Category Archives: Activities & Events

things to do in the Lake Champlain Valley

Dead Creek Wildlife Day 2015

Dead Creek Wildlife Day 2015

Dead Creek Wildlife Day is Saturday, October 3, 2015 from 9:30 AM to 4:00 PM at the Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department’s Dead Creek Wildlife Management Area in Addison, Vermont.

Dead Creek Wildlife Day 2015 offers something for everyone. It’s a day will filled with wildlife demonstrations and guided nature walks. All are welcome for an hour or to stay for the day!

Dead Creek Wildlife Day

Dead Creek Wildlife Day activities will include:

  • Bird Banding
  • Decoy Carving
  • Hunting Dog Handling
  • Fishing Tips and How-tos
  • Live Critters of New England
  • Building Blue Bird Boxes
  • Face Painting
  • Nature Art and Crafts

Free Admission and Parking

View event schedule here

 

Dead Creek Day Cooking Contest

A special new feature this year is the Dead Creek Day Cooking Contest – looking for the best wild game recipe!

E-mail your recipe to Nicole at Nicole.Meier@Vermont.gov with “Dead Creek Day Cooking Contest” in the subject line or call 802-828-1193.

All entrants will need to provide their own way to keep their contest entry warm. Judging will be done by anonymous ballot. Tickets will be distributed upon entry.

Voting and tasting will occur from 2pm-3pm. Winners will be announced at 3pm

 

Where is Dead Creek Wildlife Management Area?

Dead Creek WMA is on VT Rte. 17 about one mile west of the junction of Routes 22A and17 in Addison, Vermont.

For more information call (802) 828-1000.
Get a map and directions…


Other Lake Champlain Wildlife Articles:

34th Annual Vergennes Day – August 29

34th Annual Vergennes Day

34th Annual Vergennes Day - August 29

34th Annual Vergennes Day – August 29

A variety of activities will be happening in Vergennes during the annual event.

Sourced through Scoop.it from: www.mychamplainvalley.com

Vergennes Day will take place for its 34th year on Saturday, August 29. The event celebrates the City of Vergennes and its community, and is sponsored by the Addison County Chamber of Commerce and area businesses.

Activities will take place on August 29 from 7:00 am – 4:00 pm. They include a pancake breakfast at the Vergennes Fire Station, the Little City 5k and 10k races, and live music at the bandstand in City Park.

The event ends with the lighting of the Otter Creek Falls at dusk. The falls will be lit every night through Labor Day.

See on Scoop.it – Lake Champlain Life

Vermont’s 2nd Annual Statewide Free Ice Fishing Day

Vermont’s 2nd annual statewide Free Ice Fishing Day will take place Saturday, January 31, featuring an activity-filled ice fishing festival hosted by the Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department and the Champlain Valley Hardwater Tournament Series (CVHTS).

Vermont’s 2nd Annual Statewide Free Ice Fishing Day

Vermont’s Free Ice Fishing Day allows residents and non-residents to ice fish anywhere in Vermont without a fishing license on that day.

“Ice fishing is a fun way for people of all ages to get outside and enjoy Vermont’s natural resources during the winter months. It’s also a great family activity and we hope that the public will take advantage of this opportunity to try out the world-class ice fishing that Vermont has to offer.” ~ Louis Porter, commissioner of Vermont Fish & Wildlife.

The ice fishing festival will be held at the Malletts Bay Fishing Access Area on Lake Champlain in Colchester – is free of charge and open to the public. The event begins with registration and giveaways at 1 p.m and will feature a variety of activities including knot-tying demonstrations, an underwater fish-viewing station and a fish filleting and frying booth.

Vermont’s 2nd Annual Statewide Free Ice Fishing DayAttendees will be also beable to watch the CVHTS weigh-in at 2 p.m., and later fish with CVHTS professional anglers who will stick around to share their skills and knowledge of ice fishing.

Warming huts and snacks will be available to keep people comfortable, and there will be ice fishing equipment giveaways to the kids in attendance, while supplies last. Information will also be provided on ice fishing tips and tactics, ice safety, fish identification and fish habitat.

“This festival is a great event for anyone interested in ice fishing, including individuals and families who might want to participate in the sport for the first time. Aside from fishing, it’s also a wonderful chance to get outside, have a cookout, play games and simply enjoy quality time with kids.” ~ Bernie Pientka, fisheries biologist with Vermont Fish & Wildlife.

“The neat thing about ice fishing is just about anyone can do it and you’re not limited to the shore as can be the case with open water fishing,” added Jud Kratzer, fisheries biologist with Vermont Fish & Wildlife. “Furthermore, freshly harvested, tasty Vermont fish is hard to beat. We hope that folks will enjoy the free fishing day all over the state and that many will join us at the festival to celebrate ice fishing in Vermont.”

To learn more about ice fishing in Vermont, visit http://www.vtfishandwildlife.com/fish_icefishing.cfm.

To preregister for the ice fishing festival, go to http://tinyurl.com/2015IceFishingFestival. For additional information about the event, please contact Nicole Corrao with Vermont Fish & Wildlife by calling 802-318-1347 or emailing nicole.corrao@state.vt.us.

 

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Cold Lake Champlain Ice

Ice on Lake Champlain

Lake Champlain ice is still too thin to support recreational use, but it starting to form, and Lake Champlain’s winter activities will soon be underway.

 

Dates of Lake Champlain Ice Closing

Following are the dates of Lake Champlain ice closing since 1970. The data is from the U.S. Weather Bureau or National Weather Service records.

Lake Champlain ice fishing

Lake Champlain ice fishingLake Champlain ice skatingLake Champlain ice skating

2014 February 12
2013 Not Closed
2012 Not Closed
2011 Not Closed
2010 Not Closed
2009 Not Closed
2008 Not Closed
2007 March 2
2006 Not Closed
2005 March 8
2004 January 27
2003 February 15
2002 Not Closed
2001 March 2
2000 Not Closed
1999 Not Closed
1998 Not Closed
1997 Not Closed
1996 February 5
1995 Not Closed
1994 January 23
1993 February 7Lake Champlain skiing
1992 Not Closed
1991 Not Closed
1990 Not Closed
1989 February 22
1988 Not Closed
1987 February 18
1986 February 10
Lake Champlain ice surfing1985 Not Closed
1984 Not Closed
1983 Not Closed
1982 January 28
1981 January 14
1980 Not Closed
1979 February 11
1978 February 5
1977 January 16
1976 Not Closed
1975 Not Closed
1974 Not Closed
1973 February 20
1972 February 10
1971 February 2
1970 January 21

More Articles About Lake Champlain Ice Safety:

                               

 

New Year-Round Open Water Fishing Opportunities for Vermont Anglers

Are you a die-hard angler? New regulations have opened up new year-round open water fishing opportunities in the state of Vermont. Beginning in 2014, revised Vermont regulations allow catch-and release trout fishing with artificial flies or lures outside of the normal trout season. The eleven sections of waterways covered provide over seventy additional miles of river to year-round trout fishing.

New Year-Round Open Water Fishing Opportunities for Vermont Anglers

Year-Round Open Water Fishing

“The regulations were intended to provide expanded fishing opportunities for trout while limiting the potential impact to populations. The changes will give interested anglers the opportunity to take advantage of any mild days in late fall and early spring.” ~ Rich Kirn, Vermont Fish & Wildlife fisheries biologist.

Additionally, the state’s bass catch-and-release open water angling opportunities (not ice fishing) – also with artificial flies and lures only – have been expanded to include all lakes, ponds and reservoirs not listed as ‘seasonally closed waters.’ A complete list of ‘seasonally closed waters’ is available on the Vermont Fish & Wildlife website, www.vtfishandwildlife.com. Under the “Fishing” tab, click on “Law Digest and Guide” for more information.

“From the feedback I’ve gotten, many local anglers – primarily the hardcore, avid type – are really excited about the increased options in terms of fishable waters. Additionally, we’ve seen a rise in the non-resident interest in these opportunities and that should certainly provide a boost in visits from those outside of Vermont.” ~ Bob Shannon, owner of The Fly Rod Shop and Fly Fish Vermont Guide Service in Stowe, Vermont

The following rules are are in effect on these new catch-and-release waters:

  • Only artificial flies or lures may be used, except during the open season for trout (2nd Sat. in April – Oct. 31).
  • Catch and release only (trout must be immediately released where caught), except during the open season for trout.
  • During open season for trout, follow normal size restrictions, daily limits and possession limits.

Year-Round Open Water Fishing Opportunities for Vermont Anglers

The following sections of streams listed below are classified as open to year-round trout fishing :
  • Black River: From the Connecticut River boundary 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 Lake Champlain boundary (top of Peterson Dam in Milton) upstream to the top of the Cady’s Falls Dam in Morristown.
  • Lewis Creek: From the Lake Champlain boundary upstream to the State Prison Hollow Road (TH#3) bridge in Starksboro.
  • Missisquoi River: From the top of the Swanton Dam in Swanton 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.
  • Ompompanoosuc River: From the Connecticut River boundary upstream to the Union Village Dam in Thetford.
  • Otter Creek: From the Lake Champlain boundary 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.
  • Waits River: From the Connecticut River boundary upstream to the top of the Central Vermont Power Dam in Bradford.
  • 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.
  • 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 VT Route 2/100 in Duxbury and Waterbury.

Additionally a section of the Walloomsac River in Bennington was also designated as a trophy trout stream with the changes and is being stocked with two-year old brown and rainbow trout – both with a daily limit of two per day.

            

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