In 1994, the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department began stocking select river sections with large, 2-year-old trophy trout. At first, skeptics worried that these big hatchery trout would not provide a quality fishery, and that the money would be better spent improving habitat for wild fish. Well, the proof is in the putting to the test, and it did not take long for the Trophy Trout Program to win over even non-believers. Over the last 15 years, it's become extremely popular, and for good reason: if you hit a trophy water just right, you're in for some of the most exciting fishing Vermont has to offer.