Top fish species at Forest Lake

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Check which species have trophy potential in Forest Lake

Forest Lake fishing reports

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Northern pike

22 in · 3 lb

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Brook trout

length · weight

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Brown trout

length · weight

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General info

Forest Lake is a lake located in Essex County, Vermont, United States. It is most popular for fishing Brown trout, Brook trout, and Northern pike.

Location

44°59′6.7″N 71°40′54.2″W
Directions

When are Brown trout biting on Forest Lake?

Learn what time of year and day to go fishing at Forest Lake. Download Fishbrain today to look for new fishing spots, scout new fishing access, or prep for your next trip.

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Fishing regulations at Forest Lake, VT

Disclaimer: Always check local fishing regulations, water access rights and land ownership before fishing, regardless of any catches logged in that area by the Fishbrain community. Fishbrain has mapped millions of acres of government-owned land across the USA to help you identify potential fishing access, but you are responsible for ensuring compliance with all legal requirements.

Fishing regulations in Vermont can change throughout the year. Make sure to check this page before fishing for the most up to date rules and regulations for the current season. Local regulations govern when you can fish, the max size of the fish you can keep, how many fish you can keep, and more.

Regulations for top species

Season closed: November 1 - April 12
Brown trout

Brown trout

Regulation boundaryVermont State Waters
Bag limit6

The maximum number of individual fish legally harvested per harvester per day. Bag limits are only for properly licensed anglers actively harvesting the species. People who are not actively harvesting or are not properly licensed (if a license is required) may NOT be counted for the purpose of bag limits.

Aggregate limit6

The maximum number of individual fish across an aggregate group of species legally harvested per harvester per day.

Restrictions & requirements

VT Sale of Fish

A person shall not buy or sell a salmon, trout, lake trout, walleye, northern pike, muskellunge, black bass, or other fish specified by regulation, taken in this state, or imported from another state or country where sale of such fish is prohibited, except such fish reared in licensed propagation farms within the state. No person shall buy fish for resale without a Fish Buyer Permit issued by the commissioner.

VT Foul Hooking

Foul hooking is hooking a fish in any other part of the body than the mouth with a hook or hooks, or manipulating hooks to hook a fish in a body part other than the mouth. A person fishing by open-water fishing or ice fishing shall not take any fish unless it is hooked in the mouth. Any fish not hooked in the mouth shall be immediately released without unnecessary injury.

VT Snagging

Taking or attempting to take fish by snagging is PROHIBITED in all Vermont waters. Snagging shall mean the intentional hooking of a fish in a place other than the inside of the fish's mouth. No person shall pull, jerk, or otherwise purposefully and/or repeatedly manipulate a hook, or hooks and line, to snag or hook a fish in any method other than to entice a fish into taking, by mouth, a hook, lure, or fly. Repeated and/or exaggerated jerking or pulling of the fishing line and/or hooks in any attempt to snag fish, whether it results in physically snagging a fish or not, shall be prima-facie evidence that snagging has taken place. This shall not apply to the use of a gaff to land a fish that has been legally hooked.

VT Ice Fishing

A person may take fish only by using not more than eight lines, except on Lake Champlain where no more than fifteen lines may be used. He or she must have immediate control over all lines. Each line may not have more than two baited hooks or three artificial flies or two lures with or without bait. Six lines are allowed on the Connecticut River.

VT Open Water

Fishing by means of hook and line in hand or attached to a rod or other device in open water, or fishing by casting or trolling baited hooks, artificial flies, or lures is considered open-water fishing. A person may take fish only by using not more than two lines of which he or she has immediate control. Each line may not have more than two baited hooks or three artificial flies or two lures with or without bait.

Additional information
No minimum length.River/StreamMethods: open-water fishingSeason: 2nd Saturday in April to Oct. 31Bag limit: total of brook + brown + rainbow trout = no more than 8Lake/PondMethods: open-water fishing and Ice fishingSeason: 2nd Sat. in April to Oct. 31 AND Jan 1 to March 15Bag limit: total of brook + brown + rainbow trout = no more than 6
Edibility
Excellent
Synonyms
Salmo trutta
Season closed: November 1 - April 12
Brook trout

Brook trout

Regulation boundaryVermont State Waters
Bag limit6

The maximum number of individual fish legally harvested per harvester per day. Bag limits are only for properly licensed anglers actively harvesting the species. People who are not actively harvesting or are not properly licensed (if a license is required) may NOT be counted for the purpose of bag limits.

Aggregate limit6

The maximum number of individual fish across an aggregate group of species legally harvested per harvester per day.

Restrictions & requirements

VT Sale of Fish

A person shall not buy or sell a salmon, trout, lake trout, walleye, northern pike, muskellunge, black bass, or other fish specified by regulation, taken in this state, or imported from another state or country where sale of such fish is prohibited, except such fish reared in licensed propagation farms within the state. No person shall buy fish for resale without a Fish Buyer Permit issued by the commissioner.

VT Foul Hooking

Foul hooking is hooking a fish in any other part of the body than the mouth with a hook or hooks, or manipulating hooks to hook a fish in a body part other than the mouth. A person fishing by open-water fishing or ice fishing shall not take any fish unless it is hooked in the mouth. Any fish not hooked in the mouth shall be immediately released without unnecessary injury.

VT Snagging

Taking or attempting to take fish by snagging is PROHIBITED in all Vermont waters. Snagging shall mean the intentional hooking of a fish in a place other than the inside of the fish's mouth. No person shall pull, jerk, or otherwise purposefully and/or repeatedly manipulate a hook, or hooks and line, to snag or hook a fish in any method other than to entice a fish into taking, by mouth, a hook, lure, or fly. Repeated and/or exaggerated jerking or pulling of the fishing line and/or hooks in any attempt to snag fish, whether it results in physically snagging a fish or not, shall be prima-facie evidence that snagging has taken place. This shall not apply to the use of a gaff to land a fish that has been legally hooked.

VT Ice Fishing

A person may take fish only by using not more than eight lines, except on Lake Champlain where no more than fifteen lines may be used. He or she must have immediate control over all lines. Each line may not have more than two baited hooks or three artificial flies or two lures with or without bait. Six lines are allowed on the Connecticut River.

VT Open Water

Fishing by means of hook and line in hand or attached to a rod or other device in open water, or fishing by casting or trolling baited hooks, artificial flies, or lures is considered open-water fishing. A person may take fish only by using not more than two lines of which he or she has immediate control. Each line may not have more than two baited hooks or three artificial flies or two lures with or without bait.

Additional information
No minimum length.River/StreamMethods: open-water fishingSeason: 2nd Saturday in April to Oct. 31Bag limit: total of brook + brown + rainbow trout = no more than 8Lake/PondMethods: open-water fishing and Ice fishingSeason: 2nd Sat. in April to Oct. 31 AND Jan 1 to March 15Bag limit: total of brook + brown + rainbow trout = no more than 6
Synonyms
Salvelinus fontinalis, brookie, coaster, speckled trout
Season open: year-round
Northern pike

Northern pike

Regulation boundaryVermont State Waters
Bag limit5

The maximum number of individual fish legally harvested per harvester per day. Bag limits are only for properly licensed anglers actively harvesting the species. People who are not actively harvesting or are not properly licensed (if a license is required) may NOT be counted for the purpose of bag limits.

Min size20" (Total Length)

No person shall harvest any individual fish less than the minimum size limit.

Total length means the straight line distance from the most forward point of the head with the mouth closed, to the farthest tip of the tail with the tail compressed or squeezed, while the fish is lying on its side.

Restrictions & requirements

VT Sale of Fish

A person shall not buy or sell a salmon, trout, lake trout, walleye, northern pike, muskellunge, black bass, or other fish specified by regulation, taken in this state, or imported from another state or country where sale of such fish is prohibited, except such fish reared in licensed propagation farms within the state. No person shall buy fish for resale without a Fish Buyer Permit issued by the commissioner.

VT Foul Hooking

Foul hooking is hooking a fish in any other part of the body than the mouth with a hook or hooks, or manipulating hooks to hook a fish in a body part other than the mouth. A person fishing by open-water fishing or ice fishing shall not take any fish unless it is hooked in the mouth. Any fish not hooked in the mouth shall be immediately released without unnecessary injury.

VT Snagging

Taking or attempting to take fish by snagging is PROHIBITED in all Vermont waters. Snagging shall mean the intentional hooking of a fish in a place other than the inside of the fish's mouth. No person shall pull, jerk, or otherwise purposefully and/or repeatedly manipulate a hook, or hooks and line, to snag or hook a fish in any method other than to entice a fish into taking, by mouth, a hook, lure, or fly. Repeated and/or exaggerated jerking or pulling of the fishing line and/or hooks in any attempt to snag fish, whether it results in physically snagging a fish or not, shall be prima-facie evidence that snagging has taken place. This shall not apply to the use of a gaff to land a fish that has been legally hooked.

VT Ice Fishing

A person may take fish only by using not more than eight lines, except on Lake Champlain where no more than fifteen lines may be used. He or she must have immediate control over all lines. Each line may not have more than two baited hooks or three artificial flies or two lures with or without bait. Six lines are allowed on the Connecticut River.

VT Open Water

Fishing by means of hook and line in hand or attached to a rod or other device in open water, or fishing by casting or trolling baited hooks, artificial flies, or lures is considered open-water fishing. A person may take fish only by using not more than two lines of which he or she has immediate control. Each line may not have more than two baited hooks or three artificial flies or two lures with or without bait.

Additional information
No closed season. Legal Methods: open-water fishing, ice fishing.Site specific regulations found here
Synonyms
Esox lucius
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Local laws and licenses

Vermont fishing license

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Cities nearby

West Stewartstown

7.4 miles away

Beecher Falls

9.3 miles away

Island Pond

15.6 miles away

Derby Line

20.6 miles away

Derby Center

22.3 miles away

Newport

26.0 miles away

Groveton

27.4 miles away

West Burke

27.8 miles away

Orleans

28.2 miles away

Sutton

29.9 miles away

Magog

30.0 miles away

East Burke

30.3 miles away

Sherbrooke

30.6 miles away

Newport Center

30.6 miles away

Sheffield

34.1 miles away

Lyndon Center

35.0 miles away

North Troy

35.3 miles away

Lyndon

36.3 miles away

Lunenburg

36.5 miles away

Gilman

39.5 miles away

Berlin

40.2 miles away

Greensboro Bend

41.1 miles away

Lac-Brome

43.7 miles away

Rangeley

50.6 miles away

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FAQ about Forest Lake fishing

📍 Where is Forest Lake located?
Forest Lake is a lake located in Essex County, Vermont, United States. Its coordinates are:
44°59′6.7″N 71°40′54.2″W
.
🎣 Where on Forest Lake is it best to fish?
Find the best fishing spots on Forest Lake by looking at where other anglers have caught fish. This can easily be done in the where it is also possible to see big fish potential and how good fishing is right now along with Garmin® depth maps.
🐟 What species are in Forest Lake?
The most common species in Forest Lake are:
📢 What are the latest Forest Lake fishing reports?
The latest Forest Lake fishing reports are:
🗓️ What species are in season at Forest Lake right now?
According to fishing regulations at Forest Lake, some of the species in season this November include: Largemouth bass, Smallmouth bass, and Walleye. For full details on other species — including bag limits, minimum and maximum size limits, and seasonal closures — download the .
🪪 Do I need a fishing license to fish at Forest Lake?

Fishing in Vermont requires a valid state fishing license for anglers. Licenses include resident and non-resident, annual and short-term, available online or at authorized agents.

In Vermont, no fishing license is required for anglers under 15. Residents 66 and older qualify for a discounted license. A few other exceptions worth knowing:

  • Free fishing days — most states designate 1–2 weekends a year where anyone can fish without a license

  • Tribal waters — tribal members fishing on tribal land operate under separate tribal regulations

  • Private ponds — landowners fishing their own water typically don't need a license

Non-residents usually pay more for a license than residents. Some species also require an extra stamp or endorsement on top of your base license.

Get license
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