The Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department wants to make it easier for people to go fishing by simplifying its fishing regulations.  

Fishing regulations have become increasingly complex over time as amendments were added, making the rules more difficult for anglers to understand and challenging for the department to administer and enforce. 

“We want to make fishing rules easier to understand while continuing to protect Vermont’s abundant fisheries resources,” said Vermont Fish and Wildlife Commissioner Louis Porter.  “Our fisheries biologists and wardens have proposed changes to our primary fishing regulation that will simplify and standardize the rules, rather than having them be slightly different, depending on what lake or stream section you are on.”

The proposed changes to the Fish Management Regulation (10 V.S.A. Appendix §122) can be seen on the Vermont Fish and Wildlife website www.vtfishandwildlife.com by searching for Board Rules in the top right hand corner of the home page.  The Fish and Wildlife Board reviewed the proposed changes at its January 20 meeting. 

Public comments may be emailed to ANR.fwpubliccomment@vermont.gov.  Virtual public hearings will be announced in March. 

For Immediate Release:  February 11, 2021

Media Contacts:  Louis Porter 802-828-1454 Louis.Porter@vermont.gov

Eric Palmer 802-535-7635 Eric.Palmer@vermont.gov  Bernie Pientka 802-922-6025