Vermont trophy trout have been stocked into a number of rivers areound the state and are ready for anglers to take their chances for the big one. Photo courtey Vermont Fish & Game Vermont’s “Trophy Trout” stocking program for 2010 will include seven river sections and 33 lakes and ponds receiving the two-year old trout, some over 18 inches long.

“The trophy rainbow and brown trout stocked in the Black, Winooski and Lamoille Rivers as well as Otter Creek have provided exciting fishing for many anglers of all ages and skill levels for many years,” said Fish and Wildlife Commissioner Wayne Laroche. “We recently added trophy trout in sections of East Creek in Rutland, the Missisquoi River in Enosburg and Sheldon, and the Passumpsic River in St Johnsbury. Twoyear old brook trout as well as some large rainbows also will be stocked in selected lakes and ponds to provide excellent fishing opportunities.”

Trout fishing in the trophy trout rivers is open from April 10 through October 31 this year in the river sections listed below. There is no length limit. The daily creel limit is two trout.

Stocking of the river sections began the last week of April and will continue into May with additional stockings occurring at one or two week intervals. Due to weather and other unforeseen complications, stocking dates can change, so anglers should check Vermont Fish and Wildlife’s website to see if a stocking has occurred (www.vtfishandwildlife.com). Click on “Fishing” and then “Stocking Schedule.”

Black River: along Rt. 131 in Weathersfield and Cavendish, from Downers covered bridge upstream, approximately four miles, to the next bridge across the river, the Howard Hill Bridge.Lamoille River: from the downstream edge of the bridge on Route 104 in the Village of Fairfax upstream, approximately 1.6 miles, to the top of the Fairfax Falls Dam in Fairfax.

Otter Creek: in Danby and Mt. Tabor - From the Vermont Railway Bridge north of the fishing access upstream, approximately 2 miles, to the Danby- Mt. Tabor Forest Rd. Bridge (Forest Road # 10).

East Creek: in Rutland City – from the confluence with Otter Creek upstream, approximately 2.7 miles, to the top of the Patch Dam in Rutland City.

Missisquoi River: in Enosburg and Sheldon, from the downstream edge of Kane Road (TH-3) bridge upstream, approximately 5.7 miles, to the top of the Enosburg Falls Dam in Enosburg Falls.

Passumpsic River: in St. Johnsbury, from the top of the Gage Dam upstream to the top of the Arnold Falls Dam. This section includes the Moose River from its confluence with the Passumpsic River upstream to the Concord Avenue bridge.

Winooski River: in Duxbury and Waterbury, from the top of Bolton Dam upstream to the Route 2 Bridge east of Waterbury Village. This section includes the Little River: from its confluence with the Winooski River upstream to the Route 2 bridge.

A portion of the annual stocking of trout in these waters will also be trophy trout: Adams Reservoir (Woodford), Amherst Lake (Plymouth), Baker Pond (Brookfield), Bean Pond (Sutton), Beck Pond (Newark), Black Pond (Hubbardton), Brown Pond (Westmore), Colby Pond (Plymouth), Colton Pond (Sherburne), Echo Lake (Plymouth), Goshen Dam (Goshen), Kent Pond (Sherburne), Knapp Pond #1 and Knapp Pond # 2 (Reading Cavendish), Lake Paran (Bennington-Shaftsbury), Lefferts Pond (Chittenden), May Pond (Barton), McIntosh Pond (Royalton), Mill Pond (Windsor), Miller Pond (Strafford), Osmore Pond (Peacham), Lake Raponda (Wilmington), Lake Rescue (Ludlow), Rood Pond (Williamstown- Brookfield), Searsburg Reservoir (Searsburg), Lake Shaftsbury (Shaftsbury), Smith Pond (Pittsford), Stoughton Pond (Weathersfield), Sunset Lake (Brookfield), Townshend Reservoir (Townshend), Wheeler Pond (Barton), Zack Woods Pond and Perch Pond (Hyde Park-Wolcott).

Standard fishing regulations apply to these lakes and ponds. For details, see the “2010 Guide to Hunting, Fishing & Trapping,” available where licenses are sold.

Vermont fishing licenses are available statewide at more than 350 agents and on Fish and Wildlife’s website (www.vtfishandwildlife. com).