VT

I will be spending a cpl days next week in Southern VT area (Mount
Snow). I was wondering if anyone had some places I could fish. Kinda
new to the sport. Thanks!

On 14 Aug 2006 11:57:27 -0700, "tommy2" wrote:

I will be spending a cpl days next week in Southern VT area (Mount
Snow). I was wondering if anyone had some places I could fish. Kinda
new to the sport. Thanks!

You'll be less than an hour from the Batten Kill River, 23 miles or so to the
west-northwest. And a half-hour from the east branch of the Deerfield River,
15 miles to the southwest, and 45 minutes from the West River to the east.

No idea what condition any of those might be in right now. It's been a pretty
weird summer up here this year...

/daytripper

tommy2 wrote:
I will be spending a cpl days next week in Southern VT area (Mount
Snow). I was wondering if anyone had some places I could fish. Kinda
new to the sport. Thanks!


You do have the Deerfield river at the foot of mountain and that river
follows Route 100 down to Wilmington. About I think 30 miles south you
can hit the "fly fishing only" stretch below the Yankee Atomic Power
plant in Mass. So new licence required if this is your choice.

About 15 miles north on Rt 100 there is a mountain road on the left
that cuts behind Stratton Mountain, through Stratton Village and crosses
the Appalachian/Long Trail. The road is pretty useless between oh, Dec
and June, but should have been graded by now. On the way up there is a
little stream about 2 feet wide. This is actually the Deerfield river
that is quite the river in Massachusetts, so you can note that for the
future. I once saw someone with a fly line in this little trickle. hard
to believe. I am sure there are fish in it though.

About a mile over the summit there is a pond on the left. Beebe Pond. If
you have a float tube / canoe, you can have tons of fun with 10 / 12
inch brookies all day long.

A little farther on, a stream crosses the road, about 3/4 mile after
Beebe. This is called Roaring Branch. Tie on a large fly like a G&H
Sedge and work the pocket water and foam below the waterfalls. There's a
deep pool about 100 yards down from this first bridge and you can get
half dozen out of here alone. You'll get browns, but mostly brookies and
you should find it very productive. Don't pass over any water, even if
it looks marginal. Beware of tunderstorms. This river goes off color at
any decent size showers thanks to the dirt road.

If you want more of this look at a topo map and pick any stream in the
area and you have a way better than average chance of finding fish. Look
for Flower Creek, a tributary of the Roaring Branch. I doubt many if any
would have fished that stream in any given year.

Keep going over this road through Kelly Stand and you'll have the
Roaring Branch with you the whole way as it grows in size. The stream
itself meets the Batten Kill at "Camping on the Batten Kill", however
your mountain road turns into a local road in the town of Arlington.
Look up Route 313 on a map, and more specifically River Road, which
follows the Batten Kill.

This time of year should see tricos early am (tiny black and olive bugs
that you can google if you want to learn more), however the cool weather
really affects these bugs. If the mornings are in the 60s they should
be good. Fall-like weather will turn them off. From midday on, the river
will be just about unfishable due to tubers and canoers, especially on
the weekend, so if you feel like giving it a shot, try between 6 and 10
in the morning and after 7pm. In the evening I would go armed with
Vermont Caddis and Pale Evening Duns (or even sulphurs), changing to the
more gaudy and obnoxious (and thus visible) patterns as darkness falls.
It can be a rush and in back my carefree single days I'd drive the 2 1/2
hours in one afternoon just for one hour of fishing then go home same day.

Wow thanks guys for the tips!....I am looking forward to spending some
time in your beautiful state. As far as a license I guess any sport
shop will carry them? Thanks again!


GM wrote:
tommy2 wrote:
I will be spending a cpl days next week in Southern VT area (Mount
Snow). I was wondering if anyone had some places I could fish. Kinda
new to the sport. Thanks!


You do have the Deerfield river at the foot of mountain and that river
follows Route 100 down to Wilmington. About I think 30 miles south you
can hit the "fly fishing only" stretch below the Yankee Atomic Power
plant in Mass. So new licence required if this is your choice.

About 15 miles north on Rt 100 there is a mountain road on the left
that cuts behind Stratton Mountain, through Stratton Village and crosses
the Appalachian/Long Trail. The road is pretty useless between oh, Dec
and June, but should have been graded by now. On the way up there is a
little stream about 2 feet wide. This is actually the Deerfield river
that is quite the river in Massachusetts, so you can note that for the
future. I once saw someone with a fly line in this little trickle. hard
to believe. I am sure there are fish in it though.

About a mile over the summit there is a pond on the left. Beebe Pond. If
you have a float tube / canoe, you can have tons of fun with 10 / 12
inch brookies all day long.

A little farther on, a stream crosses the road, about 3/4 mile after
Beebe. This is called Roaring Branch. Tie on a large fly like a G&H
Sedge and work the pocket water and foam below the waterfalls. There's a
deep pool about 100 yards down from this first bridge and you can get
half dozen out of here alone. You'll get browns, but mostly brookies and
you should find it very productive. Don't pass over any water, even if
it looks marginal. Beware of tunderstorms. This river goes off color at
any decent size showers thanks to the dirt road.

If you want more of this look at a topo map and pick any stream in the
area and you have a way better than average chance of finding fish. Look
for Flower Creek, a tributary of the Roaring Branch. I doubt many if any
would have fished that stream in any given year.

Keep going over this road through Kelly Stand and you'll have the
Roaring Branch with you the whole way as it grows in size. The stream
itself meets the Batten Kill at "Camping on the Batten Kill", however
your mountain road turns into a local road in the town of Arlington.
Look up Route 313 on a map, and more specifically River Road, which
follows the Batten Kill.

This time of year should see tricos early am (tiny black and olive bugs
that you can google if you want to learn more), however the cool weather
really affects these bugs. If the mornings are in the 60s they should
be good. Fall-like weather will turn them off. From midday on, the river
will be just about unfishable due to tubers and canoers, especially on
the weekend, so if you feel like giving it a shot, try between 6 and 10
in the morning and after 7pm. In the evening I would go armed with
Vermont Caddis and Pale Evening Duns (or even sulphurs), changing to the
more gaudy and obnoxious (and thus visible) patterns as darkness falls.
It can be a rush and in back my carefree single days I'd drive the 2 1/2
hours in one afternoon just for one hour of fishing then go home same day.

tommy2 wrote:
Wow thanks guys for the tips!....I am looking forward to spending some
time in your beautiful state. As far as a license I guess any sport
shop will carry them? Thanks again!


From memory there is a country store on Route 100 in Wilmington that
will sell you a VT License. If you decide to fish the Deerfield in MA I
am not sure what your options are, as that area between VT and MA is
sparsely populated. The nearest town of any size is Charlmont. So if you
are set on the Deerfield in MA, a call to the Town Hall today would be
in order. Else, the same store in VT might be able to advise.

If you are coming from the South over land, I would try to get it on my
way through MA at a Walmart (ahem).

Good luck, Tommy and do post a TR back.