Lake Bomoseen, about 2,400 acres in Castleton and Hubbardton, is the largest lake entirely within Vermont. It's fairly shallow, averaging 27 feet with a maximum of 65, and holds bass, northern pike, brown trout, perch, panfish, bullhead and smelt. Its best-known wildlife story is the bald eagles: a nesting pair was recorded near Bomoseen in 1948, eagles then disappeared from Vermont, and today they nest again on Neshobe Island in the middle of the lake.
By Vermont Lake Collection · Last reviewed: October 2026
The Short Answer
What fish are in Lake Bomoseen?
Bass, northern pike, brown trout, yellow perch, panfish, bullhead and smelt.
Are there bald eagles on Lake Bomoseen?
Yes. Bald eagles nest on Neshobe Island and feed on the lake's trout, bass and other fish.
Does Lake Bomoseen have invasive species?
Yes. Eurasian watermilfoil once covered about 590 acres of the lake, and zebra mussels have since arrived despite prevention efforts.
Fishing Lake Bomoseen
The lake holds bass, northern pike, yellow perch, panfish and bullhead, along with brown trout and smelt, which are also what the island's eagles hunt. Bomoseen State Park, on the western shore, has camping and swimming and is a good base for a lake day.
The Neshobe Island Eagles
Bomoseen has a special place in Vermont's eagle story. According to VTDigger, a nesting pair was spotted near Lake Bomoseen in 1948, but the pesticide DDT, which thinned eggshells so chicks didn't survive, along with habitat loss and illegal shooting, drove eagles out of the state. They weren't firmly re-established in Vermont until 2006. Today, bald eagles nest on Neshobe Island, the small island in the middle of the lake, and statewide the population reached 41 nesting pairs in 2020.
Ospreys, another fish-eating raptor, have been seen more often around the lake in recent years.
Milfoil, Weevils and Zebra Mussels
Eurasian watermilfoil, an invasive aquatic plant, once covered about 590 acres of Lake Bomoseen, choking swimming and boating areas. Researchers introduced a native milfoil-eating weevil to help control it. More recently, zebra mussels made it into the lake despite prevention efforts. Cleaning, draining and drying your boat between lakes helps keep new invaders out.
Frequently Asked Questions
How big is Lake Bomoseen?
About 2,400 acres, with an average depth of 27 feet and a maximum of 65 feet. It's the largest lake entirely within Vermont.
Where do the Lake Bomoseen eagles nest?
On Neshobe Island, near the middle of the lake.
Why did bald eagles disappear from Vermont?
Mainly because of DDT, which weakened eggshells, along with habitat loss and illegal hunting.
Shop the Collection
Explore our Lake Bomoseen collection, including the Lake Bomoseen Wordmark Tee.