Fishing | Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department

VT Fish & Wildlife Responds to Baitfish Violation

February 7, 2018

The Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department responded quickly to an angler report of an unusual fish in his bait bucket and cited a Vermont baitfish wholesaler for illegally importing unapproved fish species into the state.

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Vermont Angler Completes First-ever ‘Master Angler Sweep’

July 25, 2018

Drew Price of Colchester, VT, has completed the state’s first-ever ‘Master Angler Sweep’ by catching at least one trophy-sized specimen of all 33 eligible fish species that are part of the Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department’s Master Angler Program.

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Warm Summer Water Temperatures Can Be Lethal to Trout

July 17, 2018

The Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department and the Vermont Council of Trout Unlimited are encouraging anglers to consider their impact on trout when fishing during the current hot, dry weather.

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Release of Aquarium Fish or Plants is an Environmental Threat

June 6, 2018

Keeping an aquarium with tropical fish and plants can be fun and educational. But, releasing these fish or plants outdoors can be harmful to native species and is prohibited by Vermont law according to the Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department.

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Tagged Fish Reporting Program

tagged salmon

Fisheries biologists may tag and release certain fish species collected during fish population surveys or research projects.

Currently, department fisheries biologists are tagging Lake Champlain trout and salmon with individually numbered plastic anchor tags.

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Fishing Tournaments FAQs

Woman holding fish

Whether you’re organizing a fishing tournament or want to find one, here are the answers to many of the questions asked about fishing tournaments.

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Organizing a Fishing Tournament

Anyone holding a fishing tournament in Vermont must obtain a permit from the department.

A tournament is defined as a contest in which anglers pay a fee to enter and compete for a prize based on the quality or size of the fish they catch.

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Fishing Tournaments

all types of fishing

Each year, Vermont hosts about 150 fishing tournaments of all kinds, including big and small, open water and ice, streams and lakes.

Many of the tournaments are held on Lake Champlain, Lake Bomoseen and the Connecticut River. Other lakes and streams also host smaller numbers of events. Most of the tournaments held in Vermont are catch-and-release bass tournaments.