Walleye

Sauger

Please Release Me...The Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department works to protect and restore rare and endangered fish species. To help us in this effort, we’re asking anglers to learn to identify these species and release them immediately if caught while fishing.

SturgeonThe lake sturgeon is listed as an endangered species in Vermont. Biologists have documented spawning activity in Vermont rivers that were historical sturgeon spawning sites, and they are working to restore sturgeon by improving habitat, restoring stream flow, removing obstructions in rivers, and lessening the impact of sea lamprey predation.

Anglers may not target sturgeon and must release them if caught incidentally. Please report the sighting to the department.

Muskellunge (or “muskie”) More than 44,000 muskies have been stocked in the Missisquoi region in an effort to bring this majestic fish species back to Lake Champlain. If these muskies survive and begin reproducing naturally, they will provide an exciting fishing opportunity in Vermont. They are sometimes difficult to distinguish from northern pike or chain pickerel, and the increasingly common pike-pickerel hybrid.

While anglers may legally target muskie statewide with artificial flies and lures, all muskie caught anywhere in Vermont must be released immediately.

Sauger or Walleye? Please Learn the Difference

Black membrane between last two or three spines on dorsal fin.

White tip on bottom of tail.Black spots on dorsal fin.

White margin along full length of tail.

Dark, mottled coloration often present on sides.

SaugerSauger populations are declining across their range and Vermont is no exception. To help protect this fish, a new regulation prohibits anglers from targeting sauger. Since walleye and sauger are similar in appearance, anglers should learn how to distinguish between the two.

If a sauger is caught incidentally, anglers must release it and should report the sighting to the department.