Fishing Lily Pond in Rutland County, Vermont

• Overview

  The Rutland County end of Vermont holds Lily Pond. The surroundings are pine and birch. About 19 acres of surface, which puts the far bank inside easy sight. By elevation it sits in the lower part of our Vermont listings. Nearest town is Poultney, 2.1 miles off. After that come Granville at 6.6 miles and Fair Haven at 7.5 miles. A county boundary sits nearby, which can matter for local access rules.

• Where to Fish on Lily Pond

  We hold no survey for this water; read the slope of the shoreline instead. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. Reported across Rutland County: bluegill, brook trout and brown trout. These are county-wide records, so not all of them will be in this water. On Lily Pond the obvious spot is not always the productive one.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Average temperature peaks around 69°F in July and bottoms out near 18°F in January. Expect a real winter and a strong spring after it. The lid usually sets by midwinter and gives way around early April. Going by climate averages, expect open water from about early April until roughly mid December. Early summer and early autumn carry the open-water season. That is the shape of the year on Lily Pond.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether the bank is open is not something our records settle. Expect a half a mile walk in from where the car goes. A toilet block sits 0.9 miles away. Bass water: a Texas-rigged worm near cover, a spinnerbait when you need to cover ground. A phone call first saves an afternoon. Check whether bait restrictions apply before you buy any. If the gate is shut, Lake Saint Catherine at 1.9 miles is the nearest alternative. Signs at Lily Pond carry more weight than any list.