Fishing at Vail Pond, Caledonia County, Vermont

• Overview

  Vail Pond falls in Caledonia County, part of Vermont. The water sits 1,493 feet up. It covers about 19 acres, so this is small water you can walk round in under an hour. Lyndonville is the closest town at 12 miles. It is 49 miles to Sherbrooke, the nearest city. Others close at hand: Duck Pond (0.4 miles), Blake Pond 0.5 miles away, Marl Pond (0.7 miles), Bean Pond 0.8 miles away and Wheeler Pond (1.6 miles). A border sits close enough to be relevant to the paperwork.

• Where to Fish on Vail Pond

  Depth is unknown to us, and the shoreline is the better guide. This is a lake, so the margins and the first drop matter most. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. County-wide records name rainbow trout, brook trout and pumpkinseed. Records at county level tell you what is around, not what is stocked here. On Vail Pond a short move beats a long cast.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Average temperature peaks around 65°F in July and bottoms out near 13°F in January. A full turn of seasons, with the strongest sport on either side of summer. Ice fishing carries the winter, and the water opens about late April. The water is typically free of ice between late April and early December. Fishing peaks soon after break-up and again before the cold returns. Expect Vail Pond to follow that timing.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether the bank is open is not something our records settle. The water borders Willoughby State Forest, so reserve rules are likely to apply. Largemouth respond to soft plastics tight to cover; go weedless where the growth is heavy. Season dates differ by species, so read the table. Some ground is open by custom rather than by right, so tread carefully. For a change of water, Duck Pond is 0.4 miles distant. Confirm access to Vail Pond locally before you travel.