Best fishing lakes in Vermont: 12 lakes and what bites

The lakes at a glance

1. Lake Champlain

At 278,000 acres of water, Lake Champlain is a huge piece of water. Expect smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, northern pike and yellow perch. The deepest water is around 400 ft.

Lake Champlain today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

2. Lake Bomoseen

Lake Bomoseen is a natural lake of 2,400 acres. It lies about 1.8 miles southwest of Fair Haven. The fish here are catfish, trout, yellow perch and northern pike. It goes down to about 65 ft. The lake bed gives you three point drop-offs and two sheltered coves to work. Lake Bomoseen is the largest lake located entirely within Vermont.

Lake Bomoseen today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

3. Lake Willoughby

Lake Willoughby covers 1,690 acres. It lies about 13 miles northwest of Newport. It holds trout, lake trout and yellow perch. It goes down to about 300 ft. Its bed shows three point drop-offs and a sheltered cove worth a first look. Lake Willoughby's steep cliffs along Mount Pisgah and Mount Hor give it a dramatic, fjord-like profile.

Lake Willoughby today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

4. Seymour Lake

At 1,730 acres of water, Seymour Lake is small enough to learn in a few trips. The lake is about 9.5 miles west of Newport. The fish here are trout and yellow perch. It goes down to about 169 ft. The lake bed gives you three point drop-offs and a sheltered cove to work. Seymour Lake is one of Vermont's deepest lakes and is known for cold, oligotrophic water.

Seymour Lake today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

5. Lake Carmi

Lake Carmi covers 1,380 acres of water. You will find it near Enosburg Falls. It holds northern pike and walleye. It goes down to about 33 ft. The lake bed gives you three point drop-offs and a sheltered cove to work. Lake Carmi drains north into Quebec's Pike River and is a popular pike and walleye fishery.

Lake Carmi today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

6. Crystal Lake

Crystal Lake is a natural lake of 760 acres. The lake is about 13 miles north of Newport. Lake trout, trout, yellow perch and smallmouth bass are the draw. The deepest water is around 100 ft. The lake bed gives you three point drop-offs to work. Crystal Lake supports a wild, self-sustaining native lake trout population.

Crystal Lake today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

7. Lake Whitingham

Lake Whitingham spreads over 2,040 acres of water. The lake is near Dover. It is the Deerfield River behind Harriman Dam. The usual Vermont mix applies: walleye, northern pike, largemouth bass and smallmouth bass. It goes down to about 180 ft. Harriman Reservoir, also called Lake Whitingham, is a Deerfield River hydroelectric impoundment and one of Vermont's largest bodies of water.

Lake Whitingham today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

8. Somerset Reservoir

Somerset Reservoir spreads over about 1,130 acres. The lake is near Dover. The usual Vermont mix applies: walleye, northern pike, largemouth bass and smallmouth bass. On the 3-D map the bed has three point drop-offs and two sheltered coves: good places to start. Somerset Reservoir is a remote hydroelectric impoundment high in Vermont's Green Mountains, part of the Deerfield River hydro system.

Somerset Reservoir today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

9. Lake Dunmore

Lake Dunmore covers some 980 acres. The lake is about 1 miles west of Salisbury. The usual Vermont mix applies: walleye, northern pike, largemouth bass and smallmouth bass. The deepest water is around 105 ft. Lake Dunmore drains via the Leicester River into Otter Creek and eventually Lake Champlain.

Lake Dunmore today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

10. Connecticut River Reservoir

At about 910 acres, Connecticut River Reservoir is small enough to learn in a few trips. The lake is about 5.4 miles north of Saint Johnsbury. The usual Vermont mix applies: walleye, northern pike, largemouth bass and smallmouth bass. Its bed shows three point drop-offs and two sheltered coves worth a first look.

Connecticut River Reservoir today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

11. Lake Saint Catherine

Lake Saint Catherine is a natural lake of 850 acres. The lake is about 2.2 miles north of Poultney. Like most lakes its size in Vermont, it should hold walleye, northern pike, largemouth bass and smallmouth bass. At about 68 ft deep, it stays cooler below the surface well into summer. The lake bed gives you three point drop-offs and two sheltered coves to work. Lake St. Catherine is bordered by Lake St. Catherine State Park along its eastern shore.

Lake Saint Catherine today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

12. Great Averill Pond

Great Averill Pond spreads over about 790 acres. It lies about 11 miles southeast of Colebrook. The usual Vermont mix applies: walleye, northern pike, largemouth bass and smallmouth bass. Its bed shows three point drop-offs and two sheltered coves worth a first look.

Great Averill Pond today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

Vermont lakes by fish

A lake appears under a fish when it holds it, by the record or by the type of lake.

• Bass: Lake Champlain, Crystal Lake, Lake Whitingham and Somerset Reservoir
• Walleye: Lake Carmi, Lake Whitingham, Somerset Reservoir and Lake Dunmore
• Trout: Lake Bomoseen, Lake Willoughby, Seymour Lake and Crystal Lake
• Pike and muskie: Lake Champlain, Lake Bomoseen, Lake Carmi and Lake Whitingham
• Catfish: Lake Bomoseen

When to go

• Spring: walleye are usually at their best. Prime range. Low light is best, on reefs and weed edges.
• Summer: walleye are usually fair. Warm surface. They go deep in the day; try evenings.
• Fall: walleye are usually at their best. Prime range. Low light is best, on reefs and weed edges.
• Winter: walleye are usually fair. Cold. Slow jigs on deep structure.

Before you go

A Vermont fishing licence covers every lake here; the state fish and wildlife agency publishes the limits and any special rules lake by lake. Each lake page on LakeScope shows today's water temperature, the wind, the best bite times and a 3-D view of the bed, so check it the morning you go.