I don’t know about you, but I am glad that warmer weather is finally here. These past couple days have been fantastic weather in the seventies and eighties. As a VT Fishing Guide, I’m loving this Spring weather for fishing. It’s almost like we skipped spring and went directly to summer weather.  In some parts of Vermont, you will still find snow on the ground, but that won’t last long with the warm weather here. With the warm weather, we have seen fast currents and rising cloudy waters to fish in. Here’s what you can fish this spring season.

Lake Seymour

Lake Seymour’s population of big lake trout are taken off the bottom with live suckers, cut bait or large jigging lures. To catch these big fish, you need to have lots of patience. Trout are slow-moving, cautious and tentative fish. Big lake trout can average around 10 to 15 pounds. Often they can grab your bait without tripping your flag, moving the bobber or tugging your line immediately. A key note on fishing big lake trout, cast, wait, then take up some of the slack slowly to see if there is a fish on the line. Assume you have a fish!

Green Mountain National Forest

By mid-April, most of the trout streams in Vermont will be free of ice and run clear. This is the angler’s dream time. Start at the Manchester Center and fish the streams along the roads and bridges in the Green Mountain National Forest. Look for the deepest darkest waters; trout like to hide out in these spots. This is a great place to fish during the months of April and May while waters a cool and clear.

The best type of bait to use for trout in these areas are garden worms, nymphs, and small wet flies. Don’t be shy about getting into the difficult spots with deep pools.

Lake Champlain

In May, the snow pretty much is gone which means Lake Champlain 600 mile long shoreline which is filled with bays, islands and plenty of fishing holes with great action are ready to fish. Your choice of fish to catch is trout and salmon. Both of these species will react to trollers using minnow-imitation lures, plugs, and streamers. If you want to get some live minnow bait, that’s even better. Salmon is super active in the springtime, so plan on being on the water the whole day!