The Best Bait Shops in Vermont!

The Green Mountain State, with its pastoral fields, rolling hills, bucolic forests, and verdant green landscape, offers many enjoyable outdoor activities, not least of which is fishing. Many hold fond memories of summer adventures featuring secret fishing holes or midnight missions of night crawler harvesting. It is tradition, then, that there are so many live bait dealers in Vermont, many of which also offer fishing licenses and we feature the best of them here for you.

Hog Island Wholesale Bait, Swanton, VT

Located along the mighty Missisquoi River, Hog Island Bait was founded in 1978 based primarily on the sale of fresh minnows and night crawlers. Their minnows are now farmed-raised and come in Arkansas and Minnesota, with weekly deliveries of worms that are sourced from Canada and packaged at Hog Island’s own warehouse.

Old Fishing Hole Gun Shop, Morristown, VT

Lake Lamoille offers an array of fishing opportunities, and Old Fishing Hole stocks a wide variety of tackle, bait, and equipment to fill every fisherman’s need.  Find trolling, ice fishing, fishing & boating electronics, marine batteries, fresh bait, and fishing tackle.

Earle’s Bait Shop, Guilford, VT

Find night crawlers, dillies, wax worms, meal worms, mousses, Arkansas golden shiners, pike bait, and more, at Earle’s. Plus, with Earle’s handy Q&A section featured right on his website, you can find out about how live bait is regulated in Vermont. For instance, did you know that Baitfish Transportation Receipts are valid for only 96 hours after purchase?

Big River Bait & Tackle, Hinesburg, VT

Hinesburg is home to Lake Iroquois, and Big River Bait and Tackle serves the area as a certified live bait dealer in Vermont. Big River offers crawfish, crawlers, minnows, meal worms, and more. State fishing licenses are also available at Big River. 

Rack N’ Reel Sporting Goods, New Haven, VT

Specializing in sporting goods, fishing, camping, kayaking, and other adventures of the outdoors, R&R offers on-site instruction that encourages the beginner and meets the needs of expert fishermen as well. Owners, John and Bridget Kipp, know all of the best fishing spots and hiking trails, and the store is a featured commercial bait dealer in Vermont.

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