Top 10 Freshwater Fish to Catch in Vermont
Top 10 Species
These are the fish that get noticed by FishyAF anglers. Click any species to deep dive and learn more.
1
Largemouth Bass
Verified
World Record
22 lb 4 oz
Manabu Kurita / 2009
Lake Biwa, Japan
Manabu Kurita / 2009
Lake Biwa, Japan
Signature Fact
High-speed videos show they snap their mouth fully open in about 30 milliseconds, vacuuming prey from 3 inches.
2
Smallmouth Bass
Verified
World Record
11 lb 15 oz
David L. Hayes / 1955
Dale Hollow Lake, Tennessee
David L. Hayes / 1955
Dale Hollow Lake, Tennessee
Signature Fact
In winter, they huddle in massive "sleep piles"-hundreds nose-to-current, barely twitching for weeks.
3
Lake Trout
Verified
World Record
72 lb 0 oz
Lloyd Bull / 1995
Great Bear Lake, Northwest Territories
Lloyd Bull / 1995
Great Bear Lake, Northwest Territories
Signature Fact
A deepwater "siscowet" morph packs ~35% body fat-so oily 1800s fishermen rendered it for lamp oil.
4
Landlocked Salmon
Learn More Here Verified Catch
World Record
50 lb 0 oz
Niels Jørgensen / 1987
Norway
Niels Jørgensen / 1987
Norway
Signature Fact
Even trapped in lakes, they keep an ocean compass-orienting to Earth's magnetic field they'll never use.
5
Yellow Perch
Learn More Here Verified Catch
World Record
4 lb 3 oz
William D. Schafer / 1865
Bordentown, New Jersey
William D. Schafer / 1865
Bordentown, New Jersey
Signature Fact
Females extrude a translucent, accordion-like egg ribbon up to 2 meters long, draping over weeds like party streamers.
6
Muskellunge
Learn More Here Verified Catch
World Record
67 lb 8 oz
Cal Johnson / 1949
Lake Court Oreilles, Wisconsin
Cal Johnson / 1949
Lake Court Oreilles, Wisconsin
Signature Fact
A shocking number of hookups explode inches from the net during boatside figure‑eights-pure cardiac fishing.
7
Chain Pickerel
Learn More Here Verified Catch
World Record
9 lb 6 oz
R. A. Copeland / 1961
Homerville, Georgia
R. A. Copeland / 1961
Homerville, Georgia
Signature Fact
Newly hatched pickerel have a built‑in "Velcro" forehead pad that glues them to plants until the yolk's gone.
8
Northern Snakehead
Learn More Here Verified Catch
World Record
19 lb 5 oz
Brandon Palaniuk / 2012
Potomac River, Virginia
Brandon Palaniuk / 2012
Potomac River, Virginia
Signature Fact
This air-breathing predator can wriggle over land and stay alive for days if kept moist.
9
White Catfish
Learn More Here Verified Catch
World Record
19 lb 5 oz
Edward J. Riddick / 2005
John H. Kerr Reservoir, Virginia
Edward J. Riddick / 2005
John H. Kerr Reservoir, Virginia
Signature Fact
North America's most salt-tolerant catfish, shrugging off brackish water near 10-15 ppt-basically light seawater.
10
Yellow Walleye
Learn More Here Verified Catch
World Record
25 lb 0 oz
Mabry Harper / 1960
Old Hickory Lake, Tennessee
Mabry Harper / 1960
Old Hickory Lake, Tennessee
Signature Fact
Those glassy eyes pack a mirror-layered retina that lets them hunt in near-darkness-and glow under headlamps.
FAQs
What fish can you catch in Vermont?
You can catch largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, lake trout, yellow perch, muskellunge, and more in Vermont’s freshwater.
What is the best time of year to fish in Vermont?
Spring and fall are prime for most Vermont freshwater species, but action runs year-round depending on what you’re chasing.
Where are the best places to fish in Vermont?
Vermont is loaded with solid freshwater spots for bass, trout, and perch. Check local waters for public access.
What gear do you need for fishing in Vermont?
Go versatile. Medium spinning gear covers bass, perch, and pickerel, but bring heavier setups if you’re after lake trout or muskellunge.
What are the easiest fish to catch in Vermont?
Yellow perch and white catfish are usually the most forgiving targets for beginners fishing Vermont’s freshwater.
