Hardwood Pond Fishing Guide, Washington County, Vermont

• Overview

  Hardwood Pond falls in Washington County, part of Vermont. This is mixed forest country. It measures about 50 acres, which is a comfortable size for bank fishing. A shoreline of some 1.1 miles keeps the choices simple. Hardwick sits 7 miles from the bank. It is 71 miles to Sherbrooke, the nearest city. The county edge is within a short distance of the bank.

• Where to Fish on Hardwood Pond

  Nothing we hold settles how deep this runs. 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. Across Washington County, recorded fish include brook trout, rainbow trout, white sucker and brown trout. It is the county picture; the agency list is water-specific. The shape of Hardwood Pond decides where the fish sit.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Between January at about 14°F and July at about 65°F, the water has a wide range to work through. A full turn of seasons, with the strongest sport on either side of summer. Once it clears, about mid April, the fishing comes on quickly. Break-up sits around mid April on average, with the water closing again about early December. Look to early summer and the first cool weeks of autumn. Plan any trip to Hardwood Pond around it.

• Tackle & Baits

  Who may fish here is not settled in anything we hold. It formed naturally, so levels move with rainfall rather than with a gate. Part of this sits inside or beside Worcester Woods, so read the notices. Largemouth respond to soft plastics tight to cover; go weedless where the growth is heavy. Local rules can differ across the county line, so check where you stand. Fishing rules and camping rules are set separately here. Little Pond sits 0.6 miles off and takes the overflow. Where Hardwood Pond is concerned, a local answer beats a written one.