Vermont Public Waters

Public waters in Vermont covered here

This state hub indexes 2 notable public water bodies: 1 lake, 1 river. The dataset is a curated list of destination waters rather than every public access point, so a productive local pond or municipal lake near you may still be missing.

Species profiles exist for 2 of the 2 tracked waters. Commonly indexed destinations include Lake Champlain and Connecticut River (VT).

Use the "Fishing near me" sorter on this page to reorder the list by straight-line distance from your location. Straight-line distance is a planning estimate, not a drive time — a water 20 miles away across a ridge or a bay can take far longer to reach than one 40 miles down a highway, and seasonal closures, launch fees, and permit requirements are set by the managing agency rather than by this list.

What a Vermont fishing license costs

A resident annual license for Vermont is $28.00, and the non-resident annual license is $54.00 — a difference of $26.00. The non-resident rate is roughly 1.9 times the resident rate — meaning the license is usually the smallest expense in the trip budget.

Short-term options as published: Resident 3-day $11.00; Nonresident 1-day $21.00, 3-day $23.00, 7-day $31.00.

At the published short-term prices, a resident annual license breaks even at about 2 single days, 3 three-day passes, 1 seven-day passes. Below that trip count the short-term pass is cheaper; above it the annual license is. (Break-even arithmetic from the published fees — confirm current products with Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department.)

Saltwater: No saltwater license (Vermont is landlocked; no marine waters)..

Senior and reduced-rate options: Resident 66+ permanent license $60.00 (reprint/upgrade annually)..

Separate aquatic-invasive-species stamp: $20 resident / $40 non-resident (23 V.S.A. § 3328)..

Source: Vermont Fish & Wildlife — Fishing License fees (2026).

Stocking in Vermont

A statewide annual stocking total for Vermont is pending verification in this dataset, so this tool shows no number rather than an estimate. Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department publishes stocking by water, county, and species.

Stocking totals for Vermont are pending verification. State fish agencies publish annual stocking lists by water, county, and species; consult Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department for current figures before relying on any number.

Source: verify locally — see Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department stocking reports.

Why stocking matters to planning: put-and-take fisheries are the most catch-rate-sensitive to plant timing, so a water that fishes poorly in April can fish well in May once the trucks arrive. Check the current-year plant list before writing off a water, and check it again before assuming a hot bite will last.

Size and bag limits tracked for Vermont

Vermont has 10 statewide limits resolved in this tool — Brook Trout, Brown Trout, Crappie, Largemouth Bass, Muskellunge (Muskie), Northern Pike, Rainbow Trout and Smallmouth Bass, among 10 in the tracked set. Each entry below carries the agency citation it came from.

Brook Trout: bag 6 (combined brook + brown + rainbow); season 2nd Saturday in April – Oct 31 (streams); lakes/ponds 2nd Sat April & Jan 1 – Mar 15; No statewide minimum on most waters; some waters 10 in or catch-and-release.. Citation: Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department — 2026 Vermont General Fishing Regulations (Table 1).

Brown Trout: bag 6 (combined brook + brown + rainbow); season 2nd Saturday in April – Oct 31 (streams); lakes/ponds 2nd Sat April & Jan 1 – Mar 15; No statewide minimum on most waters; some waters 10 in or catch-and-release.. Citation: Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department — 2026 Vermont General Fishing Regulations (Table 1).

Crappie: minimum length 8 in; bag 25; season Year-round; Inland panfish aggregate 50/day (max 25 crappie).. Citation: Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department — 2026 Vermont General Fishing Regulations (Table 1).

Largemouth Bass: minimum length 10 in; bag 5 (combined); season 2nd Saturday in June – Mar 15; Smallmouth bass 12 in on many waters; check the specific water.. Citation: Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department — 2026 Vermont General Fishing Regulations (Table 1).

Muskellunge (Muskie): bag Catch-and-release only (artificial lures and flies); season Year-round; No minimum; Lake Champlain trophy water.. Citation: Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department — 2026 Vermont General Fishing Regulations (Table 1).

Northern Pike: minimum length 20 in; bag 5; season Year-round; Connecticut River 28 in/1; some waters 24 in.. Citation: Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department — 2026 Vermont General Fishing Regulations (Table 1).

These are statewide general rules only. Slot limits, special-regulation waters, catch-and-release stretches, and zone-by-zone seasons override them — and a general rule that is absent from this list is not the same as no restriction. Confirm the rule for the exact water you are fishing with Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department before keeping a fish.

Free fishing days in Vermont

Reported license-free dates for 2026: January 31 & June 13, 2026 (reported). Most states waive the license only, not the rules — size and bag limits, gear restrictions, seasons, and any required report card still apply, and some states still require a free or zero-cost license to be issued before you fish.

Reported for 2026 by public aggregators and may not match the official state schedule. Always confirm the current year’s dates and any species/stamp exceptions with the agency before planning.

Source: Compiled from 2026 public Free-Fishing-Day roundups (modefreefinds.com, heyitsfree.net, fishkillflea.com). Not an official source — verify with the state agency. (compiled 2026-08-29).