Fishing Little Lake in Rutland County, Vermont

• Overview

  Out in Rutland County, Vermont, sits Little Lake. Around the bank it is mixed forest. The water covers some 171 acres, so pick a bank rather than trying to cover it all. Few waters listed in Rutland County are bigger. The nearest town is Granville, 3.3 miles away. For a city, Albany is 61 miles off. The boundary is close enough to be worth checking before you fish.

• Where to Fish on Little Lake

  Depth is unknown to us, and the shoreline is the better guide. Where the bottom changes texture, fish gather; find that line. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. Rutland County records list bluegill, brook trout, brown trout, white sucker and largemouth bass among the fish reported. Records at this level tell you what is in the area. On Little Lake a short move beats a long cast.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Long-run averages give July about 69°F and January about 18°F. Expect a real winter and a strong spring after it. The open season starts with the thaw, near enough early April. Averages suggest open water from about early April through to roughly mid December. The weeks after the thaw and the ones before the freeze are the strongest. The season on Little Lake rarely departs from it.

• Tackle & Baits

  The access position is unclear from public sources. The nearest recorded ramp is Lake Saint Catherine boat access, half a mile out. There is a car park half a mile from the bank. A pier half a mile from here gives a platform over deeper water. There are toilets mapped about half a mile away. Local rules can differ across the county line, so check where you stand. Access can change hands, so last year's answer may not hold. Treat Little Lake as unsettled until someone local tells you otherwise.