Ice Fishing Festival to be held at Silver Lake State Park as a celebration
Vermont Business Journal Vermont Free Ice Fishing Day is Saturday, January 28, 2023.
Free Ice Fishing Day is celebrated annually on the last Saturday of January. The day is geared toward giving new ice anglers a chance to try ice fishing before purchasing equipment, but any angler can ice fish on any body of water open to ice fishing throughout the ‘state without a fishing license on Free Ice Fishing Day.
To celebrate, the Vermont Department of Fish and Wildlife is holding an ice fishing festival at Silver Lake State Park in Barnard, the first since the pandemic began. The festival will be held from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. The activity is free and open to all ages, as well as families with children.
“The ice fishing festival typically attracts 500 to 700 participants for a day of fishing, skill development and community,” said Education Specialist Corey Hart. “Everyone in the department is excited to bring back this favorite winter celebration after a two-year hiatus.”
VTF&W Photos by Joshua Morse: To celebrate Free Ice Fishing Day, the Vermont Department of Fish and Wildlife will host an Ice Fishing Festival for kids and others new to ice fishing at Silver Lake State Park in Barnard on Saturday, January 28.
Vermont Fish and Wildlife staff, as well as instructors from Vermont’s Let’s Go Fishing program, will be on hand to teach ice fishing skills. These include tying knots, bait and using an ice fishing rod, and most importantly, how to stay safe on the ice. They will also discuss fishing regulations and fish identification.
Fish and Wildlife staff will operate a fish fry station to cook participants’ catch, and plenty of cocoa will be on hand. Participants are encouraged to dress appropriately for the weather and ice patches are strongly encouraged.
“Ice fishing is one of the most accessible forms of fishing and can be a great way to introduce people to the fun that fishing can be,” said Fish and Wildlife Commissioner Christopher Herrick. “This festival will show that ice fishing is not just about catching fish. It’s also a great way to spend time outdoors with friends and family. You can skate, sled, build a snow fort, and cook, all while waiting for the flags on your alerts to tell you when you’ve caught a fish.
Fishing equipment will be provided for this fun day on the ice, or participants can bring their own. For more information, visit the Vermont Fish and Wildlife website. Registration can be completed online in advance
or people can sign up when they arrive, although pre-registration will get participants on the ice faster.
Barnard, Vt. – VTF&W
