New baitfish rules

[aquarium234]

Hi all, I tried searching the internet for any changes no results. So for those who were able to atend the meetings any changes. Last year talk was changes for this January so did any get approved? Thanks to all who can help. cant wait to fish champlain  this year. Thanks all 

[Little Brown Dog]

Yes, lot's of changes coming in January.  Stand by till the F&W webpage is up for details.

[aquarium234]

Thanks

[Smelty88]

What its looking like and Keithm87 can expand or correct me if i am wrong as he has been in contact with the people making these regs, but it seems that there will be several zones across the state that will be determined by the basin in which the water way you will be trapping flows from or into. You will be able to keep bait in your own bait tank. Sounds like there will be more info as to if you can trap multiple zones and have multiple tanks that separate this bate in one location. I have also heard that the state may require people trapping their own bait to obtain a license from taking a short class/training.

[Theshad]

Looks like a lot of the new regs on on the state website now.

[Little Brown Dog]

 https://vtfishandwildlife.com/using-baitfish-in-vermont

[mudchuck]

I attended 2 of the VTFW meetings and yes there are significant changes coming, both for baitfish & deer

[TRT]

I glanced, looks positive and if I read correctly dealers will be able to catch smelt
and sell to be used within the District either East or West  where the smelt was caught?
Is that your understanding?

[LittleFishin]

I just took the quiz for the endorsement, 37 page study guide but the quiz wasn't to bad. Hope it shows on my license when I renew it JAN 1st...

[fishingidjit]

Bait fish dealers will need a lawyer to decipher the new regs.

[TRT]

I read the material 30+ pages much of I breezed through. 
Exam was fair, straight forward. It took half hour. 

[Light liner]

I agree, I think the new bait regs are pretty straight forward.
They did a good job with it.

[TRT]

Just printed off the 2020 license with baitfish endorsement, easy as can be.

[flagfishon]

I know many like to trap in streams and rivers that stay open from ice longer.  The new regulations state that all streams are considered Seasonally Closed Waters and therefore are ineligible for trapping bait.  Am I missing something?  What is a stream? Is the Winooski river a stream?

5.3.4 The personal harvest of baitfish is unlawful in Seasonally Closed

Waters as listed in Section 9.0 of this regulation, except during the open

season for trout, and is prohibited in streams as specified in Section 9.2.

Baitfish harvest shall be conducted only by Open-water/ice fishing or the

use of minnow traps no longer than eighteen inches with an entrance for

fish not exceeding one inch in diameter.



9.2 All streams are hereby designated Seasonally Closed Waters and shall

be closed to all fishing except during the open season for trout as provided

in section 10 of these regulations; and

9.2.1 except that the following streams shall be open to trout fishing

only, and no fishing for other species shall be allowed, from November 1

to the Friday before the second Saturday in April, as set forth in Table

9.2.2.

[Little Brown Dog]

If the stream or river is listed in Table 1, then it is closed during the winter, you can only trap bait during the open trout season.  If it is listed in Table 2, or Table 8 (Champlain) then you can trap bait year round.  So looks like Winooski below Winooski One Dam would be ok, but not above there.  Also the spawning ground from the railroad bridge to Winooski One Dam is closed March 16-May31.