Fishing at East Long Pond, Washington County, Vermont

• Overview

  East Long Pond belongs to Washington County, Vermont. It sits in lake country bush country. Roughly 185 acres: a morning covers one end, an afternoon the other. The bank runs about 2.9 miles all the way round, so one visit can cover most of it. Size puts it in the front rank of our Washington County list. Nearest town is Hardwick, 4.2 miles off. Morrisville is 14 miles away, with Morristown at 15 miles. The boundary is close enough to be worth checking before you fish.

• Where to Fish on East Long Pond

  No depth figure has reached our records, which makes a plummet useful. A reservoir gives you a hard edge, a shelf, and not much else. The old creek line under the surface is the feature worth finding. Survey and observation records for Washington County include brook trout, rainbow trout, white sucker, brown trout and pumpkinseed. It is the county picture; the agency list is water-specific. Fish East Long Pond where the bottom changes rather than where it looks deep.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The year swings from about 14°F in January to roughly 66°F in July. A solid cap is the normal state through winter. Once it clears, about mid April, the fishing comes on quickly. The season between ice runs from about mid April to early December. The open run goes from the thaw to the freeze, and April through October covers most of it. East Long Pond runs to that rhythm year in and year out.

• Tackle & Baits

  No public source sets out the position on this bank. Public mapping records no formal access here, so plan for a walk and soft ground. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. Ask in the nearest town if you are unsure. Some water is controlled locally without a sign saying so. The nearest alternative is Nichols Pond, 1.1 miles out. Rules at East Long Pond are worth checking on the day.