Fishing at Shelburne Pond, Chittenden County, Vermont

• Overview

  Shelburne Pond lies in Chittenden County, Vermont. This is rolling bush country. It measures some 479 acres, and wind has room to build across it. Around 4.1 miles of bank, which is a long day on foot. It ranks high for size among our Chittenden County listings. You are 4.7 miles from Hinesburg. Longueuil sits 80 miles out, and it is the nearest city worth the name. Rules here are straightforward: one county, one set of rules.

• Where to Fish on Shelburne Pond

  There is no published depth for this one, so start shallow and work out. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. Across Chittenden County, recorded fish include white sucker, pumpkinseed, smallmouth bass and tessellated darter. Take it as the county picture rather than a promise for this water. Work Shelburne Pond in sections rather than trying to cover it.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The warm month here averages 69°F; the cold one sits at 17°F. The freeze arrives properly here and holds. Winter fishing happens on the ice here, with open water back around early April. Open water usually runs from early April until about mid December. Reckon on open water from spring through to late autumn, with May and June the strongest. Keep it in mind when planning a trip to Shelburne Pond.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing on record says whether the bank is open or closed. Records list it as a natural water body rather than an impoundment. The nearest recorded ramp is Shelburne Pond Boat Ramp, half a mile out. The closest car park is half a mile away, so pack accordingly. Ask in the nearest town if you are unsure. Some ground is open by custom rather than by right, so tread carefully. Lake Iroquois, 3.9 miles away, makes the obvious fallback. Rules at Shelburne Pond are worth checking on the day.