2026 regulation year
Lake Bomoseen 2026 — Vermont Fishing Regulations
Vermont statewide rules apply unless overridden below.
Last updated
Lake Bomoseen carries 5 special-regulation overlays on top of Vermont's 2026 fishing rules — covering Smallmouth bass, Walleye, Northern pike, 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
Smallmouth + largemouth + walleye + chain pickerel + perch; 10 in min smallmouth + largemouth + 5 / day combined
Source: Vermont special-water list
Per-species rules on Lake Bomoseen
10 in min, 5 / day combined; April 14 – June 14 statewide C&R only
18 in min, 3 / day
20 in min, 5 / day; Vermont's largest natural lake wholly in-state
50 / day combined panfish (no more than 25 crappie), no min
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
Frequently asked questions
- What special fishing regulations apply at Lake Bomoseen?
- Lake Bomoseen carries 5 special-regulation overlays that override Vermont's statewide 2026 rules, covering Smallmouth bass, Walleye, Northern pike, and Yellow perch. One of them reads: "Smallmouth + largemouth + walleye + chain pickerel + perch; 10 in min smallmouth + largemouth + 5 / day combined." Every overlay on this water body is listed in full above.
- Do I need a fishing license to fish Lake Bomoseen?
- Yes. Lake Bomoseen 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 Lake Bomoseen; they do not waive the license requirement. Free-fishing days and youth exemptions follow the statewide Vermont rules.
- Do Lake Bomoseen's special rules replace Vermont's statewide limits?
- Only where they conflict. Vermont's statewide 2026 regulations apply on Lake Bomoseen 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 Lake Bomoseen?
- Smallmouth bass, Walleye, Northern pike, and Yellow perch have a water-body-specific rule on Lake Bomoseen, each linking to its full Vermont regulations above. Species not listed here follow the statewide Vermont limits.