A Heck of a Fish Tale From Valley Falls

A Vernon angler took center stage when the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection hosted its third-annual Trophy Fish Award Ceremony on Saturday.

The ceremony was part of the Northeast Fishing and Hunting Expo in the Connecticut Convention Center in Hartford.

A total of 63 anglers were presented certificates for catching or landing the largest fish in one of several species categories during 2010 and Timothy Sendra of Vernon was recognized for nabbing a rainbow trout that weighed 10 pounds, 4 ounces and measured 28 inches long. 

The adult male fish had a girth of 16 inches and was caught on spin tackle at Valley Fals Pond in Vernon on April 17.

The Annual Trophy Fish Award Ceremony is a recent addition to the Department’s Trophy Fish Award program. Established in 1965, the program recognizes anglers for catching fresh and salt water fish of qualifying size. Anglers complete and submit an affidavit with an attached photo of their catch.

More information about the Trophy Fish Award Program is available in the 2011 Connecticut Angler’s Guide, featured on the DEP website - www.ct.gov/dep/fishing - or by contacting the Inland Fisheries Division at 860-424-FISH or the Marine Fisheries Division at 860-434-6043).

Opening day of fishing is scheduled for Saturday, April 16. Fishing licenses can be purchased on-line at:  www.ct.gov/dep/fishinglicense.