Reminder: Fires, swimming are prohibited at state fishing accesses

June 16, 2023  |  By Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department  |  News Release

The Marshfield Reservoir boat launch and fishing access is busy with boating activity. VT F&W photo by John Hall

With the beginning of summer and anglers fishing from shore, the Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department reminds people that open fires and swimming are prohibited at all Vermont state fishing access areas. 

Open fires and their remnants create unsafe areas for anglers and boaters and they can be unhealthy for the animals and fish that live in the adjacent waters. Fish & Wildlife staff clean up the toxic waste left by open fires on state lands annually at considerable expense.

 Swimming at fishing access areas is prohibited due to safety concerns and because the primary uses of the fishing access areas are for launching and retrieving motorboats and for shore fishing. 

The Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department maintains 203 developed fishing access areas on lakes and rivers throughout the state.  These areas have allowed uses determined by law, and swimming is not one of them. 

The access areas were purchased and are maintained with funds derived from the sale of fishing licenses and motorboat registrations, as well as a federal excise tax on fishing equipment, fishing tackle and gasoline for motorboats. These funding sources explicitly prohibit activities that are in conflict with fishing and boating.

State regulations prohibit certain activities at fishing access areas including swimming, littering, camping, picnicking, making a fire, parking of vehicles not related to priority uses, and commercial activity.

“Vermont State Game Wardens will be strictly enforcing the rules at state fishing access areas this summer,” said Col. Justin Stedman, Vermont’s Chief Game Warden.  “Please help keep our lands clean and open for others to enjoy, and report violations to your local warden.”

Reports can be made anonymously using the online form on the Vermont Fish & Wildlife website.  Time-sensitive reports should be called in to state police where a dispatcher can contact a warden.