Vermont is one of the most beautiful states in America. It has mountains, rolling hills, forests and green pastureland. And if you like to fish, it has myriad lakes, ponds, rivers and streams. The water in these lakes and streams is cold, clear and pure, and the quality of fishing is excellent. In addition, Vermont has over 800,000 acres of Federal and State public land that is open for fishing, so you can cast your line in pristine settings that commercial ventures have not yet spoiled. Vermont offers quite a few different species of fish for the angler, so let’s look at what varieties you can expect to catch, and where to find them. There are two categories of fish that inhabit the state’s waterways: cold water fish, which include trout and salmon, and warm water fish, which include bass, pike, and pan fish. Some large lakes, such as Lake Champlain, the “sixth Great Lake”, are home to all of these species, while other lakes and streams are limited to one category.
The cold streams fed by snow melting from the Green Mountains and the deep, cold waters of Vermont’s lakes are a paradise for trout and salmon fishing. Brook trout and rainbow trout populate most of the fast running rivers and streams throughout the state, such as the Barton River, the
Willoughby River or Batten Kill. You can catch them on flies, lures or live bait, and you can generally fish from the bank. If you own a pair of waders, you can fish directly from the stream. Lake trout inhabit lakes such as Lake Champlain, Lake Memphremagog in the far northeast, or the Harriman Reservoir in the southern part of the state. They need to be fished deep, and you can take them on minnows or spoons. You will need to rent a boat to reach their deep water habitats. The landlocked salmon is Vermont’s indigenous salmon species. You can take them on flies during the spring when they are spawning. The rapid waters of the Willoughby River are a good place for salmon (as well as rainbow trout), and in fact fishing this productive stream is a yearly spring tradition in the state. After the spawning season the salmon retreat to the cold water of the deep lakes, where you can fish for them with lures or baitfish. Lake Willoughby, Lake Champlain and Seymour Lake are all good salmon grounds. You can also hire a charter boat on Lake Champlain, where you can fish for salmon and lake trout guided by an experienced captain.
Vermont also has excellent bass fishing. These fish require warmer waters than trout or salmon, and they are usually found in the shallower parts of lakes and ponds, especially in the spring. Anglers have had great success catching these prized fish using spinner baits, crank baits or plastic worms. You can fish them from the bank, or rent a canoe to glide noiselessly into their feeding grounds. Both smallmouth and largemouth bass can be found in Harriman Reservoir, Island Pond, Lake Memphremagog, as well as many other rivers and lakes throughout the state. Another warm water game fish group that abounds in Vermont is the pike family. This family includes walleye, northern pike, Muskie, and pickerel. Lake Champlain and Lake Memphremagog provide good walleye fishing, where they can be taken on crank baits and jigs. For northern pike, pickerel and Muskie, try Lake Champlain, using lures. For Muskie fishing, use large lures such as those for saltwater fishing. If you want to catch a big fish, you need to use a big lure!
Rounding out the Vermont warm water fishing options are pan fish. These include yellow perch, pumpkinseed (sun fish), blue gills and crappies. Still fishing with worms is the traditional pan fishing method. Anglers have also had success with small lures. Seymour Lake, Lake St. Catherine and Lake Willoughby are all good for pan fish, as is the Connecticut River. In addition, the numerous ponds that dot the state, such as Clark’s Pond outside of Glover, are good sources of these tasty fish.
Whether you are looking for the thrill of catching a big trout using a fly rig, or you just want to sit on the bank of a pond and reel in blue gills or perch, Vermont offers numerous options for the angler. Make sure to visit the Vermont Fish and Wildlife web site for information, rules and regulation, and ways of purchasing a fishing license. And be sure to enjoy the natural, rustic beauty of this state. By Michael Norris
Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department: http://www.vtfishandwildlife.com.
