“Triploids develop faster than non-sterile fish because they do not have to deal with the stress reproductive systems have on growth,” he said.

A triploid also offers anglers a larger, more aggressive fish. The triploid project has come out of successful studies in the West, in rich trout states like Idaho and Utah.

The procedure used to create triploids is low-tech, according to Kirn. At a certain stage in the hatchery fish’s growth, the water they’re swimming in is heated for a period of time. This renders the young fish sterile. For a small investment, the state is developing a program that will greatly increase the quality of Vermont’s fish. Brook trout are next on the triploid program list.

Wild trout programs routinely target upland streams, medium valley streams, larger rivers and consistently cool bodies of water such as lakes and ponds. The program has been so successful (between creel limits and hatchery supplements) that in some lakes, stocked trout are no longer needed to sustain fish populations.

Another program in the Green Mountain State is a habitat-enhancement project on the Batten Kill to help restore wild brown trout populations.

After a six-year study, the state drafted a plan that emphasizes wild trout and habitat restoration including the placement of logs, boulders and bank vegetation and creating deep pools for brown trout cover.

The proposed plan also includes stocking a limited number of sterile rainbows to improve angling quality during the habitat-rebuilding stage.

Restoration work should begin this summer, but the proposal to stock the Batten Kill in the interim has become an issue. The state will gather more angler and public input before making a final decision.

To learn more, you can contact the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department at (802) 241-3700, or visit www.Anr.State.VT.US.VT/Fw/FwHome.

NEW HAMPSHIRE
New Hampshire’s six hatcheries will release up to 400,000 pounds of fish next year, according to Dianne Emerson, the state’s Coldwater Fisheries Project leader. That’s about one million trout!

Vermont’s trout waters vary, so expect brookies and rainbows in the colder waters, and browns in the warmer sections. Northern-region hatchery fish are often smaller due to the colder climate, while fish reared in southern hatcheries are typically larger. Trout from 6 to 8 inches range from 1/2 to 3/4 of a pound in the younger (two- to three-year-old) fish.

Older brood fish, released in smaller numbers, average 2 to 5 pounds. Stocking occurs multiple times per year, but the most fish are released in spring.

Fishing last year was great, Emerson said. Conditions were ideal, including a cold spring and plenty of rain. Trout waters stayed cool, enabling fish to disperse from the immediate stocking areas.

Perfect conditions for the fish made things slightly more difficult for anglers because most waters were better able to support fish. The opportunities were still there, but the fish were spread out.

Anglers can expect more great fishing in 2007, Emerson said, noting that if the weather is again ideal for fish, catching them may take more effort.

Emerson explained that the state’s hatcheries have come a long way. While the number of fish produced each year is lower, their quality is very high. The food used to sustain the fish while they are in the tanks helps keep them healthy and produces beautiful, colorful specimens.