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Considered one of the finest and most challenging trout fisheries in the country, the 28-mile Vermont, spring-fed stretch starts in the Green Mountains near the East Dorset town of ... moreBennington. From the border of New York, the river continues for another 31 miles in a southerly direction until it reaches Easton, NY and empties into the Hudson River. It is one of several rivers that form the 400+ mile Hudson River drainage basin. It’s also where the smart fish live.
When fishing the Vermont portion of this river, assume the trout have earned PhD’s in evasion techniques and are there to test your mettle. Before 1975, Vermont stocked the Battenkill (NY State still does) but now it’s gone native and all the trout are wild. Since this is a catch and release river, by the time a fish is two or three years old, it’s probably been caught more than once and when it comes to flies, the fish have seen them all. As one observer summed it up, there are lots of sizeable browns in the Battenkill but they didn’t get big by being dumb.
Near Manchester the river is scenic, narrow and characterized by soft bottoms, small pools and a few deep runs and rifles with mostly smaller brook and browns. The river widens as you approach Arlington, where the trout tend to lurk in slow moving pools. By the time you approach the state line the fish are typically 12 -16 inches long and more plentiful, but rarely easier to catch. This freestone river is a terrific choice for experts and for anglers ready to up their game.
Before booking your Battenkill trip there are a few things to keep in mind:
The New York season is year round while Vermont is limited from April - October.
There is good public access but sections of the river are private access only
It’s catch and release
A mere five miles from Manchester, this freestone, spring-fed river, like the Battenkill, begins, near Dorset in Vermont’s Green Mountains. A tributary of Lake Champlain, the 28-mile ... morelong Mettawee is among Vermont’s most highly regarded trout streams, boasting 500 fish per mile. The landscape along the 16-mile stretch of river that runs through Vermont, is dotted with rolling hills and charming farm houses, providing a postcard view of New England.
To access the upper part of the stream follow Lower Hollow Road out of Dorset. At its headwaters, you can expect to find native brook and rainbow trout. Following state highway #30 offers river access as do its several bridges. The mid-section of the river is made up largely of long rifles and pools. Pocket water here is scarce and the currents are mild. Continuing down, the landscape changes from farm to forest. In the lower section of the river you will find both browns and rainbows, some of which were stocked by the state in prior years.
The best time to fish is late May and June. The summer months can be difficult so if you fish at this time, most guides recommend moving into some of the Mettawee’s many tributaries where the water is likely to be cooler. By the middle of September the weather begins to cool down and its possible to return to the main course of the river. Motivated by the impetus to spawn, the fish tend to be hungrier and less particular, making them easier to catch. Given the narrow width of the river, at some points a mere 20 feet across, it is easily waded and can be fished with relatively short rods.
Before booking a trip on the Mettawee, inquire about variations in seasonal water temperatures and remember that you must return all fish between 10-14 inches.
Severely damaged by Hurricane Irene just a short time ago, by all reports the river not only survived - it is thriving. Originating in the wilds of the Green Mountain National Forest, ... morea vast area of preserved trees, abundant animal life and recreational trails, this short tributary of the Hoosic River, (only 17 miles long) is widely recognized for its great fly fishing.
In the past, the river was diverted to power knitting mills and shoe factories and could at times, nearly run dry. Today it runs freely and forcefully with rapids ranging from Class I to Class III, which probably accounts for its nickname, The Roaring Branch River.
Known for its headwater’s brook trout as well as rainbows and browns that can be found throughout, in 2014 the state added 1000 2 year old, 14 inch long trophy trout to the river. Raised in the Bennington Fish Hatchery the mix consists of 750 rainbow and 250 browns. There are also proposals to reset limits on the number and size of fish that can be taken from the river and to lengthen the fly fishing season for portions of the river. The best sections to fish are from the Paper Bridge to the New York Border.
A mere 15 miles from Manchester, the river is also not far from the town of Bennington and scores of other tourist attractions. If you have family or other members of your party that don’t feel like fishing, there are museums, shopping and historical sites to visit, not to mention other outdoor recreational opportunities.
Before setting out to fish this river, be sure to:
Check to see if the April –October seasonal dates have been extended
Check the rules regarding catch and release since they may have recently changed
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Vermont Fishing Reports
Get up to date information on fishing conditions in Vermont. Learn about water flows, fish species, and current weather. Download maps and locate fishing access sites in Vermont. Discover the best guided fly fishing trips in Vermont. Plan a Vermont fishing trip today.
Vermont Fishing Trip Resources
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