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Vermont Walleye Fishing Season Opens May 6

The Vermont walleye fishing season opens on Saturday, May 6, marking the return of some of the best walleye fishing in New England. The Vermont state record walleye was caught in Lake Champlain by Richard Levesque in 2010 and weighed 14 lbs. 8.8 oz.

Walleye are the largest member of the perch family, which also includes Yellow Perch and Sauger. They have a large, silvery eye, a white belly and flanks ranging from olive-brown to golden-yellow.

As a reminder to anglers, there is no open season on sauger, a close cousin to the walleye. Once abundant in southern Lake Champlain, sauger still appear there, though rarely. If caught , sauger must be immediately released. Walleye are differentiated from sauger, which they closely resemble, by their first dorsal fin which is dusky colored and spotless.

 

“We saw some really nice, trophy-size walleye during our recent survey work, which certainly brightens the outlook a bit for the upcoming walleye season,” said Chet MacKenzie, fisheries biologist with Vermont Fish & Wildlife. “The fishing conditions are also lining up to be exceptional for opening weekend as flows have dropped in many of the major spawning tributaries to Lake Champlain, meaning anglers will have a great opportunity to connect with post-spawn walleye.”

 

Where to Find Walleye

Vermont has excellent spring walleye fishing opportunities in a number of lakes and rivers across the state. Such opportunities include Lake Champlain and its tributaries – the Missisquoi, Lamoille and Winooski rivers and Otter Creek, Salem Lake, Island Pond, Clyde Pond and the Clyde River. 

Lake Carmi, Chittenden Reservoir and the Connecticut River, also offer quality walleye fishing but are subject to specific regulations.

Lake Champlain walleye hotspots include near Savage, Cedar and Fishbladder Islands in the Inland Sea, and around Juniper and Valcour Islands and the Four Brothers in the Broad Lake.

 

Walleye Fishing Regulations

In all waters of Vermont except Lake Carmi, Chittenden Reservoir and the Connecticut River, walleye have an 18” minimum length requirement and three-fish daily limit. The open season is from Saturday, May 6 to March 15, 2018.

Lake Carmi has a slot limit for walleye because of the lake’s high productivity and high rate of walleye harvest. The minimum length is 15 inches, all walleye between 17 and 19 inches must be released. The daily limit is five walleye, but only one may be over 19 inches long. The season is open May 6 through March 15.

Chittenden Reservoir has special walleye regulations to produce large walleye that can help control its over-abundant yellow perch population and offer anglers with an opportunity to harvest a trophy walleye. The minimum length is 22 inches, the daily limit is two, and the season is open June 1 through March 15.

Connecticut River walleye fishing rules are set by New Hampshire. No walleye between 16 and 18 inches may be kept and the daily limit is four fish, of which only one may be longer than 18 inches.

Anglers should reference the 2017 Vermont Fishing Guide & Regulations Digest or the new Online Fishing Regulations Tool at www.vtfishandwildlife.com to check a full listing of Vermont waters and all applicable regulations.

To buy a fishing license, or learn more about fishing in Vermont, visit www.vtfishandwildlife.com.

 


Other Lake Champlain Fishing Articles:

Fish Stocking Underway Across Vermont

Fish Stocking Underway Across Vermont

Vermont Fish & Wildlife to stock 1.2 million fish in 2017

Fish Stocking Underway Across VermontVermont Fish & Wildlife has begun fish stocking across the state. This effort will ultimately result in over 1 million fish being distributed into Vermont waters in 2017.

“While we did some pond and lake stocking earlier in April, our stream and river stocking work is beginning this week and will be in full swing for the month of May,” said Adam Miller, fish culture operations manager with Vermont Fish & Wildlife. “Our stocking efforts, which are supported by our fish culture program, are designed to help maintain and restore fisheries, while also increasing recreational angling opportunities.”

The Department’s fish stocking work includes strategic distribution of brook, brown, lake, rainbow and steelhead rainbow trout, as well as landlocked Atlantic salmon and walleye.

A popular part of the stocking program is the trophy trout initiative, which stocks large, 2-year-old brook, brown and rainbow trout in lakes, ponds and rivers throughout Vermont.

“Nearly 15,000 trophy trout will be stocked this year, and anglers will be able to fish almost 21 miles of rivers and 16 lakes and ponds that are designated as trophy water,” Miller said.

The following streams will be stocked with trophy trout between now and mid-May:

Black River Otter Creek
East Creek Passumpsic River
Lamoille River Walloomsac River
Missisquoi River Winooski River

Stocking of trophy trout in the following lakes and ponds is also in progress:

Amherst Lake Lake Rescue
Black Pond Lake Shaftsbury
Echo Lake McIntosh Pond
Holland Pond Mill Pond
Kent Pond Miller Pond
Knapp Pond No. 1 Smith Pond
Lake Paran Stoughton Pond
Lake Raponda Sunset Lake

For a complete 2017 stocking schedule, to purchase a fishing license, or for more information on fishing in Vermont, visit www.vtfishandwildlife.com.


Other Lake Champlain Fishing Articles:

Fishing Clinic: Introduction to Trout Fishing with Spinning Equipment

Introduction to Trout Fishing with Spinning Equipment Fishing Clinic

 

Introduction to Trout Fishing with Spinning EquipmentDate and Time: Saturday, May 6; 9:30 AM – 1:30 PM

Location: Waterbury Public Library,         Waterbury, Vermont

Description: Introduction to Trout Fishing with Spinning Equipment

Learn something new at this free fishing clinic. It’s  open to people of all ages and levels of experience, including those completely new to fishing.

This hands-on clinic features the basics of fishing and focuses on targeting trout with spinning equipment. Topics will include ecology, knot tying casting, lure making and much more. At the end of the clinic participants will walk to the nearby Winooski River and practice their skills.

A bag lunch is suggested and all equipment is provided.

Registration is required and can be completed by emailing letsgofishing@vermont.gov or calling 802-265-2279. The course will be taught by a certified Let’s Go Fishing Instructor.

Source: Fishing Clinics and Events – Vermont Fish and Wildlife


 

Vermont Spring Bass Fishing Featured on World Fishing Network

Vermont Spring Bass Fishing Featured on World Fishing Network

“Outdoor Passion” Show Highlights Vermont Fishing, Public Access & Fish Culture Efforts
Vermont Spring Bass Fishing Featured on World Fishing Network

Vermont Spring Bass Fishing

 

Well-known among local and regional anglers for years, Vermont’s spring catch and release bass fishing opportunities will soon get a boost in national and international attention as they will be the focus of the Canadian-based television show, “Outdoor Passion”, scheduled to air on the renowned World Fishing Network (WFN) in mid-April.
Outdoor Passion’s show highlighting Vermont fishing will air on WFN on Sunday, April 16 at 7:00 p.m. and 11:00 p.m. (EST), Monday, April 17 at 5:00 a.m., Tuesday, April 18 at 6:30 a.m., and on Friday, April 21 at 5:00 p.m.

The show, led by host Ray Carignan and Vermont fisheries biologist Shawn Good, will feature incredible springtime catch and release bass fishing action on Lake Champlain, a visit to the Ed Weed Fish Culture Station in Grand Isle to see the operations of a Vermont fish hatchery, and will also highlight the state’s unique fishing access area program that offers anglers 186 free public boat ramps across Vermont.

 

“Do you know the best-kept secret of the northeast,” the Outdoor Passion narrator asks. “If you love smallmouth and largemouth then you should learn of a place that offers world-class bass fishing during the month of May.

It’s not unusual to have 50 or 60 fish days here, with many in the 4-pound range. Doubling up on trophy catches is also not uncommon on this lake. Quite often big pike, walleye or even a salmon or the odd laker will want to join in the fun on this part of Champlain. Very few lakes anywhere on the planet offer such fishing.”

The show goes on to profile Vermont’s free fishing access areas.

 

“Vermont realizes the economic value which anglers contribute to the local economy,” says the narrator. “They go out of their way to make visitors welcome. We love coming here to enjoy all these facilities and the incredible fishing.”

Vermont Spring Bass Fishing Featured on World Fishing Network“Vermont’s bass fishing, especially Lake Champlain, has been the focus of media attention and garnered accolades for several decades now,” said Shawn Good, fisheries biologist with Vermont Fish & Wildlife. “And, while there’s truly never a bad time to fish for bass in Vermont, the catch and release season during April, May and early June can be absolutely amazing, maybe the best fishing of the entire year.”

 

Vermont’s catch and release bass season runs through June 10, when the state’s traditional bass season begins. During the traditional bass season, from June 10 through November 30, anglers may keep bass based on daily limits applicable to the waters they are fishing.

 

Vermont Spring Bass Fishing Featured on World Fishing Network“We’re thrilled that the Outdoor Passion folks were able to come experience just how good Vermont bass fishing can be during the springtime, and even more excited that they’ll soon be sharing their time on the water with anglers across the United States and around the world,” said Good. “Whether you’re already an avid Vermont bass angler, or someone looking to come fishing here for the first time, you’ll want to keep an eye out for this action-packed show.”

 

To learn more about fishing in Vermont or to purchase a fishing license, visit www.vtfishandwildlife.com. To learn more about Outdoor Passion, visit http://www.outdoorpassion.tv/.

 


Other Lake Champlain Fishing Articles:

Fishing Clinic – Introduction to Bass Fishing

Introduction to Bass Fishing Clinic


Introduction to Bass Fishing ClinicDate and Time: Saturday, April 29;  9:00 AM-1:00 PM

Location: Halfmoon State Park, Hubbardton, Vermont

Description: Introduction to Bass Fishing Clinic

Learn something new at this free fishing clinic. It’s  open to people of all ages and levels of experience, including those completely new to fishing.

This hands-on clinic, reviews the basics of fishing as it focuses on how to target bass with artificial lures. This clinic is the perfect starting spot for the angler looking to get started using artificial lures but is not sure which ones to use.

Registration is required and can be completed by emailing letsgofishing@vermont.gov or calling 802-265-2279. The course will be taught by a certified Let’s Go Fishing Instructor.

Source: Fishing Clinics and Events – Vermont Fish and Wildlife