Anglers are Gearing Up for Vermont's Spring Trout Fishing

Vermont's opening day of trout fishing is a day that many anglers look forward to each spring. This year trout fishing begins Saturday, April 10; anglers are already gearing up for another year of great brook, brown and rainbow trout fishing.

"There are plenty of wild trout throughout the state, and many that were stocked earlier in lakes and streams to support spring fishing," said Vermont Director of Fisheries Eric Palmer. "The Willoughby River steelhead provide a great spring fishery in the Northeast Kingdom around the Village of Orleans, and some of the largest brown trout caught each year are taken in April."

Vermont's 2010 stocking schedule will be available later this month on the Fish and Wildlife website (www.vtfishandwildlife.com) under the "Fishing" category. The site is interactive, so you can enter the body of water, town or species of fish and see what fish will be stocked and those waters that have already been stocked. Lakes and ponds are first to receive fish in the spring, while rivers are stocked later after the high water run-off has passed.

As an added bonus, Vermont's catch-and-release bass fishing season in lakes starts the same day as trout season on April 10 and continues through June 11. Only lures and flies may be used, and bass must be immediately released.

Anglers are reminded to use sinkers that are not made of lead. It is unlawful to use a lead sinker weighing one-half ounce or less while fishing in Vermont. Weighted fly line, lead-core line, downrigger cannonballs, weighted flies, lure, spoons, or jig heads are not prohibited.

Planning a Vermont spring fishing trip is easy. The Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department has a 2010 Guide to Hunting, Fishing and Trapping that includes maps showing lakes and streams as well as fishing access areas and public lands. It also lists the fish species found in each body of water and it includes fishing regulations. Copies are available where fishing licenses are sold, or from the Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department, 103 South Main Street, Waterbury, VT 05671-0501. Tel. 802-241-3700. You also can download sections of the publication from their website.

The Vermont Outdoor Guides' Association offers help in locating fishing guides and some overnight facilities on their website (www.VOGA.org). Additional help in finding a place to stay overnight can be found at (www.VermontVacation.com).

Fishing license fees are $20.00 for adult residents, $8.00 for residents 15-17 years of age, $41.00 for adult nonresidents, and $15.00 for nonresidents 15-17 years old. One, three and seven day fishing licenses also are available for nonresidents. Children under age 15 do not need a fishing license in Vermont. Licenses are available at agents statewide and from Fish & Wildlife's website (www.vtfishandwildlife.com).