Table 2: Lake Champlain Regulations

Lake Champlain Reciprocal Fishing

A person holding a New York fishing license may take fish from the Vermont portion of Lake Champlain only as far east as a line starting on the north shore of the Poultney River where it empties into East Bay, proceeding generally northerly along the shore to the old Rutland Railroad fill on Colchester Point, then following the western side of the old Rutland Railroad fill to Allen Point on Grand Isle, continuing northerly following the western shore of Grand Isle to Tromp Point, then across The Gut to Bow and Arrow Point, then continuing generally northerly along the western shore of North Hero to Pelots Point, then across the Alburgh passage to the Point of the Tongue, and then along the western shore of the Alburgh peninsula to the United States border with Canada.

When this line crosses a tributary to Lake Champlain, the line shall proceed from the downstream most point of land on one side of the tributary to the downstream most point of land on the other side of the tributary.

Holders of Vermont fishing licenses may fish Lake Champlain west of the Vermont/New York border to the New York shore. They may not fish in South Bay or New York tributaries to Lake Champlain. See map, to right.

NOTE: Some fishing season dates, length limits, daily creel limits, and other regulations are different in New York and Vermont. When fishing in Vermont, anglers must observe Vermont regulations. When fishing in New York, anglers must follow the regulations that apply in New York. Be sure to obtain copies of each state’s fishing regulations.

For Lake Champlain baitfish regulations, see Baitfish Use and Restrictions.

Lake Champlain Waters

Lake Champlain includes setbacks at the same level and major tributaries to the lake to the following boundaries:

• Dead Creek to Panton Road bridge in Panton
• East Creek to the falls in Orwell (downstream of Mount Independence Road)
• Lamoille River to the top of first dam (Peterson Dam) in Milton
• LaPlatte River to the falls in Shelburne (under Falls Road bridge)
• Lewis Creek to the falls in North Ferrisburgh (just upstream of Old Hollow Road)
• Little Otter Creek to the falls in Ferrisburgh Center (downstream of Little Chicago Road)
• Malletts Creek to the first falls upstream of Roosevelt Highway (U.S. Route 2 and U.S. Route 7) in Colchester
• Mill River in Georgia to the falls in Georgia (just upstream of Georgia Shore Road bridge)
• Missisquoi River to the top of Swanton Dam in the village of Swanton
• Mud Creek to the dam in Alburgh (just upstream of Route 78 bridge)
• Otter Creek to the top of the dam in the city of Vergennes
• Poultney River to Central Vermont Power (Green Mountain Power Dam) at Carver Falls in West Haven
• Rock River to first Canadian border crossing
• Winooski River to the Winooski One hydropower dam west of Main Street (U.S. Route 7) in Winooski and Burlington.

Table 2: General Fishing Regulations for Lake Champlain

General Fishing Regulations for Lake Champlain include the setbacks at the same water level and the lower portion of its tributaries as defined on page 54. Spawning waters are not included.

Lake Champlain Open-Water Fishing—Number of Lines/Rods:

A person may take fish only by using not more than two lines of which he or she has immediate control over all lines. Each line may not have more than two baited hooks or three artificial flies or two lures with or without bait.