Mud Pond in Caledonia County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Set in Caledonia County, Vermont, this is Mud Pond. The bank gives way to lake country bush. The nearest town is Saint Johnsbury, 12 miles away. It is 77 miles to Sherbrooke, the nearest city. In the same area: Fosters Pond the better part of 1.5 miles, Peacham Pond within 2.9 miles, Levi Pond the better part of 2.9 miles, Osmore Pond within 3.2 miles and Lake Groton the better part of 3.7 miles. This one sits near enough to a boundary to be worth checking.

• Where to Fish on Mud Pond

  No depth figure has reached our records, which makes a plummet useful. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. This is a lake, so the margins and the first drop matter most. Caledonia County records list rainbow trout, brook trout and pumpkinseed among the fish reported. These are county-wide records, so not all of them will be in this water. The shape of Mud Pond rewards a slow walk along one bank.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The year swings from about 14°F in January to roughly 65°F in July. Cold winters and warm summers give a wide working range. Look for the thaw near mid April; the fishing lifts straight after. Going by climate averages, expect open water from about mid April until roughly early December. Reckon on open water from spring through to late autumn, with May and June the strongest. The season on Mud Pond follows the weather closely.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing on record says whether the bank is open or closed. A slipway is marked about half a mile from here. The nearest mapped parking is half a mile away, so the last stretch is on foot. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Parking is often the real limit rather than the bank itself. Fishing rules and camping rules are set separately here. Failing this one, try Fosters Pond, 1.5 miles away. For Mud Pond in particular, ask before you travel.