Lake Carmi Fishing Guide, Franklin County, Vermont

• Overview

  You will find Lake Carmi in Franklin County, Vermont. It stands 430 feet above sea level. At some 1,415 acres it is far too large to cover on foot in a day. Some 7.5 miles of bank gives room to move when the wind turns. Of the waters listed here in Franklin County, this is the largest. The nearest town is Enosburg Falls, 5.7 miles away. Beyond it, Richford at 10 miles and Bedford at 11 miles. Two sets of local rules meet not far from this water.

• Where to Fish on Lake Carmi

  We hold no survey for this water; read the slope of the shoreline instead. Draw-down through summer strips the margins, so follow the water out. Levels move with the draw rather than the rain on water like this. Survey and observation records for Franklin County include white sucker, logperch and fantail darter. What holds for the county may not hold for this water. The shape of Lake Carmi decides where the fish sit.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Averages here run 68°F at the top of summer and 14°F at the bottom of winter. Four clear seasons, with a proper winter at one end. Hard water holds through the cold months, breaking up near mid April. Open water usually runs from mid April until about early December. June through September is the settled part of the year, with the shoulders busier for fish. Plan any trip to Lake Carmi around it.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing on record says whether the bank is open or closed. The nearest car park we can see is half a mile out, so expect a walk with your gear. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Where a permit is needed, the nearest town usually sells it. Some stretches are reserved and marked as such on the ground. Bullis Pond at 4.4 miles is the sensible second choice. None of that is settled for Lake Carmi in what we hold.