Cherry Plain State Park received some new residents that will benefit local anglers. In late October, a group of Park staff, including Acting Manager Melissa Miller and friends, were able to take part in a long awaited fish stocking program on Black River Pond. The group assisted local fishery owner, John Clark from Northeastern Aquatics, in releasing 1,000 large mouth bass into the pond.
John Clark offered exquisite expertise and knowledge about the fish and their habitat to all present. The fish were approximately two years old and ranged from 6-8 inches. Many of them settled in to the environment immediately, quickly darting out into the depths of their new home.
This was a happy moment for the Park staff, Friends of Cherry Plain State Park and local members of Trout Unlimited that have pushed for the fish stocking in Black River Pond. All hope to see the fish thrive, grow and reproduce, so that they can benefit the local ecosystem and the community’s fishermen as well as summer campers.
Over the next couple of seasons Park staff will educate and inform patrons about the new fish stocking program. By primarily using catch and release practices as the fish mature for a year or two, patrons will help make this new population of large mouth bass self-sustaining.