LivewellVermont · Lake
Lake Champlain
Is the fish you caught here safe to eat? Below is every consumption advisory on file for Lake Champlain, by species and size, in plain English — plus what's legal to keep.
1 species with advisories · contaminants: PCBs
Vermont also has statewide guidance
Vermont publishes rules that apply to lakes across the state — 30 recommendations covering 13 species — in addition to anything listed for Lake Champlain below.
Strictest statewide rule: Chain Pickerel — For women who may become pregnant, pregnant or breastfeeding women, and children under 15: do not eat due to elevated Mercury.
What's safe to eat from Lake Champlain
Lake Trout
| Size | Who | Guidance |
|---|---|---|
| Over 25" | General population | Limit to one meal per month due to elevated PCB. |
| Women who may become pregnant & children under 15 | For women who may become pregnant, pregnant or breastfeeding women, and children under 15: do not eat due to elevated PCB. |
Source: official advisory· updated 2026-07-09
How to prepare fish from Lake Champlain
Some contaminants build up in fat and skin, so cleaning and cooking can lower your exposure. Others — mercury and PFAS — are in the muscle itself and trimming does nothing.
PCBs
- Skin the fish — most of the contaminant sits in the fat just under the skin.
- Trim the fatty areas away: the belly flap, the top of the back, and the dark lateral line down each side.
- Cook on a rack — grill, broil, or bake — so the fat drips off the fillet.
- Throw the drippings out; don't use them for soup, sauce, or chowder.
- Choose smaller, younger fish — they've had less time to build it up.
Is it legal to keep?
These are Vermont's statewide limits — a water-specific rule may override them. Always verify the current regulations before keeping a fish.
| Species | Size | Daily limit | Open season | Keep season |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brook Trout | — | 6 | Year-round | 04-11 – 10-31 |
| Brown Trout | — | 6 | Year-round | 04-11 – 10-31 |
| Rainbow Trout | — | 6 | Year-round | 04-11 – 10-31 |
| Lake Trout | 18" min | 2 | Year-round | Same as open |
| Atlantic Salmon | 17" min | 2 | Year-round | Same as open |
| Walleye | 18" min | 3 | Year-round | 05-02 – 03-15 |
| Northern Pike | 20" min | 5 | Year-round | Same as open |
| Largemouth Bass | 10" min | 5 | Year-round | 06-13 – 03-15 |
| Smallmouth Bass | 10" min | 5 | Year-round | 06-13 – 03-15 |
| Yellow Perch | — | 50 | Year-round | Same as open |
| Black Crappie | 8" min | 25 | Year-round | Same as open |
| Bluegill | — | 50 | Year-round | Same as open |
| Muskellunge | — | 0 | Year-round | Same as open |
Official rules: Vermont — Vermont Fish & Wildlife
Getting on the water
- Auer's Boat House boat ramp 2.4 mi Directions
- Boat ramp boat ramp 2.5 mi Directions
- Heinburg Bridge Fishing Access Pier fishing 2.7 mi Directions
- Colchester Point Boat Ramp canoe launch 2.8 mi Directions
- Lake Champlain Community Sailing Center marina 3.9 mi Directions
- Boat ramp boat ramp 4.0 mi Directions
Access points from OpenStreetMap contributors.