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Central Vermont has plenty of fish and places to catch them

Beachside Tent - Waterbury Center State Park - Photo Credit VT State Parks
Waterbury Center State Park

177 Reservoir Road Waterbury Center, VT, 05677 Phone: 802-244-1226

One of VT’s top five parks for paddling and boating; also, swimming, fishing; no pets

Waterbury Center State Park is on a peninsula extending into Waterbury Reservoir. It is popular for boating, fishing, swimming, and picnicking. The main sport fish are smallmouth bass, rainbow and brown trout. Also: yellow perch and brown bullhead. Fishing licenses are required for people above age 14. For information on fishing, contact the Department of Fish and Wildlife at 802-241-3700. - Waterbury Reservoir Boating Guidelines (PDF)
Button-bay-state-park-cabins-credit-vtstateparks
Button Bay State Park

118 Button Bay State Park Road Vergennes, VT, 05491 Phone: 802-475-2377

Camping on Lake Champlain; great views; guarded pool; trails; nature center

This park on a bluff above Lake Champlain is popular for water sports of all kinds, including fishing. Canoes, kayaks, and rowboats are available to rent.
Beach at Branbury State Park - Brandon, VT - Photo Credit VT State Parks
Branbury State Park

3570 Lake Dunmore Road (Route 53) Brandon, VT, 05733 Phone: 888-409-7579

Popular for hiking and swimming; pets allowed in some areas

Branbury State Park is located on the eastern shore of Lake Dunmore. The park has a long sand beach on Lake Dunmore and the large open meadows. Fishing is done at the beach. Rowboats, canoes, and paddle boats are available for rent. Pets are not allowed on the beach.
Sunset Lake

VT Route 65 Brookfield, VT Phone:

Description: Children who have difficulty casting may find it easier to fish from the floating bridge that crosses this pond.
Species: You can expect to catch largemouth and smallmouth bass and yellow perch. Trout are stocked here, but the best trout fishing will be in the spring before the water gets too warm.
Directions: Get off of Interstate 89 at exit 5, and head west on VT Route 64 for 2.8 miles, then turn left (south) onto VT Route 12 for about 4.2 miles. Turn left (east onto) VT-65. You will come to Sunset Lake in about 3 miles (just after you cross the interstate).
Union Village Dam

Visitors can enjoy hiking and nature trails, swimming, fishing, and picnic areas. Hunting for large and small game, as well as waterfowl, is permitted.
Baker Pond (VT)

VT Route 12 Brookfield, VT, 05060 Phone:

Description: The Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department owns this pond, which has plenty of places to fish from shore. You can also launch a small boat here.
Species: Largemouth bass and pumpkinseed sunfish are abundant in this pond. The pond is also stocked with brook trout, but your best chances of catching them will be in the spring before the water gets too warm.
Directions: Get off of Interstate 89 at exit 5, and head west on VT Route 64 for 2.8 miles, then turn left (south) onto VT Route 12. The Baker Pond Access Area will be on your right in about 4.2 miles.
Colson Pond - Killington, VT - Photo Credit Qiushi Lin
Colton and Kent Ponds

VT Route 100 Killington, VT, 05751 Phone:

Description: These two ponds are separated by less than a mile. There is a Vermont Fish and Wildlife access area at each pond. At Kent Pond, the best place to fish is along the dam breast. Gifford Woods State Park is just across the road from Kent Pond and offers camping and hiking opportunities.
Species: Kent Pond has a very abundant largemouth bass population. It also has pumpkinseed sunfish, and you can catch trout there in the spring. Colton Pond offers largemouth bass, yellow perch, and early season brook trout fishing.
Directions: Both ponds can be easily accessed from VT Route 100, just north of the junction with US Route 4.
Kayaking - Lake St. Catherine State Park - Photo Credit VT State Parks
Lake St. Catherine State Park

3034 VT Route 30 South Poultney, VT, 05764 Phone: 802-287-9158

Lake side camping; beach; boating, fishing; boat rentals; pets allowed except in day use area

Lake St. Catherine State Park has shoreline fishing and boat rentals. Species in the lake include largemouth and smallmouth bass, northern pike, yellow perch, crappie, bullhead, bluegill, and pumpkinseed sunfish. Panfish can be caught all years, but the best time to catch them is April and May. Bass and pike fishing are best from May into September.
Half Moon Pond State Park - Photo Credit VT State Parks
Half Moon Pond State Park

1621 Black Pond Road Hubbardton, VT Phone: 802-273-2848

Kid-friendly fishing opportunities in pond and 2 lakes; fish for bass, yellow perch, and panfish

There are two sandy beaches on the pond for swimming and sunning; rowboats, kayaks, canoes and pedal boats are available for rent (no motor boats allowed). The pond also has excellent fishing for largemouth bass, panfish, and perch. More fishing is at nearby Glen Lake and Lake Bomoseen.
Fishing Locations - Bomoseen State Park - Castleton, VT - Photo Credit Vermont State Parks
Bomoseen State Park

22 Cedar Mountain Road Castleton, VT, 05743 Phone: 802-265-4242

Good for camping, swimming, fishing, boating w/ rental; pets allowed in campground

Boating and fishing in Lake Bomoseen and Glen Lake may be reached via access points at Bomoseen State Park and adjacent Half Moon State Park. The park has a beach for swimming and a picnic area. Also at the swimming beach are a snack bar, rentals of canoes, kayaks, rowboats, and pedal boats. - Trail Map & Guide (PDF)