New John Guilmette Fishing Access Area

New Fishing Access Area in South Hero, Vermont

The Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department has acquired an additional property in South Hero guaranteeing anglers and boaters additional access to the Lake. Fish & Wildlife recently purchased the property as a new state fishing and boating access area for the public.

Lake Champlain

Lake Champlain

“The new ‘John Guilmette Fishing Access Area’ will serve a large group of anglers and boaters, as well as duck hunters, by providing year-round access at a key location on northern Lake Champlain,” said Vermont Fish & Wildlife Commissioner Patrick Berry. “When you launch your boat, you can go north in the Inland Sea, or head south to the mouth of the Lamoille River, Malletts Bay, or the main portion of the lake.”

Although the South Hero parcel has traditionally been used as a boat access, it could have been sold, threatening future use of a critical Lake access point on the west end of the Sandbar Causeway.

“This site is critical because it is protected and allows boats with deep drafts to easily launch,” according to Mike Wichrowski (Fish & Wildlife’s, Land and Facilities Coordinator). “While anyone can use the site today, we plan on improving the ramp, dock, and parking layout. The design phase will be ongoing this summer, with site improvements scheduled for next year.”

About Vermont’s Fishing Access Areas

Excise taxes on fishing equipment, motorboat and small engine fuels, import duties, and interest are collected and appropriated from the Sport Fish Restoration and Boating Trust Fund by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department currently uses these monies to acquire and to develop and maintain boat and fishing access areas. Most of Vermont’s existing fishing and boating access areas have been purchased with funds from the sale of fishing licenses and the taxes on fishing equipment.

The Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department maintains over 170 developed fishing access areas. These sites provide public access to Vermont waters for shore fishing opportunities and boat launching- including 135 access areas with concrete or gravel ramps. There are an additional 21 department access areas where non-motorized vessels can be launched, and 18 access areas dedicated to shore fishing. All access areas are open to hunting, trapping, fishing, and boating.

You can learn more about Vermont’s fishing access areas at their website (www.vtfishandwildlife.com) under the “Fishing” category of subjects. (http://www.vtfishandwildlife.com/Fish_Accessareas.cfm)

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