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Lake Shaftsbury

Fishing spots, fishing reports, and regulations in

Vermont, United States

4.5·235 catches

Top fish species at Lake Shaftsbury

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Lake Shaftsbury fishing reports

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Rainbow trout

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Largemouth bass

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Rainbow trout

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Chain pickerel

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Largemouth bass

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Largemouth bass

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General info

Lake Shaftsbury is a lake located in Bennington County, Vermont, United States. It is most popular for fishing Largemouth bass, Rainbow trout, and Bluegill.

Location

43°01′11.7″N 73°11′0.7″W
Directions

Amenities

When are Largemouth Bass biting on Lake Shaftsbury?

Learn what time of year and day to go fishing at Lake Shaftsbury. 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 Lake Shaftsbury, 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 open: June 8 - March 15
Largemouth bass

Largemouth bass

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 size10" (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.

Aggregate limit5

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

Restrictions & requirements

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
Legal Methods: open-water fishing, ice fishing.Site specific regulations found here
Edibility
Very good Catch, Clean, Cook Largemouth Bass by BlueGabe
Synonyms
Micropterus nigricans
Season open: April 13 - October 31
Rainbow trout

Rainbow 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
Oncorhynchus mykiss
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Local laws and licenses

Vermont fishing license

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Reviews of Lake Shaftsbury

4.5
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10 ratings

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1
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Cities nearby

South Shaftsbury

5.5 miles away

North Bennington

7.2 miles away

Bennington

9.4 miles away

Old Bennington

9.5 miles away

Hoosick Falls

11.8 miles away

Manchester Center

13.4 miles away

Pownal Center

15.5 miles away

Stratton Mountain

15.7 miles away

North Pownal

15.8 miles away

Chimney Hill

16.8 miles away

Pownal

17.8 miles away

East Dorset

17.9 miles away

Stamford

19.1 miles away

Wardsboro

20.0 miles away

Schuylerville

20.8 miles away

Valley Falls

20.9 miles away

Jamaica

21.1 miles away

Whitingham

22.0 miles away

South Londonderry

22.1 miles away

North Adams

23.4 miles away

Jacksonville

24.0 miles away

Mechanicville

26.8 miles away

Brunswick

27.5 miles away

Halfmoon

29.5 miles away

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FAQ about Lake Shaftsbury fishing

📍 Where is Lake Shaftsbury located?
Lake Shaftsbury is a lake located in Bennington County, Vermont, United States. Its coordinates are:
43°01′11.7″N 73°11′0.7″W
.
🎣 Where on Lake Shaftsbury is it best to fish?
Find the best fishing spots on Lake Shaftsbury 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 Lake Shaftsbury?
The most common species in Lake Shaftsbury are:
📢 What are the latest Lake Shaftsbury fishing reports?
The latest Lake Shaftsbury fishing reports are:
🗓️ What species are in season at Lake Shaftsbury right now?
According to fishing regulations at Lake Shaftsbury, some of the species in season this October include: Largemouth bass, Smallmouth bass, Rainbow trout, Brown trout, 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 Lake Shaftsbury?

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.

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