What special fishing regulations apply at Caspian Lake?

Caspian Lake carries 4 special-regulation overlays that override Vermont's statewide 2026 rules, covering Lake trout, Landlocked Atlantic salmon, and Yellow perch. One of them reads: "Lake trout 18 in min; landlocked salmon (stocked) 17 in min; brook + brown + rainbow + lake trout + landlocked salmon = combined 2 / day aggregate (the pre-2022 23 in trophy minimum was consolidated into the 2-fish aggregate under the 2022 simplification); smallmouth + brook + brown + rainbow trout." Every overlay on this water body is listed in full above.

Do I need a fishing license to fish Caspian Lake?

Yes. Caspian Lake 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 Caspian Lake; they do not waive the license requirement. Free-fishing days and youth exemptions follow the statewide Vermont rules.

Do Caspian Lake's special rules replace Vermont's statewide limits?

Only where they conflict. Vermont's statewide 2026 regulations apply on Caspian Lake 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 Caspian Lake?

Lake trout, Landlocked Atlantic salmon, and Yellow perch have a water-body-specific rule on Caspian Lake, each linking to its full Vermont regulations above. Species not listed here follow the statewide Vermont limits.

2026 regulation year

Caspian Lake 2026 — Vermont Fishing Regulations

Vermont statewide rules apply unless overridden below.

Last updated June 3, 2026

Caspian Lake carries 4 special-regulation overlays on top of Vermont's 2026 fishing rules — covering Lake trout, Landlocked Atlantic salmon, Yellow perch. Verify the agency booklet before launching: in-season changes are not yet wired to this page.

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State-level special regulation

Lake trout 18 in min; landlocked salmon (stocked) 17 in min; brook + brown + rainbow + lake trout + landlocked salmon = combined 2 / day aggregate (the pre-2022 23 in trophy minimum was consolidated into the 2-fish aggregate under the 2022 simplification); smallmouth + brook + brown + rainbow trout
Source: Vermont special-water list

Per-species rules on Caspian Lake

Lake trout regulations →
18 in min; combined 2 / day aggregate across all trout + landlocked salmon (pre-2022 23 in trophy min consolidated); Northeast Kingdom deep-water lake
Landlocked Atlantic salmon regulations →
17 in min; within the combined 2 / day all-trout + salmon aggregate; stocked Northeast Kingdom landlocked salmon
Yellow perch regulations →
50 / day combined panfish, no min; VT state-record yellow perch 2 lb 6.4 oz (2015)

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 Caspian Lake?: Caspian Lake carries 4 special-regulation overlays that override Vermont's statewide 2026 rules, covering Lake trout, Landlocked Atlantic salmon, and Yellow perch. One of them reads: "Lake trout 18 in min; landlocked salmon (stocked) 17 in min; brook + brown + rainbow + lake trout + landlocked salmon = combined 2 / day aggregate (the pre-2022 23 in trophy minimum was consolidated into the 2-fish aggregate under the 2022 simplification); smallmouth + brook + brown + rainbow trout." Every overlay on this water body is listed in full above.
Do I need a fishing license to fish Caspian Lake?: Yes. Caspian Lake 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 Caspian Lake; they do not waive the license requirement. Free-fishing days and youth exemptions follow the statewide Vermont rules.
Do Caspian Lake's special rules replace Vermont's statewide limits?: Only where they conflict. Vermont's statewide 2026 regulations apply on Caspian Lake 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 Caspian Lake?: Lake trout, Landlocked Atlantic salmon, and Yellow perch have a water-body-specific rule on Caspian Lake, each linking to its full Vermont regulations above. Species not listed here follow the statewide Vermont limits.

← Back to Vermont regulations overview