Southern Vermont has plenty of fish and places to catch them
Sadawga Pond
Sawdaga Lake Road, off Route 100
Whitingham, VT
Description: The Vermont Fish and Wildlife
Department’s access area offers shoreline fishing
opportunities, or you could launch your own
boat.
Species: Largemouth bass, chain pickerel,
pumpkinseed sunfish, yellow perch, bullhead.
Directions: From Brattleboro, travel west on VT
Route 9 for about 17.5 miles. Turn left (south)
onto VT Route 100. After a little over 6 miles,
look for Sadawga Lake Road on your left.
Stoughton Pond
Stoughton Pond Road
Weathersfield, VT
Description: The US Army Corps of Engineers’ day-use area offers shoreline fishing access, picnic facilities, and restrooms.
Species: Largemouth bass, yellow perch, bullhead, and pumpkinseed sunfish can be found in Echo Lake. Trout are also stocked there, but your best fishing for them will be in the spring.
Directions: From I-91, get off at exit 8 and travel west on VT Route 131 for about 6.8 miles. Turn left (south) onto VT Route 106. After about 1.8 miles, turn left onto Stoughton Pond Road. The US Army Corps of Engineers day-use area will be on your left just before the road crosses the dam.
2755 State Forest Road
Townshend, VT
Phone: 802-365-7500
Season: Memorial Day-Labor Day
A visit to Townshend State Park, located at the foot of Bald Mountain on a bend of the West River, feels like a step back in time. The park was constructed during the Great Depression by the Civilian Conservation Corps. The campground is a popular destination for visitors seeking a rustic experience. Visitors can take a hike up the Bald Mountain Trail, passing various chutes, waterfalls and pools on the way to spectacular vistas.
The campground, situated in a wooded area, has 30 tent/trailer sites and 4 lean-to sites. There are two bathrooms, one of which has showers ($). A picnic shelter with a fireplace and three tables is attached to the ranger's quarters. Note: Due to the park's physical layout, there is a limit of 6 people and one vehicle per site.
142 State Park Road
Bennington, VT
Phone: 802-447-7169
Season: Memorial Day-Columbus Day
Woodford is located on a mountain plateau and surrounds Adams Reservoir. There are several lakes and ponds in the surrounding area.The campground has 103 sites including 20 lean-tos. The heavily wooded area surrounds the reservoir and offers great camping opportunities. Flush toilets, hot showers ($), and a dump station are provided. There is a small beach and picnic area near the dam with pit toilet facilities. Rowboats, canoes, and kayaks are available for rent. There are several hiking trails, including a 2.7-mile trail around the lake.
Day use hours: 10 a.m.-9 p.m.
Bullhead Pond
Bullhead Pond Road
Manchester, VT
Description: The Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department
land around the pond provides good opportunities for
fishing from shore. There is no entrance fee.
Species: Largemouth bass, yellow perch, and brown
bullhead live in the pond. Brook trout are stocked there,
but if your preference is for trout, you will have to go in
the spring before the water gets too warm.
Directions: Take VT Route 7A north from Manchester for
about 3.2 miles. Just north of the Manchester Country
Club golf course and then Fin Bar Road on your right,
turn right onto the driveway which will take you to
the north side of the pond.
Echo Lake
Camp Road
Plymouth, VT
Description: With the purchase of an entrance fee, the state park offers shoreline fishing, camping (for large groups only), swimming, concession stand, and a playground. You can also rent a boat there. If you have your own boat, you can launch it for free at the Vermont Fish and Wildlife access area on the west shore of the lake.
Species: Largemouth and smallmouth bass, chain pickerel, yellow perch, bullhead, and pumpkinseed sunfish can be found in Echo Lake. Trout are also stocked there, but your best fishing for them will be in the spring.
Directions: From US Route 4 travel south on VT Route 100 for 10.5 miles. At Echo Lake Inn (on your right), turn left onto Kingdom Road. Drive 0.7 miles and turn left onto Camp Road. State Park is 0.5 miles up road on your left.
65 Emerald Lake Lane
East Dorset, VT 05253
Phone: 802-362-1655
Season: Memorial Day Weekend - Columbus Day Weekend
Located between Manchester and Rutland, the park is popular for its wooded hillside campground, beach and swimming area, and nearby attractions and tourist destinations. The park surrounds 20-acre Emerald Lake. It is restricted to non-motorized watercraft, so it is ideal for swimming and paddling. Fishing for yellow perch, small mouth bass, northern pike and other warm-water species. The park is a favorite destination of hikers, with the Long Trail and Appalachian Trail nearby, and trails on Dorset Mountain.
The 67 campsites and 37 lean-tos are located on a heavily wooded ridge above Emerald Lake. Flush toilets, hot showers ($) and a dump station are provided. There is a small beach with snack bar and boat rental facilities. (Canoes, kayaks, row and pedal boats) A hillside picnic area, as well as lakeside picnic tables are available.
Day use hours: 10 a.m.-9 p.m.
Gale Meadows Pond
Gale Meadows Road
Londonderry/Winhall, VT
Description: The Vermont Fish and Wildlife access area provides opportunities to fish from shore or launch your own boat.
Species: Largemouth bass, chain pickerel, yellow perch, rock bass, bullhead
Directions: From the junction of VT Route 100 and VT Route 30 in Rawsonville, travel west on VT-30 for about 2.8 miles. Turn right (north) onto River Rd, which becomes Gale Meadow Road Follow Gale Meadow Road to the fishing access area (roughly 2 miles from VT-30).
231 North Main Street (offices)
Rutland, VT
Phone: 802-747-6700
The Green Mountain National Forest scenic beauty along the backbone of Vermont's Green Mountains offers a four season recreation experience. Primitive recreational opportunities exist within the eight Wilderness Areas on the Green Mountain National Forest. The Forest also hosts two National Recreation Areas. The most popular season is autumn, when the mountains are ablaze with color. In spring, the forest bursts forth from the grip of winter and blooming wildflowers that are visible along many of the Forest trails. The first fishing days are enjoyed by a lot of people. Mud season is usually short but intense. Mountain biking and hiking on wet trails is not encouraged during this time. Head nets and an effective insect repellant are suggested for black fly season. Summer is popular for picnicking, camping, hiking, backpacking, fishing, boating, and canoeing. Winter brings out skiers (both downhill and cross-country), snowboarders, snowmobilers, and snowshoe enthusiasts.
Uses: Hiking, fishing, hunting, picnicking, bird watching, bicycling, canoeing, camping, horseback riding, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, snowmobiling
Greendale National Site
Manchester, VT
Phone: 802-362-2307
Great fishing spot, complete with rest facilities.
Grout Pond National Site
Manchester, VT
Phone: 802-362-2307
Visitors will enjoy swimming, fishing, canoeing, and hiking trails.
Hapgood Pond National Site
Manchester, VT
Phone: 802-362-2307
This park offers canoeing and boating, hiking trails, fishing areas, swimming and picnic areas.
48 Salmon Hole Lane
Jamaica, VT
Phone: 802-874-4600
Season: May 8-Columbus Day
Every spring and fall, on one weekend in late April and late September, there is a water release on the West River from Ball Mountain Dam. This is a semiannual event for many kayakers and canoeists from all over New England.
The West River is also a favorite spot for many fishermen. The combination of deep slow running water and shallow fast ripples makes for some fine fishing.
There are 41 tent/trailer sites and 18 lean-to sites that are spread out through the campground. Two rest rooms, complete with hot showers ($), are located in the campground. A picnic shelter and nature center are located near the picnic area and swimming hole. A hiking trail follows the West River and branches off toward Hamilton Falls.
ALERT: The weight limit for the town's bridge leading into Jamaica State Park has been downgraded to 8 tons. Campers with large RV or trailer units should check their total weight to ensure they meet the reduced weight limit.
262 Shaftsbury State Park Road (Route 7A)
Shaftsbury, VT 05262
Phone: 802-375-9978
Season: Memorial Day Weekend - Labor Day Weekend
Lake Shaftsbury State Park is on an 84-acre parcel surrounding the small but picturesque Lake Shaftsbury. A furnished waterfront cottage sleeps six, with deck and grill. Lake Shaftsbury also operates a group camping area with 15 lean-tos available throughout the year for scouts, church groups, and other organizations. Port-a-let facilities are available. There is also a developed beach, play area, and picnic area. There is an open picnic shelter/pavilion available for large group gatherings. The snack bar concession has rental canoes, kayaks, rowboats, and pedal boats. Day use hours: 10 a.m.-9 p.m.
Lowell Lake
Lowell Lake Road
Londonderry, VT
Description: It is free to access this undeveloped state
park, which offers shoreline fishing, picnic facilities, and
portable toilets. If you have your own canoe, you can
launch it here. Motorized boats are not allowed.
Species: Largemouth bass, chain pickerel, yellow
perch, pumpkinseed sunfish, bullhead.
Directions: From the junction of VT Route 100 and VT
Route 11 in Londonderry Village, travel east on VT-11
for about 3 miles. Turn left (north) onto Lowell Lake
Road. Icehouse Road will bring you to a parking area near
the lake.
