FISH RECORDS SHOWCASE VERMONT'S HIGH QUALITY FISHING

WATERBURY, VT - We are reminded of Vermont's great fishing opportunities at this time every year when the Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department releases its list of annual record fish caught the previous season.

Below is the list of Vermont annual record fish for 2004, the anglers who caught them, and the body of water where the fish was caught:

Brook Trout -- 4.31 lbs., Joshua Zsido, Rutland, VT, Neshobe River;

Lake Trout -- 32 lbs., Irvin Sayman, Sr., Barre, VT, Caspian Lake;

Rainbow Trout -- 12.77 lbs., Chris Perkins, Putney, VT, Waloomsack River

Largemouth Bass -- 7.57 lbs., George Goodwin, Castleton, VT, Lake Bomoseen;

Smallmouth Bass -- 4.2 lbs., James Champion, Milton, VT, Lake Champlain;

Black Crappie -- 2.3 lbs., William Behuniak, W. Brookfield, VT, Lake Champlain;

Smelt -- 0.14 lbs., John Joly, Holland, VT, Lake Memphremagog;

Chain Pickerel -- 4.67 lbs., Jason Roberts, Rutland, VT, Lake Champlain;

Northern Pike -- 26.79 lbs., Michael Ryan, Morrisville, VT, Norton Pond.

Entry cards for Vermont's fish record program are available from the Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department. Entries must be weighed on market scales, preferably with the weight recorded in 100ths of a pound. The length and girth must be measured, and a photo of the fish must accompany the entry. Two witnesses to the weighing and measuring must sign the entry card.