Using Baitfish FAQs

Anglers may now harvest baitfish from most waters in the state, and use them on other waters within specifically defined geographic areas, or “Baitfish Zones”. For baitfish use, the state is split into East and West Baitfish Zones. Within those zones, some additional waters are specified as “Restricted Waters”. An angler must have a Wild Baitfish Endorsement added to their fishing or combination license in order to transport personally-harvested baitfish away from a waterbody. To learn more about catching and using your own wild baitfish visit the Personal Baitfish Harvest page.

Anglers are restricted to the following methods for personal baitfish harvest: 1) minnow traps no longer than eighteen inches with an entrance for fish not exceeding one inch in diameter, 2) dip nets, cast nets, and umbrella nets not exceeding a total of 51 square feet of mesh, or a seine net not exceeding 25 feet in length, 3) hook-and-line.

Most waters are open to baitfish harvest, but there are some restrictions on certain waters. In “Seasonally Closed Waters”, baitfish may only be harvested during the open trout season (Second Saturday in April through October 31), and only minnow traps or hook-and-line may be used on these waters. All streams in the state are considered “Seasonally Closed Waters”, in addition to a list of lakes and ponds that can be found in Section 7.0 of §122. Fish Management Regulation.

Anglers who want to catch their own baitfish in one waterbody and use them as bait on another waterbody must first obtain a Wild Baitfish Endorsement. The Wild Baitfish Endorsement is an important educational tool that teaches anglers about the risks involved with moving live baitfish, such as spreading aquatic invasive species and fish diseases, and how to reduce these risks. To obtain the Wild Baitfish Endorsement, an angler must review educational materials provided on the department website and then successfully pass a test. The Wild Baitfish Endorsement tag can then be added AT NO COST to your regular fishing or combination license. More information is provided on the Wild Baitfish Endorsement page.

Youth under 15 years of age are not required to have a fishing license in Vermont. However, because the Wild Baitfish Endorsement must be added to a license, the youth angler will need to create a new license profile and obtain a free youth license.

Start by going to the License Sales page here: www.vtfwdsales.com/online/cid_entry.php and click CREATE NEW PROFILE.

Enter all required Applicant Information and click SAVE/CONTINUE.

Select the Calendar Year for the license, your residency, and initial the affidavit statement.

A table will appear at the bottom of the screen after you’ve completed these steps, and towards the bottom will be the Wild Baitfish Endorsement add-on. Check the ADD box (it will show $0.00 for cost) and click CONTINUE.

Answer the affidavit questions on the next page and click CONTINUE to complete the transaction.

You’ll be sent an email with a link that will allow you to print your free license with the Wild Baitfish Endorsement.

Most town libraries provide free public computer and internet access. You should be able access the study guide and take the test linked above at those locations.

If that’s still not possible, call one of the Vermont Fish & Wildlife offices listed below and schedule an appointment. A staff member will assist you in person with taking the quiz and obtaining your Wild Baitfish Endorsement.

Barre
5 Perry Street, Suite 40
Barre, VT 05641
802-476-0199

Essex
111 West Street
Essex Junction, VT 05452
802-878-1564

Montpelier
VT Fish & Wildlife Main Office
1 National Life Drive, Davis 2
Montpelier, VT 05620-3702
802-828-1000

VT Fish & Wildlife License Center
1 National Life Drive, Dewey Building
Montpelier, VT 05620-3208
802-828-1190 or 802-828-1191

Rutland
271 North Main Street, Suite 215
Rutland VT 05701
802-786-0040

Roxbury
Fish & Wildlife Laboratory
3902 Roxbury Road
Roxbury, VT 05669
802-485-7566

Springfield
100 Mineral Street, Suite 302
Springfield, VT 05156
802-289-0603

St. Johnsbury
374 Emerson Falls Road, Suite 4
St. Johnsbury, VT 05819
802-751-0100

Wild Baitfish Endorsements expire on a fixed three-year basis with the first expiration date being 12/31/2022. This means the endorsement will expire for all anglers on the same date, regardless of when they passed the test.  If you would like to transport personally harvested wild baitfish between 1/1/2023 and 12/31/2025 you will need to take (or re-take) the wild baitfish certification quiz and add the free endorsement to your license.

Anglers need to remember to add the endorsement to their new license each year in that period.

No. You do not need to have a Wild Baitfish Endorsement in order to buy and use baitfish purchased from a commercial baitshop. See the Commercially Purchased Baitfish section below.

No. Baitfish harvested outside of Vermont waters may not be transported into the state.

Baitfish zones determine where an angler can harvest and move wild baitfish, or move and use commercially purchased baitfish. For baitfish use, the state is split into East and West zones. Wild harvested baitfish can be used on multiple waterbodies within the same Baitfish Zone as where they were harvested, as long as they were not harvested from or used on a Restricted Water. Store-bought baitfish can be used on multiple waterbodies within the same Baitfish Zone designated on the Baitfish Transportation Receipt for a period of 10 days, as long as the baitfish were not used on a Restricted Water.

The line between the East Baitfish Zone and the West Baitfish Zone matches the Wildlife Management Unit boundaries for the eastern edge of WMUs C, G, I, L and P. For a map and detailed description of the Baitfish Zone boundaries, visit the Baitfish Zone Map and Description page.

No, while there are a limited number of waters (mostly streams or rivers) that cross the boundary line between the East and the West baitfish zones, anglers may not transport and use baitfish across the line. While it’s understood that in these few cases fish can freely swim back and forth between zones, the Baitfish Zone line was developed by using easily identifiable road systems as boundaries to help anglers understand where the division is. For the most part, the East and West Baitfish Zones separate the Lake Champlain and the Connecticut River watersheds, and will help reduce the risk of spreading aquatic invasive species and fish diseases between these watersheds.

A Restricted Water is a lake, pond, river or stream that is considered to be a high-risk source of aquatic invasive species or fish pathogens because of the presence of one or more of these threats. Because of the risk of spreading invasive species or fish diseases from these waterbodies to other waters of the state, anglers may not harvest baitfish from these waters for use on other waterbodies. See the Restricted Waters page for more information.

Yes, but certain restrictions apply depending on where the baitfish came from. Baitfish harvested from a Restricted Water may only be used on that same Restricted Water and may not be transported away from that waterbody. Baitfish harvested from an East or West Zone waterbody may be transported to and used on a Restricted Water within the same zone, but may not be transported away from the Restricted Water after use. Baitfish purchased from a baitshop and sold with an East or West Zone Baitfish Transportation Receipt and then used on a Restricted Water may not be taken off the Restricted Water. Baitfish purchased from a baitshop and sold with a Restricted Water Baitfish Transportation Receipt may be transported away from the Restricted Water and stored in an isolated closed container not connected to state waters, and reused only on the same Restricted Water listed on the receipt, within 10 days of sale.

Restricted Waters currently include: Connecticut River, Lake Champlain, Lake Bomoseen, Lake Carmi, Lake Memphremagog, Lake St. Catherine and the Batten Kill River. Tributaries and connected waterways are also included. For a full description, please visit the Restricted Waters page.

The use of live or dead fish as bait is prohibited on small ponds that support natural reproduction of brook trout. Pond-dwelling brook trout are very vulnerable to competition with other fish species, which could potentially be introduced by anglers using fish as bait. Also, all live bait is prohibited on certain portions of a few rivers around the state. See the Fishing Regulation law book for details.

It is illegal for an angler to sell baitfish they have personally-harvested, with two exceptions: 1) an angler may sell personally-harvested baitfish to another angler while on the same waterbody where the baitfish were harvested, and 2) an angler who has a valid Wild Baitfish Endorsement on their fishing or combination license may sell personally-harvested rainbow smelt taken from a non-Restricted Water to a licensed commercial baitfish dealer. The baitshop must have a Commercial Baitfish Dealer’s permit that is valid for the same Baitfish Zone where the rainbow smelt were harvested, and the Commercial Baitfish Dealer must record the transaction to track rainbow smelt purchases.

An angler who has a valid Wild Baitfish Endorsement on their fishing/combination license may sell personally-harvested rainbow smelt taken from a non-Restricted Water to a licensed commercial baitfish dealer. However, the Commercial Baitfish Dealer must be permitted for the same baitfish zone the rainbow smelt were harvested in. The angler must complete and sign an affidavit (provided by the Commercial Bait Dealer) specifying the waterbody where the personally-harvested rainbow smelt were harvested.

Yes, a baitfish transportation receipt is still required. One of two receipt types will be provided to you when purchasing baitfish: 1) East/West Zone receipt indicating which Baitfish Zone you will be fishing, or 2) Restricted Water receipt indicating what specific Restricted Water you will be fishing.

Baitfish transportation receipts are now valid for 10 days instead of 4 days. The receipt authorizes you to transport unused baitfish away from state waters and store them at home for later reuse on waters in the same Baitfish Zone as indicated on the receipt. If the receipt is for a Restricted Water, you may re-use the baitfish only on that Restricted Water indicated on the receipt. If you store baitfish on a specific water for use on that water, there is no time limit for storage.

No. Baitfish cannot be used in a Baitfish Zone other than the one indicated on the receipt.

When an angler purchases baitfish from an approved Vermont-certified baitshop, the angler will be issued a Vermont Baitfish Transportation Receipt that indicates the Baitfish Zone or Restricted Water the baitfish are valid for. Baitfish purchased for the East Zone or West Zone may also be used on a Restricted Water within that designated zone, but may not be transported away from the Restricted Water after use. Baitfish purchased for a specific Restricted Water may be transported away from that water for later use on the same Restricted Water, however the baitfish must be stored in an isolated, closed container not connected to state waters.

An angler can buy baitfish from a New York baitshop for use in the Lake Champlain Restricted Water, provided that the baitshop is Vermont-licensed, and that the baitfish are accompanied by a Vermont-issued baitfish transportation receipt. Baitfish purchased from approved NY baitshops may not be used on any Vermont water other than Lake Champlain.

An angler may purchase baitfish from a New Hampshire baitshop for use in the Connecticut River restricted water, provided the baitshop is Vermont-licensed, and the baitfish are accompanied by a Vermont-issued baitfish transportation receipt. Baitfish purchased from approved NH baitshops may not be used on any Vermont water other than the Connecticut River.

Yes, baitfish (golden shiners and fathead minnows) reared on Arkansas farms will continue to be imported and sold at commercial baitshops. Baitfish from these farms are raised under the guidance and regulatory oversight of the Arkansas Agriculture Department and are tested multiple times per year for fish pathogens, and the ponds are inspected for invasive species. Only certified farms receive permits from the Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department to import their baitfish into the state for sale. Hatchery-reared golden shiners and fathead minnows from Arkansas have been imported and sold in Vermont for decades to supplement wild baitfish harvested from Vermont waters.

Anglers who possess a valid Wild Baitfish Endorsement may transport and hold personally harvested baitfish in any non-Restricted Water within the Baitfish Zone they were harvested in provided the baitfish did not come in contact with a Restricted Water.

Anglers may hold commercially purchased baitfish beyond the 10-period as long as they remain on the same waterbody and stored in a pen or bait box 25 cubic feet or less in volume. All traps, nets, bait boxes or other holding receptacles capable of taking, holding or keeping live baitfish in public waters must be marked with the name, address, and telephone number of the owner and user. Anglers may not store baitfish in waters where baitfish use is prohibited.

Personally-harvested baitfish can only be stored in a different Baitfish Zone if the baitfish are kept in an isolated, closed container not connected to state waters. Personally-harvested baitfish cannot be stored in waters of a different Baitfish Zone from where it was harvested. We recommend keeping baitfish cool in an insulated bait bucket or tub. Battery operated aerators or aquarium bubblers will also help keep your baitfish alive between fishing trips.

Anglers should discard unwanted baitfish in an appropriate location on land or in the trash. Any water in your boat, motor, bilge, live wells, and bait bucket should be drained prior to leaving a waterbody.

There are 16 different fish species that are approved for use as bait in Vermont. Anglers are required to know how to correctly identify these species prior to harvesting and using them for fishing. In addition, rock bass, bluegill, pumpkinseed, yellow perch, rainbow smelt, white perch, and alewife can be used as bait, but have extra restrictions on their use. Please visit the Approved Baitfish Species page for further information.

Yes, anglers may personally-harvest rainbow smelt and use them as bait. Personally-harvested rainbow smelt may be transported and used as bait on other waters within the same Baitfish Zone they were harvested in, provided they were not harvested from a Restricted Water. Rainbow smelt harvested from a Restricted Water may be used as bait on that same waterbody, but cannot be transported off that water for use as bait. Rainbow smelt harvested from a non-Restricted Water but then used on a Restricted Water within the same zone may not be transported away from the Restricted Water after use. It’s important to know that rainbow smelt can only be taken using hook-and-line and may not be collected with other baitfish harvest gear such as cast nets, seine nets, minnow traps etc.

The new baitfish regulation changes do not affect existing restrictions on using fish eggs collected from wild fish. Fish eggs may be collected from fish legally harvested from a Vermont water and used immediately as bait on that water unless that waterbody is closed to baitfish collection. Personally-harvested fish eggs must not be transported and used in any other waterbody. It is illegal to transport fish eggs back and forth from the same waterbody for use as bait unless they have been processed in a manner approved by the Department. Please click here for approved methods for curing fish eggs for use as bait.

Commercially prepared and preserved baitfish and fish eggs available from retail stores may be purchased and used as bait, taken home, and kept for later use provided they are retained in the original packaging at all times.