Vermont Grouse Season Closes Monday Dec 31st

The Vermont fish and game department is now selling 2013 licenses online.

Brittany Puppies

John Hayes, the breeder I use at : Kirby Mountain Kennels just had a nice litter of Brits. This is the guy I got my young dog from. These puppies were born on Thanksgiving and will be ready mid to end of January. There is one spoken for and the litter is 5 males and 5 females....these are NICE dogs! Kirby Mountain Kennels 240 Locust Ridge Road, East Burke, Vt (802) 626-5282

Contact John on facebook key words Kirby Mountain Kennels or at http://kirbymountainkennels.com/

Off season

I am tying flies and preparing ice fishing gear! New toys are arriving daily as well as tying material. A major part of off season is booking trips and getting the right people into the right dates. With that in mind, I'll nut shell to you the basic seasonal plan: Jan to March: Ice fishing, tying flies and stocking your fly box with custom orders

April: Trout season opens the second Saturday and small water for wild Brook Trout are the target. Primary method nymphing but there are afternoon hatches. I like to book afternoon half day trips. The upper Battenkill fishes very well!

May: Vermont Trophy Trout Program is in high gear. Target areas are the Black River near Ludlow, East Creek in Rutland and Otter Creek in Danby. These are very popular trips, prime dates are limited....these are really nice fish averaging from 14 to 20 inches.

June: What a GREAT month! Everything is fishing but the top choice are: the Walloomsac, Otter Creek and the Battenkill. I like to run either three quarter or full day trips.

July and August: Trout fishing is a morning affair. Targets are the Walloomsac, Battenkill and Mettawee. I also start running mountain brook trips and LAKE TRIPS for warm water species...(the DARK SIDE)...you have to try it sometime....it is common on the lake to catch 8 or 9 different species!

September: Is the time to fish the BATTENKILL...she is not for everyone but she is a gorgeous river. Lake fishing is an option too!

October: BIRD HUNTING! and Trout fishing

November: full circle

Thanks for the view, please call me to book a trip. The 2013 booking season has begun!

The Vermont regular trout season closes this coming Wednesday, October 31st 2012. I hope everyone had a great season and please check back as I will continue to post updates. Woodcock season overlaps with deer season this year. Then its looking forward to ice fishing. The 2013 booking season for prime dates and repeaters has begun... but will really get started next month. Thanks for the view!

American Woodcock back feather are really good soft hackle material!

The next 3 weeks will be primarily about Woodcock and Grouse hunting....check other the other blog at www.vermontbirdhunting.blogspot.com

This last Saturday, October 6th was an ELECTRIC DAY on the Battenkill. With a rain of leaves and debris in the water, the only option was deep indicator fishing. A size 12 Kashner Hide A Bead was the pattern. My client had a camera with him so I guess all the stars were lined up....this old jaded guide even left with a new bounce in my step. What a day! This is a true STUD! A 23" Battenkill Brown Trout

This is a 20-21" female Brown Trout

This is an average Battenkill Brown Trout

Battenkill Brook Trout are starting to get their Fall colors on! Ruffed Grouse season started today, Woodcock season opens this coming Monday October 1st. Flying ants are done and I'm not seeing any fall BWOs but they sure are a TON of Caddis around. If you hit a rock on the bottom with a fly you will pick up a caddis case. I've had a couple chances this week to finally fish some of our smaller streams. The male Brookies are getting fired up....I LOVE BROOK TROUT and WOODCOCK....thanks for the view and I'm sorry I've slipped a little on posting, it has been crazy busy this year!

Battenkill

The Flying Ant hatch has begun! I have not seen the bigger one that looks like a termite but the little brown ones have the Trout rising very well....I am still in morning mode running half day trips 7 to 11am...the southern Vermont trout fisheries seem to be faring the low water period fairly well....I have NOT seen or heard of any major fish kills....a little rain would be nice but after TS Irene kicked our a$$es last year I am afraid to do any rain dances this year....Thanks for the visit, Fall is coming....Woodcock season is set to open October 1st...please stay tuned

Battenkill Fly Fishing

Here in southern Vermont we have like most people been dealing with low water conditions. However, throughout the summer the Battenkill continues to be the place to be. Both Brook and Brown Trout are feeding on tan caddis in sizes 16 and 18, trico spinners, isonychia (Kashner ZugBugs), Black Ants, Beetles, Battenkill Shiners and Black Nose Dace Thunder Creeks...

Vermont Lake Fishing is AWESOME!

Make should to check out my spin fishing blog for warm water and lake fishing updates. copy and paste this or use the hot link on the right side bar. www.vermontspinfishing.blogspot.com

Lake fishing in Southern Vermont

This time of the year I am back and forth between river fishing and lake fishing. This week I had an A-List Regular client on the lake for his second lake trip with me. Below are his comments: “Our rivers in Vermont are beautiful but all fishermen who visit Vermont should experience the Lakes in Southern Vermont. They are beautiful and have a biomass that is truly unbelievable. There is no better way during a short trip to Vermont to take advantage of the fishing opportunities that these lakes provide than fishing it with Chuck!” “When you fish the Lakes with Chuck it is good to be open to all of the types of fishing that the Lake provides. I prefer fly fishing and fishing rivers in particular, but I am a better fisherman and fly fisherman for the time I have spent with Chuck throwing jigs, tube lures, Champlain nymphs and shiners as well as casting flies to large fish on the Big Lake. “ Sincerely, Bruce Nelson

Lake fishing is excellent right now! This Northern Pike was the biggest fish of the day at 34". Other species caught today: Largemouth and Smallmouth Bass, Pickeral, Bowfin, White Perch, Yellow Perch, Bluegills, Pumpkinseed, Crappie and a bullhead.

Southern Vermont Fly Fishing

The fly fishing for trout in southern Vermont is very good....The following bugs are hatching and are important to imitate: Tan Caddis sz 16, Blue winged olives in a small 16 or a large 18, dun caddis on the upper kill and little green stones on Farmland brook....the summertime ant and beetle patterns still remain extremely effective. I am running either half or three quarter days in the morning. This time of the year I am balancing between fly fishing river for trout and spin fishing lakes for bass and pike. Thanks for the view and don't forget the spin fishing and bird hunting blogs too.

Summertime Trout fishing in Vermont

This is the uppermost headwaters of Farmland Brook

Wild Brookies on Farmland Brook are not very common and are always a bonus to its feisty wild Rainbow Trout

The Vermont Magazine also gave me some love this year too!