Fishing Season: Year round. Nov. 1 to Friday before 2nd Sat. in April, catch and release only

Black River - VT

Fishing Outlook & Conditions

Water Temp:

31

Woodstock Inn's Tip of the Week

Flows are good but as of Monday morning the gauge was frozen with the last reading on Sunday being 320 CFS. Safe wading is under 550-600 CFS. Consider fishing later in the day as flows come down when the temps warm up and get the bugs and fish moving around. Watch the snow and ice on the banks. Rocks can be slippery, exercise safe wading and consider a wading stick. During hatches, fish are keying in on nymphs like Blue Winged Olives, BH Hare's Ear with flash, Prince Nymphs, Copper Johns and Caddis nymphs like Zug Bugs and Green Hare's Ears. Keeping your distance and not spooking fish at clear and low flows is important. Ripping colorful (orange, yellow, green, red streamers may get their attention. Midweek and Weekend updates can be found on Instagram/Facebook at @woodstockfishingguides. THE WOODSTOCK INN & RESORT FLY SHOP @ the Activity Center is CLOSED for the season BUT... we will are OPEN in the Woodstock Inn & Resort Nordic Center from 9AM-4pm Daily!

Directions open in app

Map of Black River

Water Flow Data

Tidal Conditions

5-Day Outlook as of 1/30/23

Get out and fish earlier in the week as overnight lows on Thursday will be 8F, Friday -17F and Saturday a high of 3 and low of -5F. Sunday warms up with a high of 33 F but ice may still be around. THE WOODSTOCK INN & RESORT Pop-Up FLY SHOP is now OPEN in the Woodstock Inn & Resort Nordic Center (Located at the Woodstock Country Club) from 9 AM-4 PM Daily for your fly fishing needs and holiday gift ideas.

Techniques & Tips as of 1/30/23

Slow and low. Nymphs. Streamers. Swinging weighted flies or nymphing to get down deep. Fish were aggressively hitting streamers once you got them down to them, then they would follow. THE WOODSTOCK INN & RESORT Pop-Up FLY SHOP is now OPEN in the Woodstock Inn & Resort Nordic Center (Located at the Woodstock Country Club) from 9 AM-4 PM daily for your fly fishing needs and holiday gift ideas.

Local Species Available Year round. Nov. 1 to Friday before 2nd Sat. in April, catch and release only

  • Fish Icon

    Trout

Woodstock Inn's Recommended Fly Patterns

"Must-have" fly fishing patterns in descending order of importance:

Name: Colors: Size(s):
Flying Ant Olive
Chernobyl Ant N/A
Hopper White
Cream Variant N/A
Stonefly Nymphs green 16
Wooley Buggers Black/Green 8
Quasimodo Pheasant Tail N/A
Bead Head American Pheasant Tail N/A
Streamers White/Green 4
Copper John N/A

Flying Ant

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Item #54E6

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Woodstock Inn's Recommended Gear

Description: About Black River

One of Vermont’s “Trophy Trout” stocking program rivers. Fish the Black River along Route 131 in Weathersfield and Cavendish, from Downers covered bridge upstream (approximately 4 miles) to the next bridge across the river, the Howard Hill bridge. Brook, Brown, and Rainbow Trout: length limit, none; daily limit, 2 trout aggregate Open year-round from Howard Hill bridge downstream to CT River. Nov. 1 to Friday before the second Saturday in April, open ONLY TO TROUT FISHING (Catch and Release Only) using artificial flies and lures.

Nearest Airport:

Lebanon, NH, Rutland, VT, Boston, MA, Burlington, VT

Hatches:

Hopper Crayfish Sculpin Caddis

Best Time to Fish:

Early morning

Best Stretch:

Route 131 in Weathersfield and Cavendish, from covered bridge near Downer's Corners, upstream to Howard Hill Rd. bridge.

Best Access:

Trophy Section