Responsible Fishing in the Mad River Valley

Fishing in the Mad River Valley offers a wealth of opportunities and lovely places to wet a line. In the headwaters of the Mad River and upland tributaries an angler finds Vermont's State Cold Water fish, the wild and native brook trout in abundance. This char, not a true trout, has been in these waters since the end of the last Ice Age. This fish is renowned as one of the most beautiful of freshwater fishes. It also has many charming nicknames, in some regions locals call it a "Squaretail", in others it's the "Blackback", but mostly anglers love our "Brookie"!

In lower waters of the Mad River Valley watershed anglers can fish for stocked rainbow trout. Vermont Fish and Wildlife stocks 4,000 10-11 inch rainbows each year. Stocking occurs from the Waitsfield/Warren town line down to the Ward Access in Moretown. These fish are "triploid", sterile trout. Vermont is one of the leading states in stocking sterile trout so not as to risk any hybridization with wild fish. Stocking occurs generally around May 10th. Vermont also stocks approximately 900 triploid brookies in Blueberry Lake just after ice out. These warmer waters are chosen since they are waters unable to hold wild trout. Vermont's policy prohibits stocking over wild trout.

Catch limits in Vermont changed recently. Anglers can keep up to 8 brook, brown and rainbow trout combined in streams and up to 6 in lakes and ponds. Trout season is now open for catch and release from the last day of October to the 2nd Saturday of April. The catch limit season is between these from the 2nd Saturday in April to October 31.