Vermont is also home to a potpourri of warmwater species popular among ice-fishermen, especially pike, yellow perch, pickerel, the basses and pumpkinseeds.

One of the state's best largemouth bass fisheries is Lake Bomoseen near Castleton. The lake consistently produces bass in the 6- and 8-pound class. Also home to smallmouths and crappies, it produces some of the largest winter-caught brown trout in the state each season.

For more information, contact the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department at (802) 241-3700, or visit www.vtfishandwildlife.com. Be sure to ask for a copy of their free Fish Vermont map and guide.

MASSACHUSETTS
What Massachusetts lacks in large lakes and ponds, it more than makes up for with one of the most productive hatchery systems in New England, leading the region in number of fished stocked each year. This year, MassWildlife stocked 636,000 brook, rainbow, brown and tiger trout throughout the state.

Most interesting to ice-anglers is that a large percentage of these fish were already of catchable size. About 287,000 rainbows and approximately 51,000 browns were over a foot long. Another 88,000 rainbows averaged 9 to 11 inches. About 5,000 "tiger trout" -- hybrid crosses between a female brown trout and a male brook trout -- were over 14 inches in length. Not only should there be plenty of trout out there this winter, but most will be of quality size!

While most of the stocking takes place just prior to and during the popular spring and summer seasons, the numbers of fish released assures us there should be plenty of fish still around for winter anglers. It should be noted, however, that an impressive list of waters were stocked in the spring and then again in the fall. This would include Wallum Lake in Douglas, Whalom Lake in Lunenburg, Long Pond in Rutland, Lake Quinsigamond in Shrewsbury, Webster Lake in Webster, Lake Dennison in Winchendon and the Congamond lakes in Southwick.

In all, about 70 lakes, ponds and reservoirs received fall trout. A complete list of stocked trout waters in the commonwealth can be viewed on MassWildlife's Web site at www.state.MA.us/dfwele/dfw. Maps of pond depths are also available at that site.

Along with winter trout opportunities, Massachusetts is also home to some of the region's top warmwater fisheries. Bass are abundant and plentiful throughout the state, but the state's tiger muskies and northern pike have been drawing even more interest in recent years.

Pike were first introduced in 1950 and since then, about 400,000 fish have been stocked in more than 40 reservoirs, lakes and ponds. Tiger muskies have been around since 1980 and have been stocked in more than 50 waters. Both grow quickly and offer great action through the ice. You can view a complete list of stocked pike and muskie waters online at the MassWildlife Web site.

For more information, contact the MassWildlife offices at (508) 792-7270, or visit the agency's Web site noted above.

CONNECTICUT
Trout fishing in the Nutmeg State is pretty much dependent on the hatchery system. Nearly 750,000 brook and rainbow trout are stocked annually in nearly 100 lakes and ponds. A list of trout waters including size, location and access information is published annually in the Connecticut Angler's Guide. The ice-fishing season for trout will remain open through Feb. 28 this year.