Castleton, VT Fishing: Vermont’s Scenic Gem

Nestled in Rutland County, Vermont is a town brimming with old-fashioned charm going by the equally whimsical name of Castleton. Endowed with vast lakes surrounded by mountains and lush greenery, Castleton, VT should be on your bucket list as the most tranquil fishing location you’ll ever visit.

The town was chartered in 1761 and had its first few settlers by 1770. Castleton’s famous landmark, Birdseye Mountain, is named after Colonel Amos Bird, one of the town’s first settlers. During the 1770s, it was the site of famous battles, memorialized by the preservation of the Hubbardton Battlefield. Despite the fires and wars that have occurred on Castleton territory, the town has managed to keep much of its 200-year-old architecture. Castleton’s gothic appeal is best demonstrated by Main Street, a mile-long tree-clad road packed with Greek Revival and Federal-style buildings and houses. Main Street is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Being a town of quaint character and well-preserved historical sites, Castleton has a rich fishing scene with several state parks such as Bomoseen and Half Moon Pond. The town’s wet continental climate means it has cold, snowy winters that are perfect for ice fishing, and warm summers for bass fishing. Castleton is the quiet, historical fishing destination you’ve been dreaming of.

Castleton Fishing

Castleton’s tranquil water bodies and verdant surroundings make for the most relaxing and meditative fishing experience you’ll ever have. In Half Moon Pond State Park, motorized watercraft are prohibited so as not to disturb the peaceful environment. Half Moon Pond is located within Bomoseen State Park and boasts a breathtaking waterfront location that’s ideal for campers, hikers, and anglers. The fish on the menu here include largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, yellow perch, rock bass, crappie, and pumpkinseed sunfish. In the sprawling 3,576-acre Bomoseen State Park, you can also find Lake Bomoseen, the largest lake with its entirety located within Vermont. Nearby is Glen Lake, home to fish such as largemouth bass, rainbow trout, chain pickerel, rock bass, and pumpkinseed.

To preserve the area’s biodiversity, catch-and-release bass fishing is available all year round in Vermont, though the best months to experience it are April and May, known as catch-and-release season. During this time, live bait is prohibited and anglers must stick to artificial lures. The best lures for bass fishing in Castleton include jerkbaits, slow-rolled spinnerbaits, crankbaits, and yellow-green lures designed to imitate bluegill and crayfish.

As with most other water bodies, the key to catching fish is by using the season and the weather to inform your navigation. Largemouth and smallmouth bass spend the winter in the deeper regions of Vermont lakes. When water temperatures warm in March and April, you can find them in shallower waters for their spawning season. Apart from bass, another family of fish that populate the waters of Castleton is panfish, such as pumpkinseed, bluegill, rock bass, and crappie. Pumpkinseed are the most common panfish and can be caught with pole fishing, still fishing, and baitcasting with bobber rigs and worms. Fly fishing is another common technique that can be used on pumpkinseed. The best lures for this technique include nymph flies and insects that are colored red, yellow, white, or black. These mimic the average pumpkinseed diet of small crustaceans, mollusks, snails, minnow fry, aquatic insects, and mosquito larvae. The largest of the species that was caught in Vermont weighed 1 pound and 14 ounces and was caught in Lake Bomoseen in 2012.

Bluegill are known for hunting for prey during dusk and dawn. If you’re fishing with children, these are a good species to target as they don’t require much skill to catch. They have a small mouth, so jig fishing with small hooks is effective. You can also use float rigs or bobbers with worms. Rock bass are another beginner-friendly panfish. They typically dwell along drop-offs, boulders, rocky areas, docks, and vegetation. They also gravitate towards shallow areas with slow currents and clear water. Like bluegill, crappie are best caught during dusk and dawn by fly fishing with either wet or dry flies. They can also be caught with small crankbaits, panfish jigs, and spinners. The best spots for crappie are beneath bushes or trees.

Another game fish you can find at Castleton is chain pickerel, a member of the pike family. They’re known for their ability to put up a good fight, as well as their sharp teeth. Be sure to use a stronger line such as a 12-17 steel test line. Their preferred baits and lures include crayfish, frogs, and mice. You can try making the bait look like injured prey by jerking it occasionally. Chain pickerel are partial to swamps, so be sure to look for them in areas with vegetation.

Given the town’s rich fishing locations, it plays host to various fishing tournaments such as the Sunday Trail and Rutland Bass Club Tournaments. In the winter, there is the Castleton Lion’s Annual Ice Fishing Derby. In the fall, the town is a part of the statewide Annual Fall Panfish Tournament.
 

Top 10 Fish Species in Castleton, VT

The top 10 species of fish in Castleton, VT are largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, yellow perch, chain pickerel, rock bass, pumpkinseed, bluegill, crappie, northern pike, and rainbow trout.

Seasonal Fishing

Castleton’s lakes offer great fishing opportunities for most of the year, with ice fishing in the winter season and regular fishing March through July. During ice fishing season, the fish that are up for grabs are northern pike, bass, trout, and perch. Come the start of spring in March, the waters begin to teem with chain pickerel, rock bass, bluegill, pumpkinseed, northern pike, largemouth bass, and smallmouth bass.

During the winter, largemouth bass and smallmouth bass retreat to deeper parts of the lakes. They are best caught right before their short spawning season, which takes place from March to April. These bass are too difficult to catch in the middle of their nesting season. Right before spawning, bass gather in large numbers along shorelines and are easy to catch. Anglers who make the most of the pre-spawning season can catch as many as 50-75 bass in a day. Pre-spawning bass love to linger along rocky shorelines in particular, so look for rocky bottoms.

Be One With Nature in Castleton

1.Spend the day at Bomoseen State Park

Castleton’s sprawling state park has many activities to offer apart from just fishing. Go for a swim on the beach and soak up the sun, or go on a scenic hike overlooking the water. Come nightfall, pitch a tent and fall asleep under the stars.

2. Go to a Rodeo at Pond Hill Ranch

After fifty years of hosting weekly rodeos, Pond Hill Ranch knows a thing or two about how to keep its visitors entertained. The ranch claims to be the largest horse leasing service in the east and offers horses for lease, sale, or trail rides. Book an appointment to learn horseback riding and witness the ranch’s evergreen beauty during your ride.