Free Ice Fishing Day & Festival

When

@ -

Where

Elmore State Park 856 State Route 12, Lake Elmore, VT 05031 Visit Website | 802-505-5562 | Corey.Hart@vermont.gov

Who

All Ages, Kinder, Kids, Tweens, Teens

Details

Parking: Yes

Saturday, January 31, 2026 is Vermont’s next free ice fishing day - a day when anyone, resident or nonresident, may go fish legal Vermont waters without a fishing license.

Find a Great Ice Fishing Spot

Not Sure How? Join the Festival!

Come to our free Ice Fishing Festival to learn ice fishing basics, from tip-ups to filleting fish. Vermont Fish & Wildlife staff will be there to help everyone enjoy a winter day ice fishing with friends. Once again, Tom's Bait and Tackle is generously donating all bait needed for the day -- that's about about 5,000 maggots and 240 minnows!

Where: Elmore State Park, 856 VT-12, Elmore, VT 05661 | map

When: Saturday, January 31, 2026 - 11:00 am to 3:00 pm

Event Schedule:

11:00 am - Registration Opens (Pre-register online now (recommended) or register at the event)
11:00 am to 3:00 pm - Fun Family Activities
Fish & Wildlife staff and Let's Go Fishing volunteers will help new ice anglers learn the basics of winter ice fishing through a variety of educational stations. After completing the stations participants will have the opportunity to borrow a rod and fish!
Stations Include:
- Hole Drilling Demos
- Tip-up Techniques
- Jigging Techniques
- Ice Safety
- Fish Identification and Regulations Explained
- Knot-tying Know-how and tackle craft

Plus enjoy a fish fry and cocoa (bring your own mug if you can)!

Bring your own ice fishing equipment or you can borrow ours. Be sure to dress warmly (in layers is the best) and wear winter boots. Yaktraxs or ice cleats are also a great idea for traction.

For more information, contact Corey Hart (Corey.Hart@vermont.gov) by email or call 802-505-5562.

Reviews

4 reviews

August 19, 2013
"We love Elmore state park. It is one of our favorite camping sites.. We love the hike to the water tower and love the views from the top.. It is a great place to spend a weekend with your family and friends enjoying all that this beautiful state has to offer.."
- lini15237
August 19, 2013
"The Elmore State Park is a great place to camp, swim, hike and paddle around. The hike up to the fire tower takes maybe an hour. Good family hike and old house foundation is an excellent place to snack or eat lunch. Views from the tower are fantastic! Elmore State Park is always clean, staff there is friendly and outgoing and new bathhouse on the beach too. Close to Stowe and Waterbury for day trips to Stowe Mountain Resort, Ben and Jerry's Ice Cream Factory in Waterbury. "
- dkbain
August 13, 2012
"Elmore State Park is another of our favorite places to camp in the summer. The hike to the water tower is somewhat strenuous, but doable with a small pack with snacks and water. Camping is great and the sites are generally private. The park is very clean and well tended and the staff is always extremely helpful. Elmore beach is one of the best around and definitely one of the best features of the park. Kayak and paddleboat rentals are inexpensive and very fun and the lake is small enough to paddle around in an afternoon. Owls and loons at can be heard most nights too. "
- paddlekat
April 28, 2011
"Elmore State Park is a fun day for everyone. We had a blast on the paddle boats got a little exercise with a modest hike. The covered pavilion offers a nice space for a gathering. "
- SChicoine