What size smallmouth bass can you keep in Vermont?

The Vermont size rule for smallmouth bass is 10 in min statewide; 12 in min Lake Champlain. Trophy rule: Lake Champlain holds tournament-grade smallmouth — 4-6 lb fish routine, Bassmaster Opens + MLF Toyota Series + Bassmaster Elite Series circuit venue; VT-distinctive April 14 – June 14 statewide spawning closure (only US state with state-wide closure).

Do you need a license to fish for smallmouth bass in Vermont?

Yes. Vermont requires a valid fishing license to fish for smallmouth bass, with the usual exemptions for young children, state free-fishing days, and some senior or disabled-veteran categories. A license is valid only in the state that issued it, so non-residents need a Vermont license — compare resident and non-resident Vermont fees on the state regulations page below.

Are there gear restrictions for smallmouth bass in Vermont?

Yes. In Vermont, smallmouth bass fishing carries these gear rules: Artificial-lures-only catch-and-release on ALL Vermont waters April 14 – June 14 (VT-distinctive statewide spawning closure); Hook-and-line; snagging prohibited for black bass; Catch-and-release outside open-harvest window December 1 – April 13 statewide; VT Fishing Licence required ages 15+ ($32 res / $58 NR annual); Confirm current-year VT F&W Fishing Guide for special waters list.

Do specific Vermont waters have different smallmouth bass rules?

Yes. 8 named Vermont waters carry rules that override the statewide smallmouth bass regulation, including Lake Champlain, Lake Memphremagog, Lake Bomoseen, and 5 more. See the named water-body overrides above for the exact rule on each.

2026 regulation year

Vermont Smallmouth bass 2026 — Season, Bag Limit, Size Rules

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Last updated May 26, 2026

Vermont's smallmouth fishery centers on Lake Champlain (the country's premier northeastern smallmouth water — Lake Champlain holds dense smallmouth populations on rocky shoreline structure, the Inland Sea + Mallets Bay + St. Albans Bay + Missisquoi Bay + Lake Champlain Islands tier produces tournament-grade fish routinely, recurring Bassmaster Opens + MLF Toyota Series + Bassmaster Elite Series circuit venue), plus Lake Memphremagog (VT/QC boundary), the Connecticut River main stem (NH/VT boundary water with NH licence reciprocal), Otter Creek (Vermont's longest river — 112 miles VT's most extensive warm-water fishery), Winooski River, Lamoille River, and the smaller central + southern VT lake tier (Lake Bomoseen 2,360 acres in Rutland County — VT's largest natural lake wholly in VT, Lake St. Catherine, Lake Champlain Islands, Joe's Pond). Vermont is DISTINCTIVE — the ONLY US state with a STATE-WIDE BLACK BASS SPRING SPAWNING CLOSURE — April 14 – June 14 catch-and-release ONLY artificial-lures-only on ALL Vermont waters (one of the most restrictive bass spawning protections in the United States, reflecting Vermont's quality-management approach + the recognition that Vermont bass populations spawn 2-3 weeks later than southern New England + Mid-Atlantic states due to colder spring water temperatures). The standard rule outside the closure window is a 10-inch minimum (12-inch on Lake Champlain) + 5-fish combined daily aggregate across largemouth + smallmouth. The open-harvest season is second Saturday of June through November 30 on Lake Champlain (general inland waters extend harvest through March 15 under the 2022 simplification). Lake Champlain operates under the VT/NY interstate reciprocity statute — a valid VT OR NY freshwater fishing licence is honored.

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Season

Open harvest second Saturday of June through November 30; April 14 – June 14 catch-and-release ONLY statewide spawning protection (VT-distinctive — one of the most restrictive bass spawning protections in the US); year-round catch-and-release outside the open-harvest window.

Jun 13 – Nov 30Statewide open harvest season
Open harvest 2nd Saturday of June through November 30
Apr 14 – Jun 14Statewide spawning closure — catch-and-release ONLY artificial-lures-only
VT-distinctive only US state-wide black bass spring spawning closure

Bag & possession

Daily bag: 5 / day combined black bass (largemouth + smallmouth) during open harvest second Saturday of June through November 30
Possession: 10 in possession

Size, slot, trophy rules

Size: 10 in min statewide; 12 in min Lake Champlain
Trophy rule: Lake Champlain holds tournament-grade smallmouth — 4-6 lb fish routine, Bassmaster Opens + MLF Toyota Series + Bassmaster Elite Series circuit venue; VT-distinctive April 14 – June 14 statewide spawning closure (only US state with state-wide closure)

Gear restrictions

Artificial-lures-only catch-and-release on ALL Vermont waters April 14 – June 14 (VT-distinctive statewide spawning closure)
Hook-and-line; snagging prohibited for black bass
Catch-and-release outside open-harvest window December 1 – April 13 statewide
VT Fishing Licence required ages 15+ ($32 res / $58 NR annual)
Confirm current-year VT F&W Fishing Guide for special waters list

Named water-body overrides

Where statewide rules differ on specific Vermont waters:

Lake Champlain
12 in min, 5 / day combined; April 14 – June 14 statewide C&R only; tournament circuit venue
Lake Memphremagog
10 in min, 5 / day combined; April 14 – June 14 statewide C&R only
Lake Bomoseen
10 in min, 5 / day combined; April 14 – June 14 statewide C&R only
Lake St. Catherine
10 in min, 5 / day combined; April 14 – June 14 statewide C&R only
Otter Creek
10 in min, 5 / day combined; April 14 – June 14 statewide C&R only; VT's most extensive warm-water river fishery
Connecticut River main stem
10 in min, 5 / day combined under reciprocal NH/VT rules; April 14 – June 14 VT spawning closure applies on VT side (NH does not have a state-wide closure — anglers fishing the boundary with a VT licence must observe VT closure)
Winooski River
10 in min, 5 / day combined; April 14 – June 14 statewide C&R only
Joe's Pond
10 in min, 5 / day combined; April 14 – June 14 statewide C&R only

Official source

Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department publishes the authoritative 2026 Vermontfishing regulations. Always verify the current rule before fishing — emergency closures and in-season changes can override what's published here.

Visit official Vermont fishing regulations →

Emergency-order channel

Smallmouth bass closures, slot-limit changes, and harvest pauses are posted to Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department's emergency-order feed — check it before any Vermont trip during the active season.

Frequently asked questions

When is smallmouth bass season in Vermont?: Open harvest second Saturday of June through November 30; April 14 – June 14 catch-and-release ONLY statewide spawning protection (VT-distinctive — one of the most restrictive bass spawning protections in the US); year-round catch-and-release outside the open-harvest window. Those are the 2026 Vermont dates; always confirm against Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department before a trip, because an emergency order can shift an opener with little notice.
What is the Vermont bag limit for smallmouth bass?: The Vermont daily bag limit for smallmouth bass is 5 / day combined black bass (largemouth + smallmouth) during open harvest second Saturday of June through November 30. The possession limit is 10 in possession. Some named waters set a different limit — check the water-body overrides above.
What size smallmouth bass can you keep in Vermont?: The Vermont size rule for smallmouth bass is 10 in min statewide; 12 in min Lake Champlain. Trophy rule: Lake Champlain holds tournament-grade smallmouth — 4-6 lb fish routine, Bassmaster Opens + MLF Toyota Series + Bassmaster Elite Series circuit venue; VT-distinctive April 14 – June 14 statewide spawning closure (only US state with state-wide closure).
Do you need a license to fish for smallmouth bass in Vermont?: Yes. Vermont requires a valid fishing license to fish for smallmouth bass, with the usual exemptions for young children, state free-fishing days, and some senior or disabled-veteran categories. A license is valid only in the state that issued it, so non-residents need a Vermont license — compare resident and non-resident Vermont fees on the state regulations page below.
Are there gear restrictions for smallmouth bass in Vermont?: Yes. In Vermont, smallmouth bass fishing carries these gear rules: Artificial-lures-only catch-and-release on ALL Vermont waters April 14 – June 14 (VT-distinctive statewide spawning closure); Hook-and-line; snagging prohibited for black bass; Catch-and-release outside open-harvest window December 1 – April 13 statewide; VT Fishing Licence required ages 15+ ($32 res / $58 NR annual); Confirm current-year VT F&W Fishing Guide for special waters list.
Do specific Vermont waters have different smallmouth bass rules?: Yes. 8 named Vermont waters carry rules that override the statewide smallmouth bass regulation, including Lake Champlain, Lake Memphremagog, Lake Bomoseen, and 5 more. See the named water-body overrides above for the exact rule on each.

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