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Vermont fishing waters. Backdrop for the Angling Hubs Vermont guide directory

Fishing Guides · Vermont

Fishing Guides in Vermont

Cast 17 guides across Vermont. Maps, hours, contact info, photos, and verified operator profiles, all in one place.

Green Mountains, the Northeast Kingdom, and Lake Champlain.

Updated

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Highest rated

Fishing Guides in Vermont by Google rating

Ranked by Google rating, then by number of reviews, across the 9 of 17 guides in Vermont with 10 or more Google reviews. A blank cell means we do not have that detail yet.

GuideCityFishingRating
Trico Unlimited Fly Fishing Adventures & Instruction, Arlington, VTArlingtonFly Fishing, Bass Fishing, Musky & Pike +15.0181 Google reviews
Stay Bent Fishing Tours - Vermont Fishing Guide, Bethel, VTBethel5.0125 Google reviews
Sure Strike Charters, Shelburne, VTShelburneSalmon & Steelhead, Trout Fishing, Ice Fishing +25.057 Google reviews
Battenkill Outfitters, Arlington, VTArlingtonFly Fishing5.043 Google reviews
Cedar Mountain Fishing, Fair Haven, VTFair Haven5.031 Google reviews
Green Mountain Angler, Bennington, VTBenningtonFly Fishing, Ice Fishing, Trout Fishing5.028 Google reviews
Francisco Fly Fishing, Williston, VTWillistonFly Fishing, Trout Fishing5.012 Google reviews
Last Cast Bass Charters, Grand Isle, VTGrand Isle5.011 Google reviews

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17 guides in Vermont

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Top camping

Most-booked campgrounds in Vermont

Federal campgrounds in Vermont that Recreation.gov lists for fishing, ranked by how many times they were booked in fiscal 2025.

  1. Grout Pond Campground1

    Grout Pond Campground

    742 bookings
  2. Hapgood Pond2

    Hapgood Pond

    602 bookings
  3. Moosalamoo Campground3

    Moosalamoo Campground

    323 bookings

Bookings: Recreation.gov, fiscal 2025 (Oct 2024 to Sep 2025).

On the map

Guide businesses, fishing spots, rivers & creeks and camping in Vermont

Everything we have mapped in Vermont, on one map. Tap anything for its details.

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Tap a water to pinpoint it on the map, then open it for the water type, county, and coordinates.

  • Details
Browse all 731 fishing spots

About Vermont

Vermont has no coastline, and it doesn't miss it. What the state has instead is Lake Champlain (deep, glacial, stretching along the New York border and up toward Quebec), plus hundreds of smaller lakes and cold Green Mountain streams that stay fishable when other water goes warm and slow. Guides here work trout, salmon, bass, and pike across a compact state where the drive between a big-lake troll and a mountain brook can take less than an hour.

Champlain carries most of the trophy weight: lake trout deep over the glacial basins, landlocked salmon, northern pike in the weedy bays, and a smallmouth and largemouth fishery that holds up all summer. The Northeast Kingdom is the quieter option, small, secluded lakes and ponds where brook trout do most of the work. Down south, the Battenkill remains the state's fly-fishing landmark, a proving ground for anyone who wants to earn a wild brown or rainbow rather than be handed one.

A guide changes the math on all of it. Local guides know which arm of the lake is holding salmon after ice-out, which stretch of stream fishes through a hatch, and when to quit one and try the other. First-timers get the gear and the patient coaching; experienced anglers get access and pattern knowledge they'd otherwise spend seasons assembling. Either way, the boat, the tackle, and the local read come with the booking, you bring the license and a jacket.

Best time to go

When to fish in Vermont

May through October. Peak fall color late September.

Quick facts

Fishing spots mapped
731
Rivers mapped
317
Guides listed
17
Best season
May through October

Trip guide

Know before you go in Vermont

Confirm current requirements with the agency that sets them before your trip. Rules and fees change every season.

  • Fishing License

    Anyone 15 years of age or older must possess a valid Vermont fishing license to fish in the state's waters. Licenses can be purchased online through the Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department website or from authorized agents statewide.

  • Catch and Release vs. Harvest

    Vermont has specific regulations regarding size limits, daily creel limits, and seasons for various fish species. Some areas are designated catch-and-release only. It is crucial to understand these rules, which your guide will typically help enforce, or verify with the state agency.

    Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department

  • Boating Safety and Registration

    While guided trip clients are not typically required to hold boating licenses, all motorboats operated in Vermont waters must be registered. Guided charter captains are expected to meet all state and federal boating safety requirements, including proper equipment and licensing for commercial operation.

01What types of fish can I expect to catch with a guide in Vermont?
The main targets are lake trout, landlocked salmon, northern pike, smallmouth and largemouth bass, brook trout, and rainbow trout. What's actually biting depends on the water and the month, a Champlain trip in June and a mountain-stream trip in June are two different fisheries.
02Do I need to bring my own fishing gear on a guided trip?
Usually not. Most Vermont guides supply rods, reels, tackle, and bait or lures as part of the trip. Confirm when you book, especially if you'd rather fish your own setup.
03Is a fishing license required for guided trips in Vermont?
Yes. Every angler aged 15 and older needs a valid Vermont fishing license, guide or no guide. Buy it before the trip, guides don't typically sell them.
04What is the best time of year for guided fishing in Vermont?
It depends on the fish. Trout and salmon peak in spring and fall, bass and pike own the summer, and winter brings ice fishing on the frozen lakes. Ask guides what their calendar looks like, they'll steer you toward the right window.
05Are there any saltwater fishing opportunities in Vermont?
No. Vermont is entirely landlocked, so every guided trip in the state is freshwater: lakes, rivers, and ponds. If you want salt, you'll have to cross a state line.
06What should I bring on my guided fishing trip?
Your license, weather-appropriate layers, rain gear, sun protection (hat, sunglasses, sunscreen), snacks, drinks, and a camera. Your guide will fill in anything trip-specific when you confirm details.

Free tools

Your free outdoor toolkit

View all tools
River levelsLive levels for every gauged river in Vermont.
Fishing SpotsBrowse 24,783 named waters, then read the state stocking record: species, size, and when.
River ExplorerExplore named rivers from USGS data. Filter by water type, with live flow where a gauge sits.
Fishing TimesMajor and minor solunar periods, sunrise, sunset and the moon for your exact spot, all week.
Fishing License CheckPick your state, your age and whether you live there for a yes or no from the state's own rule, plus the next free fishing days.
Skill DrillsInteractive 3D drills, one decision at a time. Pick wrong and you watch it fail, then learn why.

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