VT keeps streams stocked with trophy fish

(NECN: Anya Huneke, Waterbury, VT) - Anglers will tell you that time on a trout stream in Vermont is time well spent. And if you happen to catch a rally big rainbow this spring, you might send a thank you note to the State House. Thursday started off a little slow for 6 year-old Charlie Glunk. Charlie Glunk6 years old "We got here a long time ago and we were catching nothing." But then came the delivery: Hundreds of large, mature rainbow and brown trout- courtesy of the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department. Suddenly, Charlie's luck began to change. Charlie "It was splashing all over me- I was really wet." Fish and Wildlife officials gathered at five sites along the Winooski River in Waterbury Thursday to stock this stretch with roughly 600 hatchery-raised trophy trout. It's part of a program started 15 years ago, that will add this year more than 20-thousand big fish to 48 lakes and stream sections across the state. Tom "This is one of those programs that gives anglers the opportunity to catch the biggest fish of their lives. It's been the most popular program we've had." The program has become so popular that anglers from all over make sure they know when and where the fish will be stocked... and go out of their way to be there. Tom WigginsVT F & W, Chief of Fish Culture "People plan vacations around this." The Glunks - who drove up from New Jersey - are among them. Holly GlunkChatham, NJ "We've been waiting for it... so this was exciting. I was even excited." In general, since interest is so high, the stocking sites are conveniently located- to allow easy access to all anglers. The fish are typically more than a foot long... some, more than two feet. Rich KirnF&W Biologist "These fish are raised to 2-3 years, to a larger size. Normally we stock 1 1/2 year-old fish." The trophy program was threatened earlier this year when the Vermont Legislature considered closing state hatcheries as part of budget cuts. But it was spared. Which means anglers can continue to enjoy fishing to the fullest. Charlie "When you go back home you can cook it and have it for dinner." And be glad lawmakers didn't let this program slip away.