lbs. and was caught in Lake Champlain by Richard Levesque of Swanton in 2010.

Other Vermont Walleye Fishing Hotspots

Lake Carmi has a slot limit for walleye because of the lake’s high productivity and high rate of walleye harvest. The minimum length is 15 inches, all walleye between 17 and 19 inches must be released. The daily limit is five walleye, but only one may be over 19 inches long. The season is open May 7 through March 15.

Chittenden Reservoir has special walleye regulations in order to produce large walleye that can help control its over-abundant yellow perch population and provide anglers with an opportunity to harvest a trophy walleye. The minimum length is 22 inches, the daily limit is two, and the season is open June 1 through March 15.

Connecticut River walleye fishing rules are set by New Hampshire. No walleye between 16 to 18 inches may be kept and the daily limit is four fish, of which only one may be longer than 18 inches.

The Northeast Kingdom also offers walleye fishing opportunities in Salem Lake, Island Pond, Clyde Pond, and the Clyde River.

Other Lake Champlain Fishing Articles:

Salmon Symposium

Salmon Symposium

Lake Champlain Salmon Symposium

Landlocked Atlantic Salmon

The Salmon Symosium focuses on fisheries management objectives for the Boquet River and Lake Champlain, as well as the history of the Atlantic salmon fishery, current management objectives, ongoing research, potential natural resource concerns, economic impact of fisheries development, opportunities, challenges and potential for the future.

The Salmon Symposium will be held March 11 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., at the Lodge at Noblewood Park, 158 Lakeshore Drive, Willsboro.

Due to limited seating, please preregister at 963-8933.

The Lake Champlain Salmon Restoration Program is sponsored by the Greater Adirondack Resource Conservation and Development Council, the Willsboro Community Foundation, the Lake Champlain Basin Program and the AuSable and Boquet River Associations. 

 

 

Other Lake Champlain Fishing Articles:

Four New Vermont State Record Fish in 2015

Four State Record Fish Caught in Vermont in 2015

Vermont’s Fish & Wildlife Department has certified four new all-time state record fish, all caught in 2015. 

Four state record fish caught in Vermont in 2015

 

New Vermont state records were set for yellow perch, redhorse sucker, cisco and bowfin (taken by bow and arrow). 

“2015 was another great year for record fish catches in Vermont. And, what’s even more exciting is the fact that anglers are really starting to understand the wide diversity of fishing opportunities we have throughout the state. Three of the four species that had records set this past year are not what most anglers typically think of as sport fish. Fishing in Vermont can go way beyond bass, trout and some of the other more commonly targeted species.” – Shawn Good, fisheries biologist with Vermont Fish & Wildlife.

Vermont’s new record yellow perch, which weighed in at 2.4 pounds, and was caught in March by Keith Sherwood of Hinesburg while ice fishing on Caspian Lake in Greensboro. The fish was 16 inches long and had a girth of 12.5 inches. It topped the previous record of 2.1 pounds by over 4 ounces. 

In April, Brian Latulippe of Hinesburg landed the new state record redhorse sucker from the Otter Creek in Ferrisburgh. The fish was caught using a night crawler and weighed 9.01 pounds. It was 27.5 inches long and had a girth of 16.5 inches. The former record weighed 8.6 pounds. 

The new state cisco was caught by Brian’s niece, Montanah Latulippe, of Winooski. Montanah caught the fish in August on Lake Champlain in South Hero. It weighed 1.09 pounds, was 14.5 inches long, and had a girth of 7.5 inches. Since this was the first cisco ever officially submitted to the Department’s record fish program it automatically takes the top spot on the record fish list. 

A new state record was also set for bowfin taken by bow and arrow. The fish was harvested in August by Louis Phelps of St. George on Lake Champlain in Grand Isle. It weighed 12.09 pounds, was 30.75 inches long, and had a girth of 17.25 inches. The previous record weighed 11.6 pounds. 

Vermont Fish & Wildlife recognizes state records for both traditional angling and for bow and arrow fishing for the species of longnose gar, carp, redhorse sucker and bowfin. 

“The Vermont Record Fish Program continues to serve as a testament to the health and quality of fisheries around the state,” said Good. “Many record fish programs in other states only see new records established every few years. In Vermont, anglers have been setting multiple records each year, and since 2010, 16 new records have been recognized, which is an astounding number. It truly speaks to the excellent fishing opportunities we have here in Vermont.” 

To learn more about Vermont Fish & Wildlife’s record fish program, view record fish entries, or purchase a Vermont fishing license click here…  

 

 

Other Lake Champlain Fishing Articles:

60 percent of Missisquoi River male smallmouth bass bear eggs

A majority of Missisquoi River’s male smallmouth bass bear eggs

 

report published this fall, the most comprehensive of its kind, found 60 percent to 75 percent of the Missisquoi River male smallmouth bass bear eggs.

A report published this fall, the most comprehensive of its kind, found 60-75 percent of Missisquoi River male smallmouth bass bear eggs.

Sourced through Scoop.it from: vtdigger.org

A report published this fall found 60 percent to 75 percent of male smallmouth bass in the Missisquoi River carry eggs.

Researchers believe the condition results from agricultural runoff in the Missisquoi River watershed, where farmers already face scrutiny for phosphorus pollution that promotes blue-green algae blooms in Lake Champlain.

Clean-water advocates have called on legislators and state agencies to take action in response.

See on Scoop.it – Lake Champlain Life