Whitingham, VT Fishing: Angling in A Mountain Oasis

Located in Windham County, Whitingham is a town that can be found in the very south of Vermont. The town is bordered by the other towns of Readsboro to its west, Wilmington to the north, and Halifax to its east. It also sits high on the Green Mountains, bordering Massachusetts. Its name comes from a landholder named Nathan Whiting. The town was founded in 1770 and has been the birthplace of many notable people including Brigham Young, the founder of Salt Lake City, Utah, and who was in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as its second president.

Whitingham is a combination of farmland and forests that possesses mountains as its backdrop, making for a beautifully diverse landscape. The town is easily accessible especially for those coming from New York, Connecticut, New Jersey and Massachusetts, as many from those places own second homes in the town, and more often than not decide to reside there full time. With elevations that reach up to 2000 feet, Whitingham is a great winter destination as farms, mountains, forests and lakes offer a variety of fun things to do such as cross-country skiing, snow shoeing, snow mobiles and other winter sports. Though the mountain air during the summer also makes it a great summer spot as well, with biking, hiking, sailing, boating and other water sports offered. Whitingham’s village center, the Whitingham Village Historic District, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Anglers looking for a place to enjoy country life without having to look too far should consider Whitingham as it offers a lot of fishing opportunities all year round, with scenic lakes and rivers within reach. 

Whitingham, VT Fishing

With farms, mountains and forests surrounding rivers and lakes in Whitingham, anglers are offered breathtaking views while going onshore or offshore freshwater fishing. With the town promoted as a great all-season destination, anglers can visit anytime of the year and expect to be left with a great experience.

Flowing right through the middle of Whitingham starting from Wilmington, there is the Harriman Reservoir, also known as Lake Whitingham. The meandering lake is the largest body of water situated entirely within the state. Anglers wanting to fish its cold and clear waters can hook species such as largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, rainbow trout, brook trout, brown trout, lake trout, Atlantic salmon, yellow perch, rock bass, pumpkinseed, and chain pickerel. Its waters are managed for salmon fisheries and are stocked annually with one or more fish species. Whether one opts to fish from the shore by baitcasting, spinning or fly fishing, or go fishing by boat on the open water, they can do so at the almost 10-mile lake. The watershed also makes for a great ice fishing spot during the winter. There is a paved boat ramp at its north with an assisting dock on Fairview Avenue as well as a car top launch at the end of Woods Road. There is also a gravel boat ramp at the south end of the lake on Brick House Road. The lake is also a popular place for boating, paddling and swimming with its waters going right up against the rise of the Green Mountains, offering a breathtaking view no matter what activity one does in its waters.

Also located in the middle of the town, east of Lake Whitingham is Lake Clara. The much smaller lake offers good bass fishing with largemouth bass the main target for anglers. One can access the six-acre lake through Faulkner Road. Traveling down, there is Sadawga Pond which is one of the popular fishing areas in the town. It offers shoreline fishing opportunities or anglers can launch their boats on the access area found on Sadawga Lake Road. Fish species that can be found in the lake’s waters are largemouth bass, chain pickerel, yellow perch, pumpkinseed, panfish, channel catfish, northern pike and bullhead. Spinning, baitcasting and jigging are popularly done at the lake with ice fishing also a viable option when its top waters are frozen.

Aside from lake fishing, anglers can also go river fishing in Whitingham with part of the Deerfield River located at the town’s southwest. Wild trout as well as stocked trout, including tiger trout, can be found throughout its stretch. Fish like smallmouth bass, walleye, and shad are also favorite targets in the river. White sucker, American eel, common carp, fallfish, landlocked salmon, largemouth bass, northern pike, black bullhead, rock bass, yellow perch, muskellunge, rainbow smelt, and crappie can also be found in its waters. Because its banks are abundant with vegetation, the waters along it and its small tributaries provide great conditions to support a wide array of fish as well as sensitive aquatic species. Plentiful food for game fish such as caddis, mayflies, and stoneflies is also held in the river. Excellent spots to cast a line are on top of massive granite boulders by the banks. Deeper parts of the river can be navigated using rafts and boats.

Number Nine Brook, found in the south of the town, is another spot where anglers can hook smallmouth bass and rock bass. Its waters are connected to the Harriman Reservoir so a lot of the same species are found moving through the stream. Situated to the right of the brook is North Pond that can be accessed from Kentfield Road where anglers can find similar fish species as well. 

More fishing can be done to the east of Whitingham where Ryder Pond and Jacksonville Pond are located. Ryder Pond is a good area to catch chain pickerel, yellow perch, pumpkinseed and black bullhead while in Jacksonville Pond, anglers can catch largemouth bass, carp, black bullhead, chain pickerel, bluegill and red drum. Both ponds have dam areas that are the most viable fishing spots.

Every year the Whitingham Firemen’s Association holds a Fishing Derby on Lake Sadawga. Contestants try to catch the heaviest perch and pickerel in a span of a day. Children can also participate in the event. During the winter, the Deerfield Valley Sportsmen's Club Inc. holds the Harriman Ice Fishing Derby in which children can also take part. 

Top 10 Fish Species in Whitingham, VT

The top 10 fish species found in Whitingham, Vermont are largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, rainbow trout, brook trout, brown trout, lake trout, Atlantic salmon, yellow perch, pumpkinseed, and chain pickerel.

Seasonal Fishing

Vermont has a detailed list of fishing seasons for a variety of species, including specifically for ice fishing, that anglers can check online. Bass fishing is open from June to November with a daily limit of no more than five that anglers can keep. There is a catch and release season for bass that occurs from December to June. Fishing for trout and landlocked salmon is open from April to October. Most species that can be caught in Whitingham like crappie, muskellunge, northern pike, rainbow smelt and yellow perch can be targeted all year round even during ice fishing season. Walleye can be caught from May to March. Shad season is from April to October with it being for catch and release only.

Discover More in Whitingham

Rich in nature and history, Whitingham offers a vast array of things to do despite its small size. The endless views it offers and its interesting community are worth checking out when people want to visit a country-like area that’s very accessible.

1. Book a Fishing Charter

As Whitingham holds part of Vermont’s largest body of water, fishing is a popular activity offered there. Fishing charters can be booked so anglers have the opportunity to experience a more productive fishing trip. Boat rentals as well as bait and tackle shops can be found near or around fishing spots located throughout the town.

2. Delve Into the Past

Whitingham’s village center is listed in the National Register of Historic Places, making it a proven place to go and learn about the town’s history. People can visit the Whitingham Historical Society Museum located in the center of the Historic District at Green Mountain Hall where they can see how life was lived in the town centuries ago. One can also sign up for a historic tour of Whitingham while riding a bike or car.

3. Snowy Fun

Because of its mountainous landscape, Whitingham is a great winter destination where one can go cross-country skiing, snow shoeing, snowmobiling and do other winter sports at some of the top snow-making destinations in the country like Deerfield Valley and Mount Snow Resort that are found in the town’s north. Another great place to do winter sports including hiking is the Catamount Trail which starts from the Massachusetts border to the Harriman Dam in Whitingham.