Fishing Information

Fishing Overview

The cold, clear water of Vermont’s lakes and streams provide excellent fishing opportunities throughout the state in a magnificent natural setting. Mountain streams are prime spots for brook, brown and rainbow trout. Our lakes and ponds are known for bass, walleye, pike and other species.

Vermont State Parks are a gateway to these waterways and offer great fishing for a day on the lake, or a week-long base camp. Lake Carmi, Bomoseen and Lake St. Catherine, for instance, are some favorite fishing destinations. Seyon Lodge State Park, located on Noyes Pond in the Groton Forest, is renowned as Vermont's sole public fly-fishing-only pond in Vermont.

Most parks located on the water provide canoe, kayak and row boat rentals and many sell fishing licenses.

Additionally, parks sometimes host "Let's Go Fishing" clinics with trained instructors.

FUN FACT: 46 of 52 Vermont State Parks have fishing opportunities directly on site or within a short walking distance.

Buy a Fishing License

Fish Species in Vermont State Parks

There are many species of fish in the lakes throughout Vermont. Click the buttons below for a complete list of parks and fish species.

Northwest:

Alburgh Dunes, Burton Island, Grand Isle, Kill Kare, Knight Island, Knight Point, Lake Carmi, Niquette Bay, North Hero, Sand Bar, Woods Island

Park Water Body Brook Trout Rainbow Trout Brown Trout Salmon Lake Trout Perch Walleye Pike Pickerel Large Mouth Bass Small Mouth Bass Bullhead Panfish
Alburgh Dunes Lake Champlain
Burton Island Lake Champlain
Grand Isle Lake Champlain
Kill Kare Lake Champlain
Knight Island Lake Champlain
Knight Point Lake Champlain
Lake Carmi Lake Carmi
Niquette Bay Lake Champlain
North Hero Lake Champlain
Sand Bar Lake Champlain
Woods Island Lake Champlain

Northeast:

Boulder Beach, Brighton, Crystal Lake, Elmore, Green River Reservoir, Kettle Pond, Little River, Maidstone, Molly's Falls Pond, New Discovery, Ricker Pond, Seyon Lodge, Stillwater, Waterbury Center

Park Water Body Brook Trout Rainbow Trout Brown Trout Salmon Lake Trout Perch Walleye Pike Pickerel Large Mouth Bass Small Mouth Bass Bullhead Panfish
Boulder Beach Lake Groton
Brighton Spectacle Pond
Brighton Island Pond
Crystal Lake Crystal Lake
Elmore Lake Elmore
Green River Reservoir Green River Reservoir
Kettle Pond Kettle Pond
Little River Waterbury Reservoir
Maidstone Maidstone Lake
Molly's Falls Pond Molly's Falls Pond
New Discovery Osmore Pond
Ricker Pond Ricker Pond
Seyon Lodge Noyes Pond
Stillwater Lake Groton
Waterbury Center Waterbury Reservoir

Southwest:

Bomoseen, Branbury, Button Bay, D.A.R., Emerald Lake, Half Moon Pond, Kingsland Bay, Lake St. Catherine, Lake Shaftsbury, Woodford

Park Water Body Brook Trout Rainbow Trout Brown Trout Salmon Lake Trout Perch Walleye Pike Pickerel Large Mouth Bass Small Mouth Bass Bullhead Panfish
Bomoseen Lake Bomoseen
Branbury Lake Dunmore
Button Bay Lake Champlain
D.A.R. Lake Champlain
Emerald Lake Emerald Lake
Half Moon Pond Half Moon Pond
Kingsland Bay Lake Champlain
Lake St. Catherine Lake St. Catherine
Lake Shaftsbury Lake Shaftsbury
Woodford Adams Reservoir

Southeast:

Camp Plymouth, Gifford Woods, Jamaica, Lowell Lake, Quechee, Silver Lake, Wilgus

Park Water Body Brook Trout Rainbow Trout Brown Trout Salmon Lake Trout Perch Walleye Pike Pickerel Large Mouth Bass Small Mouth Bass Bullhead Panfish
Camp Plymouth Echo Lake
Gifford Woods Kent Pond
Jamaica West River
Lowell Lake Lowell Lake
Quechee Ottauquechee River
Silver Lake Silver Lake
Wilgus Connecticut River

Fly Fishing

Seyon Lodge State Park, located on Noyes Pond in the Groton Forest, is Vermont’s only public fly-fishing trout pond and is a favorite of anglers near and far.

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