The Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department recently announced that the state will offer a “free ice fishing day” in January. On Saturday, January 25, 2014, both residents and nonresidents can experience ice fishing without a fishing license.
“We worked with the Legislature to create a free ice fishing day to encourage individuals, friends and families to get out and try one of the most popular fishing methods enjoyed in Vermont,” said Fish & Wildlife Commissioner Patrick Berry.
Lake Champlain is among Vermont’s top ice fishing destinations, with anglers catching landlocked salmon, lake trout, northern pike, yellow perch, white perch, walleye, and crappie.
“Lake Champlain attracts twice as much fishing activity during the winter as during the summer, particularly in the northern third of the lake,” said State Fisheries Biologist Brian Chipman. “The plentiful yellow perch is the mainstay of the winter fishery, but many ice anglers also find good fishing for other species.”
Vermont’s ice fishing season for trout, salmon and bass starts January 18 and continues through March 15 on 40 large Vermont lakes. For a list of those lakes, go to page 60 of the 2014 Vermont Guide to Hunting, Fishing and Trapping, available where licenses are sold and at www.vtfishandwildlife.com.
Anglers wanting to learn more about ice fishing may want to attend the free fishing day ice fishing festival being held January 25 at the Larrabee Point Fishing Access Area on Lake Champlain in Shoreham.
Vermont Fish & Wildlife staff and experienced volunteer ice fishing enthusiasts will be there from 1:00 to 4:30 p.m. to help everyone, young and old, learn how to enjoy this unique and popular type of fishing.
For more information, contact Nicole Corrao by calling 802-318-1347 or email Nicole.Corrao@state.vt.us.
source: Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department