What special fishing regulations apply at Battenkill?

Battenkill carries 3 special-regulation overlays that override Vermont's statewide 2026 rules, covering Brook trout and Brown trout. One of them reads: "Legendary 'Beaverkill of New England' wild brown trout stream — historic global fly-fishing destination, Manchester VT carries Orvis Company HQ and the American Museum of Fly Fishing; famous Manchester reaches now catch-and-release ONLY (NY line to Depot St bridge — all trout released, closed Nov 1 – early April — + Depot St to Route 7 reach C&R every Oct 1-31, incl. Green River + Roaring Branch + Warm Brook tributaries)." Every overlay on this water body is listed in full above.

Do I need a fishing license to fish Battenkill?

Yes. Battenkill is in Vermont, so a valid Vermont fishing license is required just as it is anywhere else in the state, issued by Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department. The special regulations on this page change the bag, size, slot, or gear rules for Battenkill; they do not waive the license requirement. Free-fishing days and youth exemptions follow the statewide Vermont rules.

Do Battenkill's special rules replace Vermont's statewide limits?

Only where they conflict. Vermont's statewide 2026 regulations apply on Battenkill by default; the overlays above replace the matching statewide rules for the species or gear they name, while everything not specifically overridden still follows the statewide rule. When a water-body rule and the statewide rule disagree, the water-body rule wins.

Which species have special rules on Battenkill?

Brook trout and Brown trout have a water-body-specific rule on Battenkill, each linking to its full Vermont regulations above. Species not listed here follow the statewide Vermont limits.

2026 regulation year

Battenkill 2026 — Vermont Fishing Regulations

Vermont statewide rules apply unless overridden below.

Last updated June 3, 2026

Battenkill carries 3 special-regulation overlays on top of Vermont's 2026 fishing rules — covering Brook trout, Brown trout. Verify the agency booklet before launching: in-season changes are not yet wired to this page.

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State-level special regulation

Legendary 'Beaverkill of New England' wild brown trout stream — historic global fly-fishing destination, Manchester VT carries Orvis Company HQ and the American Museum of Fly Fishing; famous Manchester reaches now catch-and-release ONLY (NY line to Depot St bridge — all trout released, closed Nov 1 – early April — + Depot St to Route 7 reach C&R every Oct 1-31, incl. Green River + Roaring Branch + Warm Brook tributaries)
Source: Vermont special-water list

Per-species rules on Battenkill

Brook trout regulations →
Catch-and-release ONLY on the famous Manchester reaches (NY line to Depot St bridge — all trout released — + Depot St to Route 7 reach C&R Oct 1-31); historic global fly-fishing destination (Orvis HQ + American Museum of Fly Fishing in Manchester)
Brown trout regulations →
Catch-and-release ONLY on the famous Manchester reaches — NY line to Depot St bridge (all trout released; closed Nov 1 – early April) + Depot St to Route 7 bridge C&R every Oct 1-31; historic global fly-fishing destination (Orvis HQ + American Museum of Fly Fishing)

Official source

Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department publishes the authoritative 2026 Vermont fishing regulations. Special-regulation lakes and rivers are listed in the agency booklet — always verify before fishing.

Visit official Vermont fishing regulations →

Emergency-order channel

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

Other special-regulation waters in Vermont

Browse all water bodies →

Frequently asked questions

What special fishing regulations apply at Battenkill?: Battenkill carries 3 special-regulation overlays that override Vermont's statewide 2026 rules, covering Brook trout and Brown trout. One of them reads: "Legendary 'Beaverkill of New England' wild brown trout stream — historic global fly-fishing destination, Manchester VT carries Orvis Company HQ and the American Museum of Fly Fishing; famous Manchester reaches now catch-and-release ONLY (NY line to Depot St bridge — all trout released, closed Nov 1 – early April — + Depot St to Route 7 reach C&R every Oct 1-31, incl. Green River + Roaring Branch + Warm Brook tributaries)." Every overlay on this water body is listed in full above.
Do I need a fishing license to fish Battenkill?: Yes. Battenkill is in Vermont, so a valid Vermont fishing license is required just as it is anywhere else in the state, issued by Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department. The special regulations on this page change the bag, size, slot, or gear rules for Battenkill; they do not waive the license requirement. Free-fishing days and youth exemptions follow the statewide Vermont rules.
Do Battenkill's special rules replace Vermont's statewide limits?: Only where they conflict. Vermont's statewide 2026 regulations apply on Battenkill by default; the overlays above replace the matching statewide rules for the species or gear they name, while everything not specifically overridden still follows the statewide rule. When a water-body rule and the statewide rule disagree, the water-body rule wins.
Which species have special rules on Battenkill?: Brook trout and Brown trout have a water-body-specific rule on Battenkill, each linking to its full Vermont regulations above. Species not listed here follow the statewide Vermont limits.

← Back to Vermont regulations overview