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The Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department has five hatcheries, each with its
own unique characteristics. The department started raising fish in Vermont in
1891. The oldest hatchery is in Roxbury, built in 1890-91. The newest hatchery
was built in 1991 in Grand Isle. Today, the department's hatchery system produces
almost a million fish annually. All of our hatcheries are open for viewing daily.
For visitation hours or to schedule a group or school tour, please call the
specific fish culture station listed below.
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Why Stock?
Stocking of select Vermont water bodies is an annual activity for the department's
fisheries division. While anglers enjoy the benefits of fishing such areas, the decision
to stock a particular stream or lake is not just based on the sport fishing opportunities
such an activity provides. The department developed a management plan for trout in 1993
that helped determine which Vermont water bodies should be stocked. Stocking is generally
based on several factors: the quality of the natural fish populations, restoration
considerations, and the amount of angling that occurs on a body of water. Each year
the department's fishery biologists evaluate waters around the state to determine the
appropriate level of stocking. This scientifically based management is done after
evaluating the fish populations and angling pressure.
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Currently, approximately 45% of Vermont's fish are stocked as part of a restoration
effort. Restoration efforts are aimed at reestablishing wild populations in a given water
body. Stocking efforts for Lake Champlain and the Connecticut Rivers are two notable water
bodies where restoration efforts are underway. Approximately 15% of stocked fish are
used in programs often referred to as "put, grow and take." In these cases there is good
habitat for fish survival, but limited habitat for reproduction. The remaining 40% are
used in streams and ponds where there are not enough wild fish to support a fishery due
to limited habitat. In both of these instances, the stocked fish are intended to support
sport fishing opportunities for anglers.
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The department's hatchery system is run with extreme care to avoid diseases within
the fish populations. This begins with the genetic management of the parent fish, even
before the first egg is collected, and continues throughout the rearing cycle. Specific
protocols are followed during the rearing cycle to ensure stocked fish are healthy and
are of good stocking quality.
Bald Hill Fish Culture Stations
Newark, Vermont (802) 467-3660
The Bald Hill FCS, located in Vermont's scenic Northeast Kingdom, opened in
1952 for the production of trout and salmon for stocking statewide. The role of
Bald Hill FCS has changed in recent years. In addition to trout and salmon, the
hatchery is raising walleye, a cool water species. Millions of walleye fry are
stocked along with approximately 100,000 walleye fingerlings (2 inches in length)
in a variety of waters throughout the state. At Bald Hill we also raise landlocked
Atlantic salmon brood stock which are artificially spawned to supply other state
and federal hatcheries with eggs. The facility is located eight miles north of West
Burke, Vermont, off route 5A. Read More »
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Bennington Fish Culture Station
Bennington, Vermont (802) 447-2844
Bennington FCS, built in 1916, is Vermont's second largest fish culture station.
This culture station uses a combination of spring, artesian well, and stream water
for raising brook, brown, and rainbow trout. The facility's interesting and
informative activities and visitor center make it an attraction for visitors of
all ages. Visitors can interact with the fish and possibly get a glimpse of a great
blue heron, osprey, otters or mink. The station is located two miles from downtown
Bennington on South Stream Road.
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Ed Weed Fish Culture Station
Grand Isle, Vermont (802) 372-3171
Located in the picturesque island community of Grand Isle, the Ed Weed FCS began
raising fish in 1991. It is the newest and largest of the five Vermont state hatcheries.
A brochure available at the station will take you on a self-guided tour. Using Lake
Champlain as its sole water source, this fish culture station raises over one-half
million brook, brown, lake, rainbows, steelhead and landlocked Atlantic salmon yearlings
(6 to 12 inches in length) for statewide stocking. It is also the home of the Vermont
Trophy Trout. These two-year-old brown and rainbow trout are stocked every spring. The
Ed Weed FCS and visitor center are located on Vermont route 314, across from the Lake
Champlain Transportation Company ferry to Plattsburgh, New York.
Read More »
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Salisbury Fish Culture Station
Salisbury, Vermont (802) 352-4371
The Salisbury FCS is a brood stock station, producing approximately nine million
trout eggs annually for the other state facilities. The station uses high-quality
well water, an excellent water source for rearing adult brook, brown, lake, rainbow
and steelhead trout brood fish and for the egg incubation system. When the adult
fish are no longer needed for egg production, they are stocked statewide. The Salisbury
FCS can spawn fish in the summer months in a light-controlled room. This room can
mimic any cycle of daylight needed, enabling the fish culture station to provide eggs
to other facilities earlier in the year which, in turn, gives the fish a longer growing
season and allows the fish culture stations to grow larger fish. Salisbury has the
largest fish of the culture stations. If you want to see big fish, this is the place
to go! Salisbury FCS is located seven miles south of Middlebury, Vermont on route 53.
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