Biggest lakes in Vermont: the top 10 by size

Q: What is the biggest lake in Vermont?

Lake Champlain, at 278,000 acres.

The ten largest lakes in Vermont, biggest first.

The list

Sizes are the published surface area where one exists; the others are our own measure of the water's outline and read "about". Reservoirs shrink and grow with their level, so a dry year shows less water.

#	Lake	Size	Shoreline
1	Lake Champlain	278,000 acres	about 587 mi
2	Lake Bomoseen	2,400 acres	about 19 mi
3	Lake Whitingham	2,040 acres	about 19 mi
4	Seymour Lake	1,730 acres	about 9.9 mi
5	Lake Willoughby	1,690 acres	about 10.8 mi
6	Lake Carmi	1,380 acres	about 7.5 mi
7	Somerset Reservoir	about 1,130 acres	about 11.5 mi
8	Lake Dunmore	980 acres	about 8.9 mi
9	Connecticut River Reservoir	about 910 acres	about 16.5 mi
10	Lake Saint Catherine	850 acres	about 11.9 mi

1. Lake Champlain

At 278,000 acres, Lake Champlain is a huge piece of water. Smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, northern pike and yellow perch are the draw. At about 400 ft deep, it stays cooler below the surface well into summer. On the 3-D map the bed has two point drop-offs and two sheltered coves: good places to start.

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. The lake is about 1.8 miles southwest of Fair Haven. Expect catfish, trout, yellow perch and northern pike. The deepest water is around 65 ft. On the 3-D map the bed has three point drop-offs and two sheltered coves: good places to start. 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 Whitingham

Lake Whitingham is a reservoir of 2,040 acres. You will find it near Dover. Harriman Dam holds it on the Deerfield River. Like most lakes its size in Vermont, it should hold walleye, northern pike, largemouth bass and smallmouth bass. The deepest water is around 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

4. Seymour Lake

At some 1,730 acres, Seymour Lake is small enough to learn in a few trips. It lies near Newport. Trout and yellow perch are the draw. At about 169 ft deep, it stays cooler below the surface well into summer. On the 3-D map the bed has three point drop-offs and a sheltered cove: good places to start. 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 Willoughby

Lake Willoughby is a natural lake of 1,690 acres of water. You will find it about 13 miles northwest of Newport. The fish here are trout, lake trout and yellow perch. At about 300 ft deep, it stays cooler below the surface well into summer.

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

6. Lake Carmi

Lake Carmi spreads over 1,380 acres of water. The lake is about 4.8 miles southeast of Enosburg Falls. It holds northern pike and walleye. At about 33 ft at its deepest, it warms quickly in spring. Its bed shows three point drop-offs and a sheltered cove worth a first look. 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

7. Somerset Reservoir

Somerset Reservoir is a reservoir of about 1,130 acres. The lake is near Dover. The usual Vermont mix applies: walleye, northern pike, largemouth bass and smallmouth bass. The lake bed gives you three point drop-offs and two sheltered coves to work. 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

8. Lake Dunmore

Lake Dunmore covers 980 acres of water. The lake is about 1 miles west of Salisbury. Like most lakes its size in Vermont, it should hold 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

9. Connecticut River Reservoir

At about 910 acres, Connecticut River Reservoir is small enough to learn in a few trips. The lake is near Saint Johnsbury. Like most lakes its size in Vermont, it should hold walleye, northern pike, largemouth bass and smallmouth bass. The lake bed gives you three point drop-offs and two sheltered coves to work.

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

10. Lake Saint Catherine

At 850 acres, Lake Saint Catherine is small enough to learn in a few trips. The lake is near Poultney. Like most lakes its size in Vermont, it should hold walleye, northern pike, largemouth bass and smallmouth bass. The deepest water is around 68 ft. On the 3-D map the bed has three point drop-offs and two sheltered coves: good places to start.

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

Big water, big days

Large lakes make their own weather: a breeze that is nothing on a pond builds real waves over miles of open water. Check the wind on the lake page before you launch and keep to the lee shore when it picks up.