12-035 Code Vt. R. 12-010-035-X

Current through August, 2024

Section 12 010 035 - FISH MANAGEMENT (10 V.S.A. APP. Section 122)

Section 1.0 Authority.

(a) This rule is adopted pursuant to 10 V.S.A. § 4081(b). In adopting this rule, the Fish and Wildlife Board is following the policy established by the General Assembly that the protection, propagation, control, management, and conservation of fish, wildlife and fur-bearing animals in this state is in the interest of the public welfare and that the safeguarding of this valuable resource for the people of the state requires a constant and continual vigilance.

(b) In accordance with 10 V.S.A. § 4082, this rule is designed to maintain the best health, population and utilization levels of Vermont's fisheries.

(c) In accordance with 10 V.S.A. § 4083, this rule establishes open seasons; establishes daily, season, possession limits and size limits; prescribes the manner and means of taking fish; and prescribes the manner of transportation and exportation of fish.

Section 2.0 Purpose.

It is the policy of the state that the protection, propagation control, management and conservation of fish, wildlife, and fur-bearing animals in this state is in the interest of the public welfare, and that safeguarding of this valuable resource for the people of the state requires a constant and continual vigilance.

Section 3.0 Open-Water Fishing, Legal Methods of Taking Fish.

3.1 Definitions

(a) Department -- Vermont Department of Fish and Wildlife.

(b) Commissioner -Vermont Department of Fish and Wildlife Commissioner.

(c) Open-water fishing -Fishing by means of hook and line in hand or attached to a rod or other device in open water. Fishing by casting or trolling baited hooks, artificial flies or lures is considered open-water fishing.

(d) Baited Hook -- A single shank hook with 1, 2 or 3 points which may be baited with natural or artificial bait or both.

(e) Lure -- A man-made device designed to catch only 1 fish at a time, to include a spoon, plug, spinner, bait harness, tandem hook streamer or lead head jig.

(f) Fly -- A single pointed hook dressed with feathers, hair, thread, tinsel, or any similar material wound on or about the hook to which no hooks, spinners, spoons, or similar devices have been added.

(g) Handheld Spear -- A manually powered spear used from above the water's surface.

(h) Speargun -- A pneumatic or rubber band powered device, with a line not to exceed 20 feet attached to a spear, used from below the water's surface.

(i) Cull Fish -- Carp, tench, rudd, shad (alewife and gizzard shad), and goldfish. Additional invasive/exotic fish species may be designated by the Commissioner as "cull fish."

(j) Immediate Control -- Such constant control as would enable the angler to respond forthwith to a fish taking their bait, lure or fly promptly and without any delay.

(k) Snagging -- Snagging shall mean the intentional hooking of a fish in a place other than the inside of the fish's mouth. No person shall pull, jerk or otherwise purposefully and/or repeatedly manipulate a hook, or hooks and line to snag or hook a fish in any method other than to entice a fish into taking, by mouth, a hook, lure or fly. Repeated and/or exaggerated jerking or pulling of the fishing line and/or hooks in any attempt to snag fish, whether it results in physically snagging a fish or not, shall be prima facie evidence that snagging has taken place. This shall not apply to the use of a gaff to land a fish that has been legally hooked.

3.2 Whether still fishing, casting, or trolling in Vermont waters, a person may take fish only by using not more than two lines over which he or she has immediate control and to each of which lines is attached not more than two baited hooks, or more than three artificial flies, or more than two lures with or without bait.

3.3 A person shall not take any fish pursuant to subsection (3.2) unless it is hooked in the mouth. Any fish taken under subsection (3.2) that is not hooked in the mouth shall be immediately released pursuant to 10 V.S.A. § 4602. A fish hooked in any part of the body other than in the mouth shall be considered to be foul hooked, and shall be prima facie evidence of foul hooking.

3.4 Taking or attempting to take fish by snagging is prohibited in all Vermont Waters.

3.5 Catch and Release: For species with defined harvest seasons, targeted C&R angling with immediate release can occur outside of harvest season, using artificial lures and flies.

Section 4.0 Ice Fishing.

4.1 Definitions - The definitions of section 3 are applicable to this section.

(a) Ice Fishing -- Ice fishing is defined as fishing by means of hook and line in hand or attached to a rod, tip-up, jack or bob, where the angler is fishing through a hole in the ice, from the ice or on an object supported by the ice. Fishing by casting or trolling baited hooks, artificial flies or lures shall not be considered ice fishing.

4.2 Fish may be taken through the ice with not more than eight lines, except on Lake Champlain where no more than fifteen lines may be operated. Each line shall not have more than two baited hooks, or more than three artificial flies, or more than two lures with or without bait.

4.3 A person ice fishing shall have at all times, immediate control over all lines they operate. A person ice fishing shall be able to visually observe lines they operate. Any line that indicates a fish shall be tended within 30 minutes.

4.4 A person shall not take any fish pursuant to subsection (4.2) unless it is hooked in the mouth. Any fish taken under subsection (4.2) that is not hooked in the mouth shall be immediately released pursuant to 10 V.S.A. § 4602. A fish hooked in any part of the body other than in the mouth shall be considered to be foul hooked, and shall be prima facie evidence of foul hooking.

4.5 Taking or attempting to take fish by snagging is prohibited in all Vermont Waters.

4.6 Catch and Release (C&R): For species with defined harvest seasons, targeted C&R angling with immediate release can occur outside of harvest season, using artificial lures and flies.

Section 5.0 Lake Champlain Boundaries.

Lake Champlain proper shall be considered to include the setback at the same level and the 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 falls in North Ferrisburgh (just upstream of Old Hollow Road);

Little Otter Creek to falls in Ferrisburgh Center (downstream of Little Chicago Road);

Malletts Creek to the first falls upstream of Roosevelt Highway (US 2 and US 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 Alburg (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 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 (US 7) in Winooski and Burlington;

Section 6.0 Seasonally Closed Waters.

6.1 Lakes and Ponds -- The following lakes and ponds or portions thereof are hereby designated seasonally closed waters and shall be closed to all fishing except between Second Saturday in April through October 31:

Bald Hill Pond, Westmore

Beaver Pond, Holland

Beck Pond, Newark

Beebe Pond, Sunderland

Big Mud Pond, Mt. Tabor

Bourn Pond, Sunderland

Branch Pond, Sunderland

Cary Pond, Walden

Cow Mountain Pond, Granby

Duck Pond, Sutton

Forest Lake, Averill

Griffith Lake, Mt. Tabor

Holland Pond, Holland

Jobs Pond, Westmore

Lake Pleiad, Hancock

Levi Pond, Groton

Lewis Pond, Lewis

Little Rock Pond, Wallingford

Long Pond, Westmore

Marl Pond, Sutton

Martins Pond, Peacham

North Pond, Chittenden

Notch Pond, Ferdinand

Noyes (Seyon) Pond, Groton

Perch Pond (Zack Woods Pond), Hyde Park

Pigeon Pond, Groton

Red Mill Pond, Woodford

Silver Lake, Leicester

South America Pond, Ferdinand

South Pond, Marlboro

Spring Lake, Shrewsbury

Stannard Pond, Stannard

Sterling Pond, Cambridge

Stoughton Pond, Weathersfield

Stratton Pond, Stratton

Unknown Pond, Averys Gore

Unknown Pond, Ferdinand

Vail Pond, Sutton

Vernon Hatchery Pond, Vernon

West Mountain Pond, Maidstone

Wheeler Pond, Barton and Sutton

Zack Woods (Perch Pond), Hyde Park

6.2 Rivers and Streams - All rivers and streams are hereby designated seasonally closed waters except as listed in all the sections below. For species with defined harvest seasons, targeted C&R angling with immediate release can occur outside of harvest season, using artificial lures and flies.

Section 7.0 Fish -- Open Seasons, Size Restrictions and Daily Bag Limits.

7.1 Fish of the species named or described in the tables set forth below may be taken:

(a) In the waters specified in column 1, by the method specified in column 2, during the open season specified in column 3.

(b) Provided they meet any size restrictions specified in column 4., and only in numbers listed under daily bag limits specified in column 5., under no circumstances may a person take in one day, more than the daily bag or weight limit from a listed body of water. No person may take in aggregate more than the daily State-wide aggregate limit for any species listed.

(c) Businesses may buy lawfully taken fish, with the approval of Commissioner, pursuant to the Commercial angling rules set forth in 10 V.S.A. App 123.

7.2 Possession limits are equal to twice the daily bag limits. Fish species with limit restrictions may not be possessed in excess of the possession limits at any time.

(a) No person shall have live fish in their possession that are transported in a manner which attempts to keep them alive when leaving waters of the state ( 10 V.S.A. § 1251(13)) , except as follows:

(1) a person may transport approved baitfish species pursuant to the baitfish rules set forth in 10 V.S.A App. § 141,

(2) the person has been issued a scientific collection permit by the Commissioner which specifically approves of the activity,

(3) the person has been issued a fish transportation permit by the Commissioner which specifically approves of the activity,

(4) the person has been issued a fish breeders permit or fish importation permit by the Commissioner which specifically approves of the activity.

7.3 The daily bag limit for a fish species on a water body with a closed season for that fish species is zero during the closed season.

7.4 "General waters" restrictions are the provisions applicable to all waters of the state, except the waters specifically named or described.

7.5 Unless otherwise specifically provided, fish not listed in this regulation may be taken at any time and without size or catch limit, in waters not listed as seasonally closed waters in Section 6 of these regulations.

7.6 Open Seasons, Size Restrictions and Daily Bag Limits Tables

(a) STATEWIDE AGGREGRATE DAILY BAG LIMITS (Maximum number of a fish species that may be taken in one day)

1. Waters	2. Methods	3. Season	Size Restrictions	5. Daily Bag Limit
Listed Below	Artificial fly or lure only	November 1 to the Friday before the 2nd Saturday in April:	Catch and release only	Zero-All trout must be immediately released to the water where taken:
Black River - From the top of the Lovejoy Dam in Springfield upstream to the Howard Hill Road Bridge in Cavendish. Deerfield River - From the Woods Road (Medburyville) bridge in Wilmington upstream approximately 2 miles to the VT Route 9W bridge in Searsburg. East Creek (Rutland City) - From the confluence with Otter Creek upstream (approximately 2.7 miles) to the top of the Patch Dam in Rutland City. Hoosic River - From the Vermont/New York border upstream to the Vermont/Massachusetts border. Lamoille River - From the top of the hydroelectric dam at Fairfax Falls upstream to the top of the Cady's Falls Dam in Morristown. Missisquoi River - From the top of the Sheldon Springs Dam in Sheldon Springs to the top of the Enosburg Falls Dam in Enosburg Falls. Moose River - From the confluence with Passumpsic River upstream to the downstream edge of the Concord Avenue bridge in St. Johnsbury. Otter Creek - From the top of the Center Rutland Falls in Rutland upstream to the Danby-Mt. Tabor Forest Road Bridge (Forest Road #10) in Mt. Tabor. Passumpsic River - From the Connecticut River boundary upstream to the top of Arnolds Falls Dam in St. Johnsbury. Walloomsac River - From the Vermont/New York border in Bennington upstream to the top of the former Vermont Tissue Plant Dam (downstream of Murphy Road) in Bennington. Winooski River - From the top of the Bolton Dam in Waterbury and Duxbury upstream to the VT Route 2/100 in Duxbury and Waterbury.

(b) BROOK, BROWN AND RAINBOW TROUT

FISH SPECIES	DAILY AGGREGRATE LIMITS
Brook Trout	12 fish
Brown and Rainbow Trout	Maximum Combination of 6 fish
Lake Trout	2 fish, (3 if taken from Lake Champlain))
Salmon	2 fish
Largemouth and Smallmouth Bass	Maximum combination of 5 fish
Northern Pike	5 fish
Chain Pickerel	10 fish
Muskellunge	0 fish
Walleye/Sauger	3 fish
Black and White Crappie	25 fish
American Shad	2 fish
Yellow Perch	50 fish
Yellow Perch exception	Lake Champlain - no daily limit

(c) TROPHY TROUT STREAMS

1. Waters	2. Methods	3. Season	4. Size Restrictions	5. Daily Bag Limit
General waters. (except as listed below)	Angling	Second Saturday in April through October 31	No restriction	6 trout
Lake Champlain	Angling, ice fishing	No closed season	Minimum length of 12 inches	3 trout
Rivers and Streams	Angling	Second Saturday in April through October 31	No restriction	12 trout, of which not more than 6 can be brown and/or rainbow

(d) RAINBOW TROUT (Including STEELHEAD) / BROWN TROUT

1. Waters	2. Methods	3. Season	4. Size Restrictions	5. Daily Bag Limit
Listed Below:	Angling	Second Saturday in April through October 31	No restriction	2 trout in aggregate
Black River along Rt. 131 in Weathersfield and Cavendish, - from Downers covered bridge upstream (approximately 4 miles) to the next bridge across the river, The Howard Hill Bridge. East Creek in Rutland City -- From the confluence with Otter Creek upstream (approximately 2.7 miles) to the top of the Patch Dam in Rutland City Lamoille River - From the downstream edge of the bridge on Route 104 in the Village of Fairfax upstream (approximately 1.6 miles) to the top of the Fairfax Falls Dam in Fairfax. Little River- From the confluence with Winooski River in Waterbury upstream to the Route 2 bridge in Waterbury. Missisquoi River in Enosburg and Sheldon -- From the downstream edge of Kane Road (TH-3) bridge upstream(approximately 5.7 miles) to the top of the Enosburg Falls Dam in Enosburg Falls. Otter Creek in Danby and Mt. Tabor - From the Vermont Railway Bridge north of the fishing access upstream (approximately 2 miles) to the Danby- Mt. Tabor Forest Rd. Bridge (Forest Road # 10). Passumpsic River in the Village of St. Johnsbury - From the top of the Gage Dam in St,. Johnsbury upstream (approximately 2.4 miles) to the top of the Arnold Falls Dam. Moose River- From the confluence with the Passumpsic River upstream (approximately 350 feet) to the downstream edge of the Concord Avenue bridge in the Village of St. Johnsbury Wailoomsac River in Bennington - From the Vermont/New York border upstream to the top of the former Vermont Tissue Plant Dam (downstream of Murphy Road) in Bennington. Winooski River in Duxbury and Waterbury, - From the top of the Bolton Dam in Duxbury and Waterbury upstream to the Route 2 Bridge (east side of Waterbury Village).

(e) BROOK, BROWN, RAINBOW, LAKE TROUT AND SALMON - 2 FISH AGGREGATE LIMITS

1. Waters	2. Methods	3. Season	4. Size Restrictions	5. Daily Bag Limit
Listed Below:	Angling	Second Saturday in April through October 31	Minimum length of 10 inches	2 trout
Lakes and Ponds: Caspian Lake, Greensboro Echo Lake, Charleston Lake Memphremagog (including South Bay and the connecting waters), Coventry, Derby, Newport City and Newport; Willoughby Lake, Westmore Rivers and Streams: Orleans County: Barton River - From the downstream side of the US Route 5 bridge southernmost and closest to the Village of Barton in Barton downstream to Lake Memphremagog. Black River - From the downstream side of the VT Route 14 / 58 bridge in Irasburg downstream to Lake Memphremagog. Johns River-From the downstream edge of the first bridge (culvert) upstream of Lake Memphremagog on North Derby Road (TH #6) upstream to U.S. 5, in Derby. Willoughby River - The entire Willoughby River, from the Willoughby Lake outlet downstream to the confluence with the Barton River.

(f) LAKE TROUT AND SALMON

1. Waters	2. Methods	3. Season	4. Size Restrictions	5. Daily Bag Limit
Listed below:	Angling	Second Saturday in April through October 31	See regulations for specific bodies of water	Two fish in aggregate
Big Averill Lake, Norton and Averill Caspian Lake, Greensboro Center Pond, Newark Crystal Lake, Barton East Long Pond, Woodbury Echo Lake, Charleston Elligo Lake, Craftsbury and Greensboro Forest Lake (Nelson Pond), Calais and Woodbury Harveys Lake, Barnet Lake Dunmore, Salisbury Lake Memphremagog (including South Bay and the connecting waters), Coventry, Derby, Newport City and Newport; Little Averill Lake, Averill Long Pond, Westmore Maidstone Lake, Maidstone Nelson Pond (Forest Lake), Calais and Woodbury Nichols Pond, Woodbury Seymour Lake, Morgan Shadow Lake, Glover Spring Lake, Shrewsbury Sunset Lake, Benson Willoughby Lake, Westmore

(g) SPECIAL REGULATION TROUT STREAMS

1. Waters	2. Methods	3. Season	4. Size Restrictions	5. Daily Bag Limit
The following portions of the specified rivers shall be open to fishing for trout year round: (Listed below)	Artificial fly or lure only, except during the open season for trout.	No closed season for catch and release only Open season; from the 2nd Saturday in April through October 31	Catch and release only During the open season follow any species restrictions for the selected river	Zero-All trout must be immediately returned to the waters where taken, except during the open season, limits apply in accordance with the river selected.
Black Rive- From the Connecticut River boundary upstream to the top of the Lovejoy Dam in Springfield. Lamoille River- From the Lake Champlain boundary (top of Peterson Dam in Milton) upstream to the top of the hydroelectric Dam at Fairfax Falls. Lewis Creek- From the Lake Champlain boundary upstream to the State Prison Hollow Road (TH #3) bridge in Starksboro. Missisquoi River- From Lake Champlain boundary upstream to the top of the Sheldon Springs Dam in Sheldon Springs. Ompompanoosuc River- From the Connecticut River boundary upstream to the Union Village Dam in Thetford. Otter Creek- From the Lake Champlain boundary upstream to top of Center Rutland Falls in Rutland. Waits River- From the Connecticut River boundary upstream to the top of the Central Vermont Power Dam in Bradford. West River- From the Connecticut River boundary upstream to the Townshend Dam in Townshend. White River- From the Connecticut River boundary upstream to the bridge on Route 107 in Bethel. Williams River- From the Connecticut River boundary upstream to the top of the dam at Brockway Mills Falls in Rockingham. Winooski River- From the Lake Champlain boundary upstream to the Bolton Dam in Duxbury and Waterbury.

(h) ANADROMOUS ALANTIC SALMON

1. Waters	2. Methods	3. Season	4. Size Restrictions	5. Daily Bag Limit
General Waters (except as listed below)	Angling	Second Saturday in April through October 31	Salmon- Minimum length of 15 inches Lake Trout- Minimum length of 18 inches	2 Lake Trout or 2 Salmon or 1 of each
Lake Champlain	Angling, ice fishing	No closed season	Lake Trout and Salmon - Minimum length of 15 inches	3 Lake Trout and 2 Salmon
Little Averill Lake and Seymour Lake	Angling, with not more than 1 line	Angling: second Saturday in April through October 31	Lake Trout- Minimum length of 20 inches Salmon- Minimum length of 15 inches	1 Lake Trout and 1 Salmon or 2 Salmon
Ice fishing: with not more than 4 lines	Ice fishing: third Saturday in January through March 15
Listed Below:	Angling	Second Saturday in April through October 31	Lake Trout- Minimum length of 18 inches Salmon- Minimum length of 17 inches	2 Lake Trout or 2 Salmon or 1 of each
Lake Memphremagog (including South Bay and the connecting waters), Coventry, Derby, Newport City and Newport, excluding all waters of the Clyde River Watershed upstream of the hydroelectric dam that creates West Charleston Pond (Lubber Lake) in West Charleston and excluding Willoughby Lake and all waters that flow into it.

(i) AMERICAN SHAD

1. Waters	2. Methods	3. Season	4. Size Restrictions	5. Daily Bag Limit
Listed below:	Ice fishing	Third Saturday in January through March 15	See species restriction for individual body of water	See species restriction for individual body of water
Big Averill Lake, Norton and Averill; Big Salem Lake, Derby Caspian Lake, Greensboro; Chittenden Dam, Chittenden. Crystal Lake, Barton; Echo Lake, Charleston; Echo Lake, Plymouth; Eden Lake, Eden; Elligo Lake, Craftsbury and Greensboro Glen Lake, Castleton, Fair Haven, and Benson; Harriman Reservoir, Whitingham and Wilmington; Harveys Lake, Barnet; Island Pond, Brighton; Joes Pond, Cabot, Danville; Lake Bomoseen, Castleton and Hubbardton; Lake Dunmore, Leicester and, Salisbury; Lake Fairlee, Thetford, West Fairlee, Fairlee; Lake Hortonia, Sudbury, Hubbardton; Lake Memphremagog (including South Bay and the connecting waters), Coventry, Derby, Newport City and Newport; Lake Morey, Fairlee; Lake Rescue, Ludlow; Lake St. Catherine, Wells, Poultney; Little Averill Lake, Averill; Little Salem Lake Derby; Maidstone Lake, Maidstone; Marshfield Dam (Mollys Falls Reservoir), Cabot; Miles Pond, Concord; Nelson Pond (Forest Lake), Calais and Woodbury; Newark Pond, Newark; Norton Pond, Norton; Parker Pond, Glover; Peacham Pond, Peacham; Pensioner Pond, Charleston; Seymour Lake, Morgan; Shadow Lake, Glover; Somerset Reservoir, Somerset; Sunset Lake, Benson; Wallace Pond, Canaan; Waterbury Reservoir, Waterbury; Willoughby Lake, Westmore; Woodbury Lake (Sabin Pond), Calais and Woodbury

(j) BOWFIN, REDHORSE SUCKER (MULLET), LONGNOSE GAR.

1. Waters	2. Method	3. Season	4. Size Restrictions	5. Daily Bag Limit
Lamoille River - From the downstream edge of the railroad bridge in Johnson upstream (approximately 3.7 miles) to the downstream edge of the Ten Bends Drive bridge in Hyde Park.	Angling, with artificial lures and flies only.	Second Saturday in April through October 31.	Minimum length of 16 inches.	2 trout
White River From the confluence with Lilliesville Brook in Stockbridge downstream 3.3 miles to 220 ft. downstream of the confluence with Cleveland Brook in Bethel.	Angling, with artificial lures and flies only.	Second Saturday in April through October 31.	Minimum length of 18 inches	1 trout
Mettawee River - From the downstream edge of the Route 153 bridge in Pawlet upstream (approximately 16 miles) to the downstream edge of first bridge on Dorset Hollow Road and including tributary: Flower Brook upstream (approximately 1000ft) to the downstream edge of the Route 30 bridge in Pawlet.	Angling	Second Saturday in April through October 31	10 to 14 inches protected slot: (all trout 10 to 14 inches must be released)	2 trout, only 1 greater than 14 inches
Winooski River Tributaries - Listed Below	Angling	June 1 through October 31	10 to 16 inches protected slot: (all fish 10 to 16 inches must be released)	2 trout, only 1 greater than 16 inches
Winooski River Tributaries: Joiner Brook, Bolton - From the confluence of the Winooski River upstream approximately 1900 feet to the first falls. Pinneo Brook, Bolton - From the confluence of the Winooski River upstream approximately 100 feet to the railroad crossing. Preston Brook, Bolton - From the confluence of the Winooski River upstream approximately 2600 feet to the first falls. Ridley Brook, Duxbury - From the confluence of the Winooski River upstream approximately 1700 feet to the first falls.
Listed Below:	Angling	Second Saturday in April through October 31	10 to 16 inches protected slot: ( all fish 10 to 16 inches must be released)	2 trout, only 1 greater than 16 inches
Dog River - From the first bridge on Route 12 above the confluence with the Winooski River upstream (approximately 4.3 miles) to the railroad bridge in West Berlin. New Haven River - From Munger Street Bridge in New Haven upstream (approximately 4.1 miles) to the South Street bridge in Bristol. Winooski River - From Preston Brook mouth upstream (approximately 4.4 miles) to the Ridley Brook mouth.

(k) SUCKER (LONGNOSE AND WHITE), and CULL FISH

1. Waters	2. Method	3. Season	4. Size Restrictions	5. Daily Bag Limit
Connecticut River and tributaries	No person shall take or attempt to take an anadromous Atlantic salmon, any salmon unintentionally taken shall be immediately released in accordance with section 4602	No open season	All fish must be immediately released	Zero - All Anadromous Atlantic salmon must be immediately released

(l) BULLHEAD

1. Waters	2. Method	3. Season	4. Size Restrictions	5. Daily Bag Limit
Connecticut River, including Vermont river tributaries	Angling	No closed season	No restriction	2 Fish

(m) NORTHERN PIKE

1. Waters	2. Methods	3. Season	4. Size Restrictions	5. Daily Bag limits
General Waters (Except seasonally closed waters and as listed below)	Angling, ice fishing and bow with line attached to an arrow	No closed season	No restriction	No limit
Lake Champlain, not to include tributaries	Angling, ice fishing and bow with line attached to arrow	No closed season	No restriction	No limit
Lake Champlain, not to include tributaries	Spearing	March 25 through May 25, Title 10 (4606e)	No restriction	No limit

(n) CHAIN AND REDFIN PICKEREL

1. Waters	2. Methods	3. Season	4. Size Restrictions	5. Daily Bag limits
General Waters (except as listed below)	Angling, ice fishing,	No closed season	Minimum length of 20 inches	5 Fish
Lake Champlain	Angling, ice fishing,	No closed season	Minimum length of 20 inches	5 Fish
	Shooting and spearing	March 25 through May 25, 10 VSA 4606)	Minimum length of 20 inches	5 Fish

(o) MUSKELLUNGE

1. Waters	2. Methods	3. Season	4. Size Restrictions	5. Daily Bag limits
General Waters (except as listed below)	Angling, ice fishing	No closed season	No restriction	No limit
Lake Champlain	Angling, ice fishing	No closed season	No restriction	10 Fish
Shooting and spearing	March 25 through May 25	No restriction	10 Fish

(p) SMELT

1. Waters	2. Methods	3. Season	4. Size Restrictions	5. Daily Bag limits
General Waters (except as listed below)	Angling, ice fishing; Catch and release with artificial lures and flies only	No closed season	All muskellunge must be released	Zero - All muskellunge must be immediately released
Lake Champlain	Angling, ice fishing; Catch and release with artificial lures and files only	No closed season	All muskellunge must be released	Zero - All muskellunge must be immediately released
Shooting and spearing	March 25 through May 25, 10 VSA 4606)	Zero Fish
Missisquoi River from Swanton Dam in the Village of Swanton upstream to the Highgate Falls Dam	Any fish taken must be immediately released	No open season	Any fish taken must be immediately released	Zero - All muskellunge taken must be immediately released

(q) BLACK AND WHITE CRAPPIE

1. Waters	2. Methods	3. Season	4. Size Restrictions	5. Daily Bag Limit
All waters	Angling, ice fishing	No closed season	No restriction	No limit

(r) YELLOW PERCH

1. Waters	2. Methods	3. Season	4. Size Restrictions	5. Daily Bag limits
All waters	Angling, ice fishing	No closed season	Minimum length of 8 inches	25 fish, Combined

(s) LARGEMOUTH AND SMALLMOUTH BASS

1. Waters	2. Methods	3. Season	4. Size Restrictions	5. Daily Bag Limit
General Waters (except as listed below)	Angling, ice fishing	No closed season	No restriction	50 fish,
Lake Champlain	Angling, ice fishing	No closed season	No restriction	No Limit
Businesses may buy lawfully taken fish, with the approval of the Commissioner, pursuit to guidelines of the Board. Fish species are restricted to species not protected by title 10 V.S.A. 4611.

(t) WALLEYE

1. Waters	2. Methods	3. Season	4. Size Restrictions	5. Daily Bag limits
General Waters (except as listed below)	Angling	No closed season	No restriction	5 fish
Lakes, Ponds and reservoirs	Angling (Ice fishing - see special provisions)	Second Saturday in June through Nov. 30 th	Minimum length of 10 inches	5 Fish
Lakes, Ponds and reservoirs (seasonally closed)	Angling: Catch and release with artificial lures and flies only	Second Saturday in April through the Friday before the Second Saturday in June, both dates inclusive.	All bass must be released	Zero - All bass must be immediately released
Lakes, Ponds and reservoirs (not seasonally closed)	Angling: Catch and release with artificial lures and flies only	Dec. 1 through the Friday before the Second Saturday in June, both dates inclusive.	All bass must be released	Zero - All bass must be immediately released
Seasonally Closed Waters - streams	Angling	Only when such rivers and streams are open to trout fishing except as prohibited by Section 9.2	No restriction	5 fish
Lake Morey, Fairlee	Angling (Ice fishing - see special provisions)	Second Saturday in June through Nov. 30	Largemouth bass - Minimum length of 14 inches	5 Fish
Lake Morey, Fairlee	Angling: Catch and release with artificial lures and flies only	Dec. 1 through the Friday before the Second Saturday in June, both dates inclusive.	All bass must be released	Zero - All bass must be immediately released
Kent Pond, Killington And Baker Pond, Brookfield	Angling	Second Saturday in June through Nov. 30.	Largemouth Bass - protected slot: 10-12 inches (all fish between 10 & 12 inches must be released)	10 fish, only 1 fish greater than 12 inches.
Kent Pond, Killington And Baker Pond, Brookfield	Angling: Catch and release with artificial lures and flies only	Dec. 1 through the Friday before the Second Saturday in June, both dates inclusive.	All bass must be released	Zero - All bass must be immediately released

(u) SAUGER

1. Waters	2. Methods	3. Season	4. Size Restrictions	5. Daily Bag limits
General Waters and Lake Champlain (except as listed below)	Angling, ice fishing	First Saturday in May through March 15.	Minimum length of 18 inches	3 Fish
Lake Carmi, Franklin	Angling, ice fishing	First Saturday in May through March 15	Minimum length of 15 inches Protected lengths- 17 to 19 inches (all fish between 17 & 19 inches must be released	5 fish, provided only 1 is over 19 inches
Chittenden Reservoir, Chittenden	Angling, ice fishing	June 1 through March 15	Minimum length of 22 inches	2 fish

7.7 Spawning grounds for game fish generally

(a) The below listed waters are declared spawning grounds for game fish and are hereby closed to the taking of fish from second Saturday in April through May 31 annually.

Chittenden County

Joiner Brook, Bolton - From the confluence of the Winooski River upstream approximately 1900 feet to the first falls.

Pinneo Brook, Bolton -- From the confluence of the Winooski River upstream approximately 100 feet to the railroad crossing.

Preston Brook, Bolton - From the confluence of the Winooski River upstream approximately 2600 feet to the first falls.

Orleans County

Black River, Coventry - From 600 feet below the falls at Old Harman Mill in Coventry upstream to the top of falls at Old Harman Mill in Coventry.

Willoughby River, Orleans - From the downstream edge of bridge on Tarbox Hill Road in Orleans Village upstream to the top of the natural falls upstream of the bridge on Tarbox Hill Road in Orleans Village.

Dorin, Wells, Myers, Schoolhouse and Mill Brooks, all in Westmore - From mouth of brooks at Lake Willoughby upstream approximately 3/4 mile in Dorin Brook, all of Wells Brook, 1/2 mile in Myers Brook, 1/4 mile in the Schoolhouse Brook and, and 1/4 mile in Mill Brook and tributaries, all in Westmore. For identification purpose these brooks are arranged in order from north to south, and flow through Vermont Agency of Transportation structures on Route 5A number 10, 9, 8, 7 and 6, respectively.

Porter Brook, Greensboro -- From Caspian Lake upstream to its headwaters. (1987, Fish and Wildlife Commissioner's Reg. No. 970, eff. April 1, 1987.)

Washington County

Chase Brook, Berlin -- From its confluence with the Dog River upstream approximately 1/2 mile to the top of the natural falls in Berlin.

Ridley Brook, Duxbury -- From the confluence of the Winooski River upstream approximately 1700 feet to the first falls.

Windsor County

Lilliesville Brook, Stockbridge - From its confluence with the White River upstream to the 2nd bridge on the Lilliesville Brook Road.

Locust Creek, Bethel - From its confluence with the White River upstream to the 2nd bridge on Rt. 12.

(b) The below named waters are closed from March 16 through May 31.

Chittenden County

Lamoille River, Milton - From the downstream edge of the bridge on Bear Trap Road in Milton (referred to as the West Milton Bridge upstream to the top of first dam (Peterson Dam) in Milton.

Winooski River, Winooski and Burlington - From the Winooski One Hydro dam west of Main Street (US 7) in Winooski and Burlington and extending downstream to the downstream side of the first railroad bridge.

Franklin County

Missisquoi River, Swanton - From the top of the Swanton dam in the Village of Swanton downstream approximately 850 feet to the water treatment plant on the west side of the river, and downstream approximately 850 feet to the upstream end of the cement breakwater on the east side of the river. (1988, Fish and Wildlife Board Reg. No. 975, eff. April 7, 1988.)

(c) The below named waters are closed from March 16 to the Friday before the 1st Saturday in May, both dates inclusive:

Franklin County

Missisquoi River, Swanton - From the top of the Swanton Dam in the Village of Swanton extending downstream 5,120 feet to the Northwest corner (downstream) of the Riverside Cemetery and across the river to a pole on the Northeast bank.

(d) The below named waters are closed to fishing year-round:

Orleans County

Clyde River, Newport City - From 260 feet below the top of the abandoned Mill Dam immediately upstream of the Number 1, 2, 3 hydroelectric powerhouse in Newport City, upstream to the top of the abandoned Mill Dam immediately upstream of the Number 1, 2, 3 hydroelectric powerhouse in Newport City.

(e) The below named water is only open to fishing using artificial flies and lures from September 1 to October 31. All salmon caught must be released. Lake Trout may be harvest during this period. The daily limit is 2 lake trout with a minimum length of 18 inches

Clyde River - From Lake Memphremagog upstream to Charleston Dam (Lubber Lake), West Charleston

(f) The below named water is catch and release for trout from Second Saturday in April to October 31. All trout must be immediately released.

Batten Kill River - From the New York State line upstream

(approximately 20.6 miles) to downstream side of Depot Street Bridge (Route 11/30) in Manchester

(g) The below named water is catch and release for trout with artificial lures and flies only, anglers less than 15 years old may use live bait from Second Saturday in April to October 31. All trout must be immediately released.

Dog River - From the downstream edge of the Junction Road Bridge in Berlin/Montpelier upstream to the top of the Northfield Falls Dam in Northfield.

(h) The below named waters are closed to fishing from November 1 to the Friday before the second Saturday in April.

Batten Kill River -- From the New York State line upstream (approximately 20.6 miles) to downstream side of Depot Street Bridge (Route 11/30) in Manchester.

Clyde River - From Lake Memphremagog upstream to Charleston Dam (Lubber Lake), West Charleston

Dog River -- From the downstream edge of the Junction Road Bridge in Berlin/Montpelier upstream to the top of the Northfield Falls Dam in Northfield.

12-035 Code Vt. R. 12-010-035-X

EFFECTIVE DATE:
Original effective date not provided.
AMENDED:
June 6, 1986 Secretary of State Rule Log # 86-21; January 2, 1996 Secretary of State Rule Log # 95-92; October 3, 1996 Secretary of State Rule Log # 96-57; November 1, 1997 Secretary of State Rule Log # 97-49; March 1, 1999 Secretary of State Rule Log # 99-13; October 7, 2000 Secretary of State Rule Log # 00-58; December 6, 2002 Secretary of State Rule Log # 02-45; June 4, 2004 Secretary of State Rule Log # 04-21; August 6, 2005 Secretary of State Rule Log # 05-24; March 31, 2006 Secretary of State Rule Log # 06-007; September 1, 2006 Secretary of State Rule Log #06-026; February 19, 2008 Secretary of State Rule Log #08-E02 [Emergency]; April 25, 2008 Secretary of State Rule Log #08-015; January 1, 2009 Secretary of State Rule Log #08-023; January 1, 2011 Secretary of State Rule Log #10-014; February 2, 2013 Secretary of State Rule Log #13-004; January 1, 2014 Secretary of State Rule Log #13-021; January 1, 2016 Secretary of State Rule Log #15-019; January 1, 2018 Secretary of State Rule Log #17-040; January 1, 2020 Secretary of State Rule Log #19-024; January 1, 2022 Secretary of State Rule Log #21-009

STATUTORY AUTHORITY:

10 V.S.A. §§ 4081 to 4083; 4605