Local River and Fishing Info
The Passumpsic River and East Branch
The Passumpsic River, stretching 22.7 miles, is a tributary of the Connecticut River and uniquely flows through all three counties of Vermont’s Northeast Kingdom. Its origins lie in the West Branch, which begins at the east side of Newark Pond, and the East Branch, starting about half a mile southeast of Sukes Pond in Brighton. These branches converge in Lyndonville, and the river continues its journey southward, eventually joining the Connecticut River.
The main stem meanders through Lyndonville and St. Johnsbury, offering clear, cool waters that support a healthy aquatic ecosystem. Annually, the state stocks this section with several hundred two-year-old Brown and Rainbow trout, ranging from 12 to 18 inches. Many of these fish become successful holdovers, growing into large, beautifully marked trout—especially browns that adapt quickly and often migrate through long stretches of the river. For fly anglers, this stretch offers a blend of technical pocket water and long glides, making it ideal for drift trips during the spring and early summer months, when flows are prime for floating and fish are actively feeding.
The East Branch, originating in Brighton, flows south-southeast, with Vermont Route 114 nearly paralleling its course. Along its journey, it receives waters from tributaries like Jack Brook, Mill Brook, King Brook, Bean Brook, Whetstone Brook, Flower Brook, Duck Pond, Dish Mill Brook, and Mountain Brook. This is true headwater brook trout country—unstocked and entirely wild. Tight quarters, steep gradients, and cold water even in summer make it ideal for lightweight rods and dry-dropper setups. Brook trout here are small but vibrantly colored and willing, and anglers should expect solitude and thick cover.
The lower Passumpsic, near its confluence with the Connecticut River, holds one of the more overlooked gems of the Northeast Kingdom’s trout waters. The Nine Islands area—where the river fans out into braided side channels and woody structure before merging into the Connecticut—supports a strong wild brown trout population. These fish are naturally reproducing and thrive in the cool groundwater inputs, abundant food sources, and ample cover this complex delta-like system provides. Fly anglers working streamers or nymphs along the seams of these islands during early morning or evening hours can encounter surprisingly large wild browns. This section is best accessed by canoe or kayak and offers a remote, exploratory feel even though it’s minutes from town.
Seasonal Hatches:
Hendricksons and early black stoneflies appear in late April and May. As waters warm into June, sulphurs, March browns, and tan caddis become dominant. Tricos and terrestrials take over in mid-summer, and blue-winged olives return in the fall. Tight-line nymphing and attractor dries produce year-round.
The Clyde River
The Clyde River begins at Spectacle Pond in Island Pond and flows 33.5 miles before entering Lake Memphremagog in Newport. It links lakes, wetlands, and hardwood bottomlands, providing a mosaic of prime fish habitat. Sections of the Clyde are rated Class I–III whitewater, while other reaches are ideal for drift boats or slow rafts.
The Clyde supports wild and stocked trout, lake trout migrants, and—most uniquely—a recovering run of landlocked Atlantic salmon. The lower river near Newport is historically a salmon spawning ground. Native brook trout inhabit upper stretches, joined by wild browns and stocked rainbows in the middle reaches. Drift trips from Island Pond to Charleston offer technical fly fishing and solitude.
In recent years, the Clyde has become the focal point of a major salmon recovery effort. With dam removals and installation of a fish ladder, salmon are again returning to the river to spawn. Thousands of smolts are stocked annually, and more adult fish return each fall. The lower Clyde offers one of Vermont’s most exciting fall swing fisheries for salmon.
Seasonal Hatches:
Spring brings black stones and BWO mayflies. Hendricksons arrive by May, followed by strong caddis and tan mayfly hatches. Golden stoneflies appear in fast water. Grasshoppers and ants dominate summer. BWOs and soft hackles shine in the fall, especially for salmon.
Paul Stream
Paul Stream begins on the north side of West Mountain in Ferdinand and winds nearly 180 degrees around the base before joining the Connecticut River in Brunswick. It collects flows from the North Branch, Madison Brook, South America Pond, and later receives Granby Stream and Wilke, Tolman, and Fitch Brooks.
This is a true backcountry brook trout fishery, flowing through spruce bogs and remote glades of the West Mountain Wildlife Management Area. The stream supports a native brook trout population that thrives in the cold, tannic water and beaver ponds scattered throughout. According to Vermont Trout Hikes, this stream is one of the best options for anglers seeking solitude and wild fish without the need for technical gear or long approaches.
Seasonal Hatches:
Early season features black stones and BWO hatches. Hendricksons emerge in early May, followed by tan caddis and light cahills. Terrestrials dominate midsummer, and BWO activity resumes in fall. Walk-and-wade access is excellent along over 12 miles of dirt roads.
The Nulhegan River
The Nulhegan River is a 15.1-mile tributary of the Connecticut River, flowing through the remote boreal forests of Vermont’s Northeast Kingdom. Originating from Nulhegan Pond in Brighton, it meanders eastward through Ferdinand and Brunswick before joining the Connecticut River in Bloomfield. The river’s North and East Branches, draining vast tracts of the Silvio O. Conte National Fish and Wildlife Refuge, offer pristine habitats for wild brook trout.
Anglers will find the Nulhegan’s waters teeming with native brook trout, particularly in the upper reaches and tributaries. The river’s cold, clear waters, coupled with its diverse aquatic insect populations, create ideal conditions for fly fishing. Access points along Vermont Route 105 and the Nulhegan River Trail provide entry to prime fishing spots, while the river’s meandering course through wetlands and forests offers both wading and canoeing opportunities.
From late April through mid-June, Gibbs Guides offers spring drift trips down rarely accessed stretches of the mainstem using purpose-built watercraft suited to remote wilderness flows. Most of the river is technical and lightly pressured. Fishing a small streamer behind every boulder and drop-off yields explosive hits from brookies that haven’t seen many artificial flies.
According to Vermont Trout Streams, the Nulhegan is among the top ten brook trout fisheries in the state. The river is fed by dozens of cold springs and bog seeps, which keep water temps low well into the summer. Tributaries like the Black Branch and North Branch are productive in their own right—tight, fast, and crawling with feisty fish.
Seasonal Hatches:
Spring: Black stoneflies and blue-winged olives emerge as early as April, followed by Hendricksons and March browns in May.
Summer: June brings sulphurs and tan caddis, with terrestrials like ants and beetles becoming effective in July and August.
Fall: Blue-winged olives return in September, providing excellent dry fly action for aggressive brookies preparing for winter.
The Lamoille River
The Lamoille River begins in the hills above Glover and flows westward across northern Vermont to Lake Champlain. Its headwaters are small and brushy, home to wild brook trout that flourish in cool, spring-fed water. As it flows through Hardwick, Wolcott, and Johnson, it becomes one of Vermont’s premier freestone trout rivers.
The middle river—from Morrisville to Fairfax—holds good numbers of wild brown trout and receives spring stocking of both browns and rainbows. These mid-reaches are especially productive due to cool tributary inflows and long stretches of riffles and pools. Drift trips are possible during the spring and fall.
Public access is excellent along Route 15 and through several state fishing access sites and bridge crossings. Summer flows can become low and clear—perfect for sight-fishing but requiring stealth and lighter tippets.
Seasonal Hatches:
April begins with BWOs and early black stones. Hendricksons follow in early May, with caddis, March browns, and sulphurs ramping up through June. Golden stones and isonychias mark the high point of early summer. Terrestrials dominate in August. September and October offer a second wind with BWO and slate drake activity.
The Connecticut River (Canaan to Bloomfield)
The Connecticut River from Canaan to Bloomfield is one of the Northeast Kingdom’s most overlooked yet highly productive trout fisheries. The river here varies from long glides and slow bends to deep runs and technical riffles, providing a wide range of water types to explore. The section supports healthy populations of wild brook and brown trout, plus stocked rainbows and a seasonal run of landlocked Atlantic salmon.
The New Hampshire Fish & Game Department stocks this reach annually, but many fish overwinter or holdover in deep pools and cold springs. Access is abundant via Route 114 and Route 102, with gravel pull-offs, state access sites, and informal launch points used by both wade anglers and floaters. Drift trips are absolutely the best option for accessing these portions of the river and are almost always available during the season.
Seasonal Hatches:
Early Spring: Black stones, BWOs, and midges dominate in April. Minnow pattern streamers and articulated streamers and wooly buggers. Egg sucking leeches.
May–June: Hendricksons, BWO’s, paraleps, and caddis begin in force.
Summer: Sulphurs and golden stones in June, with tricos and terrestrials throughout July and August. More Caddis
Fall: BWOs and olive spinners; streamer fishing peaks in late September through October.
Barton, Black, and Willoughby Rivers
Barton River
Flows northward from Crystal Lake through Orleans before entering Lake Memphremagog. Upper reaches offer wild brook and brown trout. Lower reaches near Coventry offer pike and smallmouth. Crystal Lake outlet provides consistent coldwater input. Vermont Trout Streams notes this as one of the most accessible and stable wild trout rivers in the Kingdom.
Seasonal Hatches:
Black stones, Hendricksons, March browns in spring; caddis and sulphurs in June; terrestrials in summer; and BWOs in fall.
Black River
The Black River near Newport, Vermont, in the Northeast Kingdom (NEK), offers a diverse and rewarding fishing experience. Originating in the northern NEK, the river flows through Irasburg and Coventry before emptying into Lake Memphremagog’s South Bay. This stretch is known for its cold, clear waters that provide ideal habitats for brook, brown, and rainbow trout. Anglers can also encounter perch, catfish, and walleye in these waters . The river’s varied environments, from swift riffles to deep pools, cater to different fishing techniques, including fly fishing with nymphs and streamers, as well as spin fishing with lures or live bait. Spring and early summer are particularly productive seasons, with trout actively feeding after winter and during spawning runs.
Access to the Black River is facilitated by several fishing access areas maintained by the Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department . One notable stretch is the lower Black River, which meanders through the South Bay Wildlife Management Area, offering anglers a serene setting amidst diverse wildlife . This area is especially appealing for those seeking a tranquil fishing experience away from crowded spots. The river’s accessibility, combined with its scenic surroundings and healthy fish populations, make it a favored destination for anglers seeking both relaxation and the thrill of landing a variety of fish species.
Seasonal Hatches:
Spring: Hendricksons and BWOs. Summer: sulphurs, caddis, ants, beetles. Fall: streamers and olives.
Willoughby River
Cold, clear water from Lake Willoughby supports strong rainbow and brook trout populations. Known for lake-run steelhead-style rainbows each spring out of Lake Memphremagog. Sight-fishing downstream of the bridge at Willoughby Falls is a seasonal highlight. Runs of suckers and brown trout often follow the steelhead into the river.
Seasonal Hatches:
Early: BWOs and midges. May–June: Hendricksons, March browns, tan caddis. Summer: terrestrials. Spring and Fall: olives and egg or worm patterns for migratory fish.
The Coaticook and The Pherrin Drainage
The Coaticook River in Vermont is located in and near the town of Norton. The source of the Coaticook River is Norton Pond and is another north flowing river in The Northeast Kingdom. Coaticook River is an Abenaki name meaning " river of the land of the white pine". It flows north with approximately 4.2 miles in Vermont before it crosses the international border into Canada.It eventually becomes part of the St Lawrence River watershed in Quebec. The river along the Vermont is reasonably narrow and crosses through both forested and an agricultural valley and is roughly paralleded by a railway and by Vt Rte 114 on the east side. The Coaticook boasts wild brown and brook trout.
The Pherrins River is a tributary of the Clyde River flowing is Essex and Orleans counties. The valley of the Pherrins is a connecting passage between Island Pond and Norton Pond the headwaters of the Coaticook River that flows north into Quebec.
The headwaters of the Pherrins River is located in the area of Warrens Gore on the northwest flank of Bluff Mountain in Essex county.The river meanders it's way approximately 9.9 miles through forest, marsh, and agricultural landscapes before flowing into the Clyde River about 6/10 of a mile below where The Clyde River mouth of Island Pond starts. It is part of the Lake Memphremagog watershed. The brook trout found in the Pherrins are native fish not hatchery fish and are part of the VTFWCG's Native Brook Trout Initiative that promotes the unique, valuable, and irreplaceable resource that serve as indicators of the watersheds they inhabit.
A hidden gem for a reason, the Pherrin’s is a difficult and tight stream that runs high in the spring and has deep buckets and pockets which make for difficult wading, combined with overhanging trees.