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VTF&W Public Hearing on Baitfish Rule Revisions, Berlin
May 10, 2023 @ 6:30 pm - 8:30 pm
The Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department proposes changes to the state’s baitfish regulation that will change some terminology and update the lists of waters where baitfish may not be used. The Vermont Fish and Wildlife Board will hold two public hearings about the changes in May.
The baitfish regulation with proposed amendments is available in the Public Hearings Schedule on the department’s website Home Page.
The first hearing is on May 10, at 6:30 p.m. at the Agency of Natural Resources Annex, 190 Junction Rd, Berlin, VT 05602.
The second hearing is at 6:30 p.m. on May 11, and it is virtual via Microsoft Teams. A link to join the meeting and password are provided in the Public Hearings Schedule on the department’s website.
In addition to the public hearings, anyone can leave a comment on the proposals by emailing ANR.FWPublicComment@vermont.gov by May 19.
Overview of Revisions
The amendments to the rule include a technical correction to the terminology that describes those waters where the use and transport of bait is restricted, for greater accuracy. Note that the technical correction does not change the meaning of the rule.
The amended rule also updates the list of waters where baitfish are not allowed to be used and reflects updates from biologists on waterbodies where a pond trout fishery is being sustained.
Beck Pond, Newark; Cary Pond, Walden; Lake Pleiad, Hancock; Mud Pond, Hyde Park; and West Mountain Pond, Maidstone were added to the list of waters where bait is not allowed. The use of baitfish on these waters could undermine the trout fisheries.
The rule is also amended to allow bait on McIntosh Pond, Royalton because there is no sustainable trout fishery there.