The Green Mountain state is home to some of the best fly fishing in the country, yet most traveling anglers concentrate their attention on a few of the more famous streams. In this complete guide to the best fly fishing streams and still waters in Vermont, Mike Valla shares detailed information on where to go, current fly patterns, and advice from local experts. Species covered include trout, landlocked salmon, and smallmouth bass (Lake Champlain and its tributaries offer world-class warmwater fly fishing opportunities).

Mike Valla was inducted into the Fly-Fishing Hall of Fame in 2024. He is the author of Fly Fishing Guide to New York State, The Founding Flies, Tying Catskill-Style Dry Flies, Tying and Fishing Bucktails and other Hair Wings, Tying the Founding Flies, The Classic Streamer Fly Box, and Favorite Flies for the Catskills. He is the recipient of the Poul Jorgensen Golden Hook Award and is often invited to speak about fly fishing in local, national, and international fly-fishing events and gatherings. He is a frequent contributor to American Fly Fishing magazine and has published articles in Fly Fisherman, Fly Tyer, and American Fly Fisher. He served on the Board of Directors at the Catskill Fly Fishing Center and Museum. Valla has been fly-fishing for well over 50 years. He lives in the town of Cambridge, New York, just a few miles from Vermont.
 

 

Acknowledgments

Introduction

State of Vermont Hatches

HUDSON RIVER BASIN             

Batten Kill

Green River

Roaring Branch (of Kelly Stand/Arlington)

Branch Pond, Bourn Pond, and Grout Pond

Walloomsac River

Roaring Branch (of Walloomsac), City Stream and Bolles Brook

Hoosic River

LAKE CHAMPLAIN BASIN

Lake Champlain—Middle Section

Mettawee River

Flower Brook

Poultney River

Castleton River

Lake Bomoseen

Lake St. Catherine

Big Branch Stream

Otter Creek

East Creek

Furnace Brook

Neshobe River

Sugar Hill Reservoir (Goshen Dam)

Cold River

Mill River

Middlebury River

Lewis Creek

New Haven River

Winooski River

Huntington River

Little River below Waterbury Reservoir 

Little River—West Branch above Waterbury Reservoir

Ranch Brook

Mad River

Dog River

Lamoille River

Lamoille River—North Branch

Gihon River

Browns River

Missisquoi River

Missisquoi River—East Branch

Missisquoi River—Main Stem

Lake Champlain North Section at Missisquoi Bay Area

Trout River

Trout River Tributaries—Wade Brook and Jay Brook

Trout River—South Branch

MEMPHREMAGOG BASIN

Pherrins River

Jobs Pond

Bald Hill Pond

Long Pond

Lake Willoughby

Willoughby River

Shadow Lake

Echo Lake

Clyde River

CONNECTICUT RIVER BASIN

Forest Lake/Averill Lakes—“Quimby Country”

Upper Connecticut River

Nulhegan River 

Notch Pond

Paul Stream

Moose River

Passumpsic River

Passumpsic River—East Branch

Passumpsic River—West Branch

Passumpsic River—Main Stem 

Joe’s Brook

White River

Black River

Jewell Brook

Bailey Brook

Knapp Pond #1 and Knapp Pond #2

Wells River

Noyes Pond (aka Seyon Pond)

Martins Pond

Waits River

Ompompanoosuc River

Ompompanoosuc River—East Branch

Ompompanoosuc River—West Branch

Ottauquechee River

Colton Pond and Kent Pond

Deerfield River

West River

Jenny Coolidge Brook and Greendale Brook

Williams River

Saxtons River

SELECTED FLY PATTERN RECIPES

Index

About the Author