Fishing at Chipman Lake, Rutland County, Vermont

• Overview

  Set in Rutland County, Vermont, this is Chipman Lake. It sits at 1,198 feet above sea level. It runs to roughly 80 acres — big enough to hold fish away from the bank, small enough to learn. The bank runs about 1.4 miles all the way round, so one visit can cover most of it. The closest town, Danby, is 4.6 miles away. Beyond it, Clarendon at 8.1 miles and Pawlet at 8.5 miles. This one is safely inside the county line.

• Where to Fish on Chipman Lake

  Depth went unrecorded, which puts the reading back on you. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. This is a lake, so the margins and the first drop matter most. Survey and observation records for Rutland County include bluegill, brook trout and brown trout. What holds for the county may not hold for this water. On Chipman Lake a short move beats a long cast.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Expect July near 67°F and January near 17°F on the long-run figures. Winter shuts the surface down for months. The lid usually sets by midwinter and gives way around mid April. From about mid April to around early December, expect open water on the long-run figures. Late spring and early autumn carry the year between them. At Chipman Lake the season follows that pattern closely.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether the bank is open is not something our records settle. Records list it as a natural water body rather than an impoundment. There is no mapped parking or launch close by, which usually means walking in. Bass water: a Texas-rigged worm near cover, a spinnerbait when you need to cover ground. Ask in the nearest town if you are unsure. Signs go up and come down, so check on the day. For a change of water, Danby Pond is 3.2 miles distant. Nothing on Chipman Lake should be assumed from this page alone.