Fishing Searsburg Reservoir in Bennington County, Vermont

• Overview

  Searsburg Reservoir is one of the Bennington County waters in Vermont. This is lake country bush ground. At roughly 16 acres, the whole thing is within casting reach of a single walk. Dover is the closest town at 7.9 miles. Then Bennington, 13 miles, and North Bennington, 15 miles. The county edge is within a short distance of the bank.

• Where to Fish on Searsburg Reservoir

  Nothing we hold settles how deep this runs. Rip-rap along the wall holds fish that the open bank never does. Draw-down through summer strips the margins, so follow the water out. Records held for Bennington County cover brook trout, brown trout and white sucker. Records at this level tell you what is in the area. The near bank of Searsburg Reservoir is often the one people ignore.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Averages here run 65°F at the top of summer and 17°F at the bottom of winter. A full turn of seasons, with the strongest sport on either side of summer. Winter fishing happens on the ice here, with open water back around mid April. Average temperatures cross freezing around mid April in spring and again near early December in autumn. Just after the ice goes and just before it returns, the fishing lifts. On Searsburg Reservoir the same rules apply, with local timing.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing on record says whether the bank is open or closed. Public data has parking about half a mile from the shore. Bass water: a Texas-rigged worm near cover, a spinnerbait when you need to cover ground. Parking is often the real limit rather than the bank itself. Barbless rules turn up on managed water more often than not. Should this one be busy, Crystal Pond is 1.9 miles off. Confirm before you fish Searsburg Reservoir.