Vermonters with developmental disabilities are now eligible for free lifetime fishing licenses thanks to Raymond Bapp of East Middlebury. Bapp, 58, caught the fishing bug as a young adult, but he has intellectual disabilities and lives on a fixed income with scant room for extras, such as the $28 annual license fee.
“He loves nothing more than to sit at the edge of the water with his pole casted out, smoking his pipe,” said Bapp’s home care provider, Lynda Bushman. “Raymond thought more people could enjoy fishing if they could have access to free fishing.”
Bapp came up with the idea himself, Bushman said, and started his effort back in 2017 by writing to his legislators and knocking on neighbors’ doors. He eventually gathered 500 signatures.
Sen. Ruth Hardy (D-Addison) lives near Bapp and recalled him showing up at her door in summer 2020 to advocate for what he proudly calls “my bill.” He kept at it during the pandemic. “His persistence is really admirable,” Rep. Robin Scheu (D-Middlebury) said.
Hardy invited Bapp last spring to testify before the Senate Natural Resources and Energy Committee. He demonstrated contagious enthusiasm for fishing and for helping others share in its rewards, such as a meal of freshly caught northern pike. “I told them — nicely — the bill needed to get passed because all of the disability people don’t make too much money,” Bapp explained.
Bapp said he was tickled to receive the pen that Gov. Phil Scott used to sign the bill — plus a congratulatory pair of fish-printed socks from Hardy.
Hardy said she recently ran into Bapp at the post office, and he invited her to fish with him this summer. His care provider, Bushman, said Bapp’s angling destinations include Fern Lake, Lake Dunmore and Lake Bomoseen. Like all avid fishermen, she said, Bapp’s got a couple of favorite spots, too, but “only him and his fishing buddy know where those are.”
The original print version of this article was headlined “Go Fish”
This article appears in January 28 • 2026.
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