Lake Champlain Reciprocal Fishing License
Effective January 1, 2004, a reciprocal license agreement is in effect for that portion of Lake Champlain within Vermont and New York, as described in Vermont's Title 10 V.S.A. 4609 and the Fish and Wildlife Board Regulation.
This reciprocal agreement allows for an angler to fish with either a Vermont or New York license in that portion of Lake Champlain as described by regulation.
Specifically, the agreement allows reciprocal fishing in the "Main" and "South" portions of Lake Champlain between New York and Vermont. Four bays, lying wholly within their state's borders, are not included in the agreement. South Bay in New York, and the Inland Sea, Mallett's Bay and Missisquoi Bay in Vermont are excluded. Anglers fishing on these waters must have a fishing license from the state in which the waterway is located. In addition, rivers that flow into Lake Champlain are excluded from the reciprocal agreement. See map for reference.
Anglers are cautioned that while either license is valid to fish in the Vermont and New York portions of Lake Champlain, each state has its own restrictions pertaining to species restrictions, length limits and seasons, etc. Therefore, it is necessary to know which state a person is fishing in and then abide by the fishing restrictions of that state.
