Tables

Vermont Freshwater Fishing

Please Note: Waterbody-specific regulations listed in Index of Rivers/Index of Lakes override the general regulation.

TABLE 1: General Fishing Regulations for Rivers, Streams, Associated Beaver Ponds, and Unnamed Impoundments

Species	Length Rules	Daily Limit	Legal Methods	Open Seasons
American Shad	NA	0	Catch and release open-water fishing	2nd Sat. in April to Oct. 31
Anadromous Atlantic Salmon	NA	0		No open season
BOWFIN, MULLET (REDHORSE), GAR	None	No more than 5 of any one species	Open-water fishing	2nd Sat. in April to Oct. 31
Brook Trout and Brown Trout andRainbow Trout	None	Total of brook + brown + rainbow = no more than 12 Total of brown + rainbows = no more than 6	Open-water fishing	2nd Sat. in April to Oct. 31
Crappie	8”	25	Open-water fishing	2nd Sat. in April to Oct. 31
Lake Sturgeon	NA	0		No open season
Lake Trout	18”	Total of lake trout + landlocked salmon = no more than 2	Open-water fishing	2nd Sat. in April to Oct. 31
Landlocked Atlantic Salmon	15”	Total of lake trout + landlocked salmon = no more than 2	Open-water fishing	2nd Sat. in April to Oct. 31
Largemouth and Smallmouth Bass	None	Total of largemouth + smallmouth = no more than 5	Open-water fishing	2nd Sat. in April to Oct. 31
Muskellunge	NA	0	Catch and release open-water fishing with artificial lures and flies only	2nd Sat. in April to Oct. 31
Northern Pike	20”	5	Open-water fishing	2nd Sat. in April to Oct. 31
Rainbow Smelt	None	None	Open-water fishing	2nd Sat. in April to Oct. 31
Sauger	NA	0		No open season
Walleye	18”	3	Open-water fishing	1st Sat. in May to Oct. 31
Yellow Perch	None	50	Open-water fishing	2nd Sat. in April to Oct. 31
All other species	None	None	Open-water fishing	2nd Sat. in April to Oct. 31

TABLE 2: General Fishing Regulations for Lakes, Ponds, Impoundments, Reservoirs, and Particular Rivers and Streams

Species	Length Rules	Daily Limit	Legal Methods	Open Seasons
American Shad	NA	0	Catch and release open-water fishing	2nd Sat. in April to Oct. 31
Anadromous Atlantic Salmon	NA	0		No open season
Bowfin, Mullet (Redhorse), Gar	None	No more than 5 of any one species	Open-water fishing, ice fishing, spear gun, bow and crossbow all with line attached	All year
Brook Trout and Brown Trout and Rainbow Trout	None	Total of brook + brown + rainbows = no more than 6	Open-water fishing	2nd Sat. in April to Oct. 31
CARP, SUCKERS (LONGNOSE and WHITE), CULL Fish	None	None	Open-water fishing, ice fishing, spear gun, bow and crossbow all with line attached	All year
Crappie	8”	25	Open-water fishing, ice fishing	All year
Lake Sturgeon	NA	0		No open season
Lake Trout	18”	Total of lake trout + landlocked salmon = no more than 2	Open-water fishing	2nd Sat. in April to Oct. 31
Landlocked Atlantic Salmon	15”	Total of lake trout + landlocked salmon = no more than 2	Open-water fishing	2nd Sat. in April to Oct. 31
Largemouth and Smallmouth Bass (Catch and Release Season)	None	0	Catch and release open-water fishing with artificial lures and flies only	Dec. 1 to Fri. before 2nd Sat. in June
LARGEMOUTH and SMALLMOUTH BASS (Regular Season)	10”	Total of largemouth + smallmouth = no more than 5	Open-water fishing	2nd Sat. in June to Nov. 30
Muskellunge	NA	0	Catch and release open-water fishing with artificial lures and flies only	All year
Northern Pike	20”	5	Open-water fishing, ice fishing	All year
Rainbow Smelt	None	None	Open-water fishing, ice fishing	All year
Sauger	NA	0		No open season
Walleye	18”	3	Open-water fishing, ice fishing	1st Sat. in May to March 15
Yellow Perch	None	50	Open-water fishing, ice fishing	All year
All Other Species	None	None	Open-water fishing, ice fishing	All year

TABLE 3: General Fishing Regulations for Lake Champlain include the setbacks at the same water level and the lower portion of its tributaries as defined on General Requirements. Spawning waters are not included.

Species	Length Rules	Daily Limit	Legal Methods	Open Seasons
Bowfin, Mullet (Redhorse), Gar	None	No more than 5 of any one species	Open-water fishing, ice fishing, spear gun, bow and crossbow all with line attached	All year
Bowfin, Mullet (Redhorse), Gar	None	No more than 5 of any one species	Shooting, hand-held spearing	March 25 to May 25
Brook Trout and Brown Trout and Rainbow Trout	12”	Total of brook + brown + rainbows = no more than 3	Open-water fishing, ice fishing	All year
BULLHEAD	None	None	Open-water fishing, ice fishing	All year
BULLHEAD	None	None	Shooting, hand-held spearing	March 25 to May 25
CARP, SUCKERS (LONGNOSE and WHITE), CULL Fish	None	None	Open-water fishing, ice fishing, spear gun, bow and crossbow all with line attached	All year
Chain Pickerel	None	10	Open-water fishing, ice fishing	All year
Chain Pickerel	None	10	Shooting, hand-held spearing	March 25 to May 25
Crappie	8”	25	Open-water fishing, ice fishing	All year
Lake Sturgeon	NA	0		No open season
Lake Trout	15”	3	Open-water fishing, ice fishing	All year
Landlocked Atlantic Salmon	15”	2	Open-water fishing, ice fishing	All year
Largemouth and Smallmouth Bass (Catch and Release Season)	NA	0	Catch and release open-water fishing with artificial lures and flies only	Dec. 1 to Fri. before 2nd Sat. in June
LARGEMOUTH and SMALLMOUTH BASS (Regular Season)	10”	Total of largemouth + smallmouth = no more than 5	Open-water fishing	2nd Sat. in June to Nov. 30
Muskellunge	NA	0	Catch and release open-water fishing with artificial lures and flies only	All year
Northern Pike	20”	5	Open-water fishing, ice fishing	All year
Northern Pike	20”	5	Shooting, hand-held spearing	March 25 to May 25
Rainbow Smelt	None	None	Open-water fishing, ice fishing	All year
Sauger	NA	0		No open season
Walleye	18”	3	Open-water fishing, ice fishing	1st Sat. in May to March 15
Yellow Perch	None	None	Open-water fishing, ice fishing	All year
All Other Species	None	None	Open-water fishing, ice fishing	All year

TABLE 4: General Fishing Regulations for the Connecticut River for that portion of the river between New Hampshire and Vermont. “Connecticut River” means all waters of the river, including the bays, setbacks, and tributaries, only to the first highway bridge crossing said tributaries on the Vermont and New Hampshire sides.

LICENSES: All New Hampshire– and Vermont-resident fishing licenses are valid for the taking of fish from the Connecticut River as defined above. All other nonresidents with a New Hampshire nonresident fishing license shall only take fish east of the Vermont low-water mark while on the Connecticut River.

SEASON: Open to fishing all year, except no fishing Oct. 16–Dec. 31 from the confluence of the Upper Ammonoosuc River and the Connecticut River in Northumberland, New Hampshire, to the northern boundary of the town of Canaan, Vermont.

DEVICES: No more than six ice fishing devices shall be used to take fish while ice fishing. When fishing in open water, no more than two lines may be used.

Lead sinkers and lead jigs one ounce or less, regardless of length, are prohibited.

	SPECIES RULES: The rules below apply during the open season for fishing.
American Shad	Catch and release only.
Atlantic Salmon	No open season for Atlantic salmon until declared by the Connecticut River Atlantic Salmon Commission.
Brook, Brown and Rainbow Trout	The season for taking brook, brown, or rainbow trout by all legal methods shall open on Jan. 1 and close Oct. 15. Through open water, the daily limit is 5 fish or 5 pounds (whichever limit is first reached), except the daily limit is 1 fish from the Samuel Moore Dam downstream to the Route 18 bridge. Through the ice, the daily limit is 2 fish, except the daily limit is 1 fish from the Samuel Moore Dam downstream to the Route 18 bridge. Fishing for trout is closed from 2 hours after sunset to 1 hour before sunrise daily. See NH Fishing Digest.
Black Bass	The daily bag limit for black bass from Jan. 1 to March 31 is 2 fish, of which only 1 bass may be greater than 16”. The daily limit for black bass from April 1 to May 14 and June 16 to June 30 is 2 fish. Between May 15 and June 15, all black bass shall be immediately released unharmed, at the site of catch, to the waters from which taken. The daily limit for black bass from July 1 through Dec. 31 is 5 fish. During the period beginning May 15 and ending June 15, black bass shall be taken only by artificial lures and flies.
Carp	May be taken by any legal method, and by bow and arrow with cord attached, in that part of the river beginning at the point on the northern boundary of Grafton County in New Hampshire, which is directly opposite the town of Concord, Vermont, south to the Massachusetts border.
Horned Pout	The daily limit is 25 fish.
Northern Pike	The daily limit is 1 fish; minimum total length 28”.
Pickerel	The daily limit is 10 fish.
River Herring	Closed to the taking of alewives and blueback herring.
Walleye (Pike Perch)	No person shall take walleye 16”–18”; the daily limit is 4 fish, of which only 1 can be larger than 18”.
All Other Species	The daily limit for black crappie, white perch, yellow perch, and sunfish is 25 fish for each species. The daily aggregate possession limit is 50 fish for all listed species, including horned pout.
SPECIAL EXCEPTIONS From the Murphy Dam in Pittsburg, New Hampshire, downstream to the highway bridge that crosses the river from West Stewartstown, New Hampshire, to Canaan, Vermont: from Jan. 1 to the fourth Saturday in April, catch and release only with barbless lures and flies. From a point 1,600’ upstream from the bridge in North Stratford, New Hampshire, upstream to a point 250’ below the Lyman Falls Dam in North Stratford, New Hampshire, and marked by a sign, the following restrictions shall apply: Fishing shall be permitted by artificial lures and flies only. All lures and flies shall have barbless hooks or shall have all barbs pinched so they will not interfere with removal of the hook from the fish. All fish are to be immediately released unharmed.
FISHWAYS CLOSED Vernon Dam in Vernon, Vermont, and Hinsdale, New Hampshire, shall be closed to all fishing to a point 150’ below the dam. Wilder Dam in Wilder, Vermont, and Lebanon, New Hampshire, shall be closed to all fishing to a point 150’ below the dam.

TABLE 5: General Fishing Regulations for Certain Lakes and Ponds Listed in Index of Lakes and Ponds

Species	Length Rules	Daily Limit	Legal Methods	Open Seasons
American Shad	NA	0	Catch and release open-water fishing	2nd Sat. in April to Oct. 31
Anadromous Atlantic Salmon	NA	0		No open season
BOWFIN, MULLET (REDHORSE), GAR	None	No more than 5 of any one species	Open-water fishing	2nd Sat. in April to Oct. 31
Brook Trout and Brown Trout and Rainbow Trout	None	Total of brook + brown + rainbows = no more than 6	Open-water fishing	2nd Sat. in April to Oct. 31
Crappie	8”	25	Open-water fishing	2nd Sat. in April to Oct. 31
Lake Sturgeon	NA	0		No open season
Lake Trout	18”	Total of lake trout + landlocked salmon = no more than 2	Open-water fishing	2nd Sat. in April to Oct. 31
Landlocked Atlantic Salmon	15”	Total of lake trout + landlocked salmon = no more than 2	Open-water fishing	2nd Sat. in April to Oct. 31
Largemouth and Smallmouth Bass (Catch and Release Season)	NA	0	Catch and release open-water fishing with artificial lures and flies only	2nd Sat. in April to Fri. before 2nd Sat. in June
LARGEMOUTH and SMALLMOUTH BASS (Regular Season)	10”	Total of largemouth + smallmouth = no more than 5	Open-water fishing	2nd Sat. in June to Oct. 31
Muskellunge	NA	0	Catch and release open-water fishing with artificial lures and flies only	2nd Sat. in April to Oct. 31
Northern Pike	20”	5	Open-water fishing	2nd Sat. in April to Oct. 31
Rainbow Smelt	None	None	Open-water fishing	2nd Sat. in April to Oct. 31
Sauger	NA	0		No open season
Walleye	18”	3	Open-water fishing	1st Sat. in May to Oct. 31
Yellow Perch	None	50	Open-water fishing	2nd Sat. in April to Oct. 31
All Other Species	None	None	Open-water fishing	2nd Sat. in April to Oct. 31

TABLE 6: Closed to Ice Fishing

Species

Length

Rules

Daily Limit

Legal Methods

Open Seasons

All Fish Species

Closed

Closed to ice fishing

TABLE 7: Lake Champlain Ice Fishing Regulations

Species	Length Rules	Daily Limit	Legal Methods	Open Seasons
Bowfin, Mullet (Redhorse), Gar	None	No more than 5 of any one species	Ice fishing	All Year
Brook Trout and Brown Trout and Rainbow Trout	12”	Total of brook + brown + rainbow = no more than 3	Ice fishing	All year
CARP, SUCKERS (LONGNOSE and WHITE), CULL Fish	None	None	Ice fishing	All year
Chain Pickerel	None	10	Ice fishing	All year
Crappie	8”	25	Ice fishing	All year
Lake Sturgeon	NA	0	NA	No open season
Lake Trout	15”	3	Ice fishing	All year
Landlocked Salmon	15”	2	Ice fishing	All year
Largemouth and Smallmouth Bass	None	0	Closed	Closed
Muskellunge	NA	0	Closed	Closed
Northern Pike	20”	5	Ice fishing	All year
Rainbow Smelt	None	None	Ice fishing	All year
Sauger	NA	0	NA	No open season
Walleye	18”	3	Ice fishing	1st Sat. in May to March 15
Yellow Perch	None	None	Ice fishing	All year
All Other Species	None	None	Ice fishing	All year

TABLE 8: Ice Fishing Regulations

Species	Length Rules	Daily Limit	Legal Methods	Open Seasons
American Shad	NA	0	Closed	Closed
Anadromous Atlantic Salmon	NA	0	NA	No open season
Bowfin, Mullet (Redhorse), Gar	None	No more than 5 of any one species	Ice fishing	All Year
Brook Trout and Brown Trout and Rainbow Trout	NA	0	Closed	Closed
CARP, SUCKERS (LONGNOSE and WHITE), CULL Fish	None	None	Ice fishing	All year
Crappie	8”	25	Ice fishing	All year
Lake Sturgeon	NA	0	NA	No open season
Lake Trout	NA	0	Closed	Closed
Landlocked Salmon	NA	0	Closed	Closed
Largemouth and Smallmouth Bass	NA	0	Closed	Closed
Muskellunge	NA	0	Closed	Closed
Northern Pike	20”	5	Ice fishing	All year
Rainbow Smelt	None	None	Ice fishing	All year
Sauger	NA	0	NA	No open season
Walleye	18”	3	Ice fishing	1st Sat. in May to March 15
Yellow Perch	None	50	Ice fishing	All year
All Other Species	None	None	Ice fishing	All year

TABLE 9: Ice Fishing Regulations

Species	Length Rules	Daily Limit	Legal Methods	Open Seasons
American Shad	NA	0	Closed	Closed
Anadromous Atlantic Salmon	NA	0	NA	No open season
BOWFIN, MULLET (REDHORSE), GAR	None	No more than 5 of any one species	Ice fishing	3rd Sat. in Jan. to March 15
Brook Trout and Brown Trout and Rainbow Trout	None	Total of brook + brown + rainbow = no more than 6	Ice fishing	3rd Sat. in Jan. to March 15
Crappie	8”	25	Ice fishing	3rd Sat. in Jan. to March 15
Lake Sturgeon	NA	0	NA	No open season
Lake Trout	18”	Total of lake trout + landlocked salmon = no more than 2	Ice fishing	3rd Sat. in Jan. to March 15
Landlocked Salmon	15”	Total of lake trout + landlocked salmon = no more than 2	Ice fishing	3rd Sat. in Jan. to March 15
Largemouth and Smallmouth Bass	10”	Total of largemouth + smallmouth = no more than 5	Ice fishing	3rd Sat. in Jan. to March 15
Muskellunge	NA	0	Closed	Closed
Northern Pike	20”	5	Ice fishing	3rd Sat. in Jan. to March 15
Rainbow Smelt	None	None	Ice fishing	3rd Sat. in Jan. to March 15
Sauger	NA	0	NA	No open season
Walleye	18”	3	Ice fishing	3rd Sat. in Jan. to March 15
Yellow Perch	None	50	Ice fishing	3rd Sat. in Jan. to March 15
All Other Species	None	None	Ice fishing	3rd Sat. in Jan. to March 15

TABLE 10: Ice Fishing Regulations

Species	Length Rules	Daily Limit	Legal Methods	Open Seasons
American Shad	NA	0	Closed	Closed
Anadromous Atlantic Salmon	NA	0	NA	No open season
Bowfin, Mullet (Redhorse), Gar	None	No more than 5 of any one species	Ice fishing	All Year
Brook Trout and Brown Trout and Rainbow Trout	None	Total of brook + brown + rainbow = no more than 6	Ice fishing	3rd Sat. in Jan. to March 15
CARP, SUCKERS (LONGNOSE and WHITE), CULL Fish	None	None	Ice fishing	All year
Crappie	8”	25	Ice fishing	All year
Lake Sturgeon	NA	0	NA	No open season
Lake Trout	18”	Total of lake trout + landlocked salmon = no more than 2	Ice fishing	3rd Sat. in Jan. to March 15
Landlocked Salmon	15”	Total of lake trout + landlocked salmon = no more than 2	Ice fishing	3rd Sat. in Jan. to March 15
Largemouth and Smallmouth Bass	10”	Total of largemouth + smallmouth = no more than 5	Ice fishing	3rd Sat. in Jan. to March 15
Muskellunge	NA	0	Closed	Closed
Northern Pike	20”	5	Ice fishing	All year
Rainbow Smelt	None	None	Ice fishing	All year
Sauger	NA	0	NA	No open season
Walleye	18”	3	Ice fishing	1st Sat. in May to March 15
Yellow Perch	None	50	Ice fishing	All year
All Other Species	None	None	Ice fishing	All year