Fishing Near Me in Vermont 2026 , Best Spots, License Info & Local Lakes
Lake Champlain bass, Connecticut River smallmouth, and brook-trout streams. We've catalogued 41 fishing venues in Vermont, public lakes, reservoirs, rivers, and access points. Below are the top 10 spots, state license info, what's biting, and answers to every fishing-near-me question for Vermont.
Top 10 Fishing Spots in Vermont
The most useful fishing venues across Vermont, picked for solid descriptions, on-site facilities, and confirmed species data. Click any spot for full venue details.
Vermont Top 10
- 1
McCuen Slang Access Area
Addison County
McCuen Slang Access Area in Addison County, Vermont is a Vermont Fish & Wildlife public access site for boat launching and shore fishing, holding carp, catfish, perch, pike and trout.
- carp
- catfish
- perch
- pike
- 2
Sand Bar Access Area
Chittenden County
Sand Bar Access Area in Chittenden County, Vermont is a Vermont Fish & Wildlife public access site for boat launching and shore fishing, with brown trout, carp, catfish, perch and pike.
- brown trout
- carp
- catfish
- perch
- 3
Chittenden Reservoir Access Area
Chittenden, Rutland County
Chittenden Reservoir Access Area is a Vermont Fish and Wildlife site at 218 Dam Road in Chittenden, Rutland County, with a surface parking lot and no fee to use it. The reservoir sits in the Green Mountains east of Rutland. State access areas are reserved for fishing and boating use, so launch, park and fish, but leave the swimming gear at home.
- 4
Indian Pioneer Point Access
Orleans, Orleans County
Indian Pioneer Point Access on Maple Street in Orleans village, Orleans County, gives anglers free public access to the water in Vermont's Northeast Kingdom. Parking is street-side rather than a dedicated lot, so park considerately. It's a Vermont Fish and Wildlife access point, open to the public at no charge under the usual state access-area rules.
- 5
Mud Creek Pond Access Area
Alburgh, Grand Isle County
Mud Creek Pond Access Area sits at 673 Vermont Route 78 outside Alburgh in Grand Isle County, in Vermont's far northwest island country near the Canadian border. It's a free Vermont Fish and Wildlife access with a surface parking area and confirmed public access. Like all state access areas it exists for fishing and boating, so expect a simple lot-and-launch setup.
- 6
Amherst Lake Access Area
Windsor County
Amherst Lake Access Area is a free Vermont Fish and Wildlife site on Amherst Lake in Windsor County, with a surface parking lot and no usage fee. The lake lies along the Route 100 corridor in central Vermont's lake country. It's a basic state access with parking and a way onto the water, so bring everything else you need for the day.
- 7
Barton River Access Area
Orleans County
Barton River Access Area gives free public access to the Barton River in Orleans County, deep in Vermont's Northeast Kingdom. There's a surface parking area and no fee, courtesy of Vermont Fish and Wildlife. River access points like this are deliberately simple, a place to park and a path to the water, so come self-contained and check current Vermont regulations.
- 8
Bristol Pond Access Area
Addison County
Bristol Pond Access Area is a Vermont Fish and Wildlife access in Addison County with surface parking and no fee to use it. It's the practical public route onto Bristol Pond, in the western foothills of the Green Mountains. Expect a simple state setup of parking and water access, nothing more, and follow Vermont's access-area rules, which reserve these sites for fishing and boating.
- 9
Brownington Pond Access Area
Orleans County
Brownington Pond Access Area is a no-fee Vermont Fish and Wildlife site in Orleans County, in the Northeast Kingdom, with a surface parking lot at the water. State access areas like this are the backbone of public fishing in Vermont: free, basic and reliable. No species list is recorded for the pond, so check Vermont's fishing regulations and reports before the trip.
- 10
Burr Pond Access Area
Rutland County
Burr Pond Access Area in Rutland County is a free Vermont Fish and Wildlife access with a surface parking area, west of the Green Mountain spine. It's a straightforward lot-and-launch site reserved for fishing and boating use. No species list or facilities beyond parking are recorded, so plan a self-sufficient day on the water and check current Vermont regulations.
See all 41 fishing venues in Vermont in our full directory.
Fishing License Info for Vermont
Everything you need to know about getting legal to fish in Vermont, who needs a license, what it costs, where to buy, and the annual free-fishing days.
License Info
Vermont fishing license, the short version
Almost every adult angler fishing public waters in Vermont needs a valid state fishing license, issued by the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department (VFWD). Resident, non-resident, short-term, senior, and youth options are available at different prices. Always check the latest official prices and exemptions on the VFWD site before you buy.
Prices and rules change each season. The linked Vermont guide is updated for 2026 with current resident, non-resident, and short-term fees, plus where to buy online and in person.
What Can You Catch in Vermont?
The most-recorded species across our Vermont venue data. Click any species to open the GilledIt species guide.
What's Biting
- Carp
- Catfish
- Perch
- Pike
- Trout
- Brown Trout
The most-recorded species across our Vermont venue data are Carp, Catfish, Perch. Open GilledIt to see real-time catch reports for any of these species near you.
Keep Exploring Vermont Fishing
More Resources
Fishing Near Me in Vermont: FAQ
Vermont has 41 fishing venues in the GilledIt directory, including McCuen Slang Access Area and other public lakes, reservoirs, rivers, and access points. Browse the full Vermont list on the Vermont pond directory or open GilledIt to see live catch reports near your location.
Yes. Almost every angler fishing public waters in Vermont needs a valid state fishing license issued by the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department (VFWD); the age it kicks in varies by state, most commonly 16 but ranging from 14 to 18. Resident, non-resident, short-term, senior, and youth options are available. See our Vermont fishing license guide for the exact age rule, the latest 2026 prices, where to buy, and free fishing days.
Among the best-documented venues in our Vermont directory is McCuen Slang Access Area. Lake Champlain bass, Connecticut River smallmouth, and brook-trout streams. The "best" lake depends on the species you're after, see the top 10 list above for our pick of the most useful venues across the state.
Many states run free fishing days each year when anglers can fish public waters without a license (bag, size, and season rules still apply). Many city-park ponds and public reservoirs are also free to access with a state license. Confirm Vermont's current dates and rules on the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department (VFWD) website.
For most Vermont waters, spring (March–May) and fall (September–November) are the most productive months, bass spawn in spring, walleye and pike run in early spring, and nearly every species feeds heavily in fall before winter. Summer is peak topwater bass action, with early mornings and evenings fishing best through the heat. Check the GilledIt community feed for live catch reports in Vermont this week.
Start logging catches in Vermont
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