Vermont keeps its pricing flat and its structure simple: one licence covers everything that swims, with no trout stamp, no salmon card and no separate water classes. The state licenses from fifteen, and the permanent licence at sixty-six is a one-off sixty dollars that ends the annual purchase for good. Visitors pay roughly double a resident, which is mild by New England standards.
What it costs you
Set your situation and the figure below is the one you will actually pay at checkout.
Every Vermont fishing fee
Licences run by calendar year.
| Licence | Who | Length | Fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| One day | Visitor | 1 day | $21.00 |
| Three days | Resident | 3 days | $11.00 |
| Three days | Visitor | 3 days | $23.00 |
| Seven days | Visitor | 7 days | $31.00 |
| Youth fishing, ages 15-17 | Resident | Annual | $8.00 |
| Youth combination, 17 and under | Resident | Annual | $12.00 |
| Youth fishing, ages 15-17 | Visitor | Annual | $15.00 |
| Fishing, ages 18-65 | Resident | Annual | $28.00 |
| Youth combination, 17 and under | Visitor | Annual | $30.00 |
| Combination fishing and hunting | Resident | Annual | $47.00 |
| Fishing, annual | Visitor | Annual | $54.00 |
| Combination fishing and hunting | Visitor | Annual | $143.00 |
| Five-year fishing | Resident | 5 years | $134.00 |
| Five-year fishing | Visitor | 5 years | $264.00 |
| Permanent licence, residents 66 and over | Resident | Lifetime | $60.00 |
Who fishes free in Vermont
- Anglers under 15.
- Everyone on the state free fishing days.
Exemptions are narrower than they sound and the burden of proof is on you. Carry whatever document the exemption rests on.
How to buy it
Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department sells online, by phone and through licence agents: tackle shops, sporting goods stores and county offices. Buying online takes about ten minutes and you can print or screenshot the confirmation immediately.
Official VTFW licensing page →
We link the agency and never resell licences. If a site charges you a "processing fee" on top of the state fee, you are not on the state's own system.
Where to use it
We track 13 Vermont waters daily, with live flow, tides and conditions. A sample of what your licence covers:
- Lake Champlain — Grand Isle County
- Lake Willoughby — Orleans County
- Clyde River — Orleans County
- Battenkill — Bennington County
- Lake Memphremagog — Orleans County
- White River — Windsor County
- Somerset Reservoir — Windham County
- Waterbury Reservoir — Washington County
- Seymour Lake — Orleans County
- Winooski River — Chittenden County
- Missisquoi River — Franklin County
- Otter Creek — Addison County
Questions
How much is a fishing licence in Vermont?
$28.00 for a resident annual all waters licence and $54.00 for a non-resident. Short-term licences cost less and are listed in full above.
What age do you need a fishing licence in Vermont?
From age 15. Anglers under 15 fish without one, though some states still require a catch record card.
Can I buy a Vermont fishing licence online?
Yes. Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department sells online and through licence agents. Buy before you rig up and keep the confirmation on your phone: wardens check ramps at dawn.
Do I need a trout stamp in Vermont?
No. Vermont folds every species into the base licence, so trout, salmon and bass are all covered by one purchase.
What is the Vermont permanent licence?
A one-off sixty-dollar licence for residents aged 66 and over that never needs renewing.