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Do You Need a Fishing License in Vermont?
Yes. Anyone age 15 or older needs a Vermont fishing license to fish public waters. The Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department issues all licenses and enforces fishing rules statewide.
Disabled residents and active-duty military stationed in Vermont receive discounts.
Vermont participates in reciprocal agreements on Lake Champlain with New York and on the Connecticut River with New Hampshire, letting license holders fish boundary waters.
How Much Does a Vermont Fishing License Cost in 2026?
Resident annual fishing license costs $28. The combination hunting and fishing license is $40. Nonresident annual fishing license costs $54, and the nonresident annual combination fishing and hunting license is $143.
Short-term 1-day, 3-day, and 7-day licenses are covered in the next section.
Vermont licenses run on a calendar year and expire December 31. A small transaction fee applies to online and phone purchases.
| License | 2026 fee |
|---|---|
| Resident annual fishing | $28 |
| Resident combo hunt/fish | $40 |
| Resident 1-day | $5 |
| Nonresident annual fishing | $54 |
| Nonresident combo hunt/fish | $143 |
| Nonresident 1-day | $21 |
| Nonresident 3-day | $23 |
| Nonresident 7-day | $30 |
| Permanent senior license (65+, one-time) | $65 |
How Much Is a 1-Day Fishing License in Vermont?
A 1-day Vermont fishing license costs $5 for residents and $21 for nonresidents. Nonresidents can also buy a 3-day license for $23 or a 7-day license for $30.
How Old Do You Have to Be to Get a Fishing License in Vermont?
In Vermont the threshold is 15: anglers under 15 fish free year-round, though they still have to follow every bag limit, size limit, and season date the state sets.
How Much Is a Lifetime Fishing License in Vermont?
For seniors, Vermont's lifetime option is the permanent senior license: $65 one time for residents age 65 and older, good for life and covering all Vermont fishing privileges. Check Vermont Fish and Wildlife for other lifetime license categories.
Where to Buy a Vermont Fishing License
Buy online at Vermont Fish and Wildlife (opens in a new tab). Digital licenses are accepted statewide and you can print or save them to your phone.
In-person sales happen at town clerks' offices, sporting goods stores, bait shops, and Walmart locations. Bring valid ID and proof of residency for resident rates.
Phone orders are available through the Fish and Wildlife Department licensing center. Online and phone sales include a small administrative fee.
Vermont Free Fishing Day 2026
Vermont Free Fishing Day is the second Saturday in June. In 2026, free fishing day is Saturday, June 13. No license is required for residents or nonresidents on this day.
Free fishing day is one of the busiest days on Vermont waters. Fish and Wildlife hosts free clinics with loaner gear at locations across the state.
All bag limits, size limits, season dates, and area-specific rules remain in effect during free fishing day.
Vermont Fishing Regulations You Should Know
Statewide trout daily limit is 12 in aggregate of brook, brown, and rainbow trout, with a 6-inch minimum. Bass season runs from the second Saturday in June through November on most waters, with catch-and-release allowed earlier.
Lake Champlain has its own creel limits. Walleye daily limit is 3 with a 15-inch minimum, lake trout 2 with 15-inch minimum, and salmon 2 with 15-inch minimum.
Live baitfish use is restricted to specific approved species. Vermont also enforces aquatic invasive species rules. Drain all water and remove all weeds before leaving any waterbody.
Best Fishing Spots in Vermont
Lake Champlain is the state's premier fishery, offering trophy smallmouth bass, walleye, lake trout, landlocked salmon, and northern pike. The lake spans 120 miles along the New York border.
The Battenkill River and Otter Creek are famous wild brown trout streams. The Lamoille and Winooski rivers also produce quality trout and seasonal salmon runs from Lake Champlain.
Lake Memphremagog in the Northeast Kingdom holds landlocked salmon and lake trout. Smaller waters like Lake Bomoseen and Caspian Lake deliver excellent smallmouth bass and panfish.
Frequently Asked Questions
A resident annual fishing license costs $28. Nonresidents pay $54 annually. Short-term nonresident licenses range from $21 for 1 day to $30 for 7 days.
No. Anglers under age 15 fish free in Vermont year-round. They must still follow all Fish and Wildlife bag limits, size limits, and season dates.
Free Fishing Day is Saturday, June 13, 2026, the second Saturday of June. No license is required to fish Vermont public waters on that day.
Buy online at vtfishandwildlife.com. Print the license or save the digital version to your phone. It is valid immediately upon purchase.
Yes. Vermont and New York have a reciprocal agreement on Lake Champlain. A valid Vermont fishing license covers fishing on the New York side of the lake.
Yes. Residents age 65 and older can buy a permanent senior license for $65 one time. It is good for life and covers all Vermont fishing privileges.