Bank and shore fishing in Vermont
No boat? You still have 24 Vermont waters with listed public access, 65 access sites in all, and 6 of those waters have carry-in or walk-in sites where bank fishing is the whole point. Open any water below to see its depth map, the rated spots within reach of each access point, and what to throw this season.
Access sites come from official agency access inventories where the state publishes one, with OpenStreetMap filling gaps. A carry-in site means you park and walk your gear in. We list where public access exists; always respect posted signs on the ground.
What the Vermont access records show
The current roster links 65 documented public-access sites to 24 waters. 10 waters have more than one listed access option, while 6 have at least one site explicitly described as carry-in, walk-in or shore-oriented. The largest attached site counts are Lake Champlain (15), Lake Champlain - Inland Sea and Malletts Bay (10) and Lake Champlain - South Lake (6). A larger count can offer more launch choices, but it does not make unlisted shoreline public.
Map quality is independent of access quality: 22 charts use measured bathymetry and 2 use labeled approximations. Use the table to shortlist a legal entry point, then open the water page to compare that point with contour breaks and rated fishing spots. Confirm parking, fees, opening hours, seasonal closures and bank-fishing rules with the managing agency before leaving; an access inventory is planning evidence, not a guarantee that every technique is allowed at every site.
| Water | Access sites | Carry-in | Chart |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lake Champlain | 15 | 3 | survey |
| Otter Creek | 4 | 2 | modeled |
| Batten Kill | 2 | 2 | modeled |
| Lake Champlain - Inland Sea and Malletts Bay | 10 | 1 | survey |
| Lake Champlain - South Lake | 6 | 1 | survey |
| Lake Champlain - Missisquoi Bay | 3 | 1 | survey |
| Moore Reservoir | 5 | — | survey |
| Island Pond | 2 | — | survey |
| Lake Hortonia | 2 | — | survey |
| Lake Salem | 2 | — | survey |
| Caspian Lake | 1 | — | survey |
| Chittenden Reservoir | 1 | — | survey |
| Crystal Lake | 1 | — | survey |
| Great Averill Pond | 1 | — | survey |
| Joe's Pond | 1 | — | survey |
| Lac Wallace | 1 | — | survey |
| Lake Carmi | 1 | — | survey |
| Lake Dunmore | 1 | — | survey |
| Lake Fairlee | 1 | — | survey |
| Lake Iroquois | 1 | — | survey |
| Lake Morey | 1 | — | survey |
| Little Averill Pond | 1 | — | survey |
| Maidstone Lake | 1 | — | survey |
| Peacham Pond | 1 | — | survey |
Find the closest waters to you →
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