By joint resolution, Vermont established two game fish as our state fish, the cold water Brook Trout and the warm water Walleye* Vermont's 2019 record Brook Trout caught in Paran Creek, weighed in at 5lbs 12oz, was 22.50 inches long with a girth of 15.50 Vermont's 2020 state record Walleye caught in Lake Champlain weighed in at 14lbs 8.8oz, was 32.50 inches long with a girth of 20 inches. *** While I found two sources for VT state record fish (including the VT Fish and Wildlife), I find it interesting that state records aren't exclusively reserved for native fish.
Record fish caught nearest to Vernon include a Chain Pickerel at Harriman Reservoir, a Brown Trout at Sherman Reservoir and perhaps the Tiger Muskellunge that was caught somewhere in the Connecticut River.*** A word of warning about catching Muskies, while it is permissible to catch them, it is illegal to keep them. As for the Brown Trout, while a nice catch, it is not a native fish to Vermont. I only explore these record holders as options as the State of Vermont seems to value game fish over non game fish. Perhaps if we are to find a true Vernon Town Fish, we must look for other reasons for candidacy.
The most obvious place to look for a fish worthy of town recognition is at Vernon Hatchery pond which is operated by VT Fish and Wildlife. While Hatchery pond used to be an operating fish hatchery, it is currently managed as a stocked pond. Each Spring, records show that one hundred Brown Trout have been released into the pond. While a historically attractive candidate, I hope that readers would agree that a native wild candidate would be a better fit for Vernon.
I must confess that I have been having a bit of fun with you and have thrown you a red herring! While Brown Trout seems to have been a fish of stocking choice on record, in recent years (2011 - 2018), between seven and eight hundred Brook Trout have been stocked at the pond.**** While I have no confirmation that any Brown Trout still exist in the Hatchery, I do know that two weeks after stocking Hatchery pond in 2020, residents were declaring the pond, "fished out." So it would appear that the Brook Trout is a viable candidate for our search provided that a wild, non (unnaturally) hybridized population functionally exists in Vernon. Click on this link to begin learning more about the concern over hybridized fish as explained by the Vermont Native Fish Coalition.
Searching Vernon's largest natural body of water, Lily pond may yield another candidate. If you believe the sportsmen that I have spoken with this season, the only fish one can catch at Lily pond are pickerel and the occasional bass. But further conversations with a lifetime resident reveled that she used to catch Horned Pout (Brown Bullhead) there as a kid. There is also a certain five year old who informs me that he caught a 21 inch pike while ice fishing at the pond in back of his house. I sure would like to know where that pond is! Anyway, it would stand to reason that Lily pond has a natural population of fish given its connection to Newton Brook both on the northern and southern ends***** My suspicion is that there was a time when that brook ran unimpeded through the town to the Connecticut River. Unfortunately, I have also heard fish tales of sportsmen purposefully introducing game fish and bait fish into the pond which could have devastating consequences to native wildlife there.
So it seems we are at the crossroads of another decision. Shall we choose a fish that was historically abundant? Shall we choose one that was valuable to the people who first settled the land such as the Shad? Maybe we should choose one that puts us on the map like the American Eel or that Shortnose Sturgeon that was caught below the dam in 2017? But that brings up more choices such as; do we include fish that are just passing through? Is it important that the river actually be in Vernon or is it enough that the river is an integral part of life in Vernon? I know of a Yellow Bellied Perch caught at the setback this winter, maybe we should just select from what is present within our town in 2021?
I think that you know where I am going here, before we can make such an important decision, we need to first understand exactly what is in our brooks, ponds and the river. We also must understand what really should be here and what should not. We should understand its importance (or threat) in the ecosystem and how to conserve or restore the environment that supports it.
I asked the best local researcher that I know to help me put a name to a body of water and a stream coming down from the town forest. Martin Langeveld provided me with interactive maps, historical references and of course, more questions, "What became of Upper and Lower Salmon brooks?" Now wouldn't a salmon make for a fine town fish! -Norma Manning
* List of Vermont State Symbols, Wikipedia
**Vermont Fish Records, Vermont Fish and Wildlife
***Vermont Record Freshwater Fish, Fishing Northeast
****Fish Stocking Search, Vermont Fish and Wildlife
*****Vermont Interactive Map Viewer
Fishes of Vermont; Vermont Natural Heritage Inventory 2017, VT Fish and Wildlife
Connecticut River Fish and Wildlife, US Fish and Wildlife Services
Deerfield River & Lower Connecticut River Tactical Basin Plan 2020 (Newton Brook mention starting on page 2)
Yes native fish would be my vote. Thank you for the research.
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