Valley Lake Fishing near Hardwick, Vermont

• Overview

  Valley Lake sits within Washington County in Vermont. It stands 1,211 feet above sea level. Surface area is around 92 acres, which gives you real water without needing a boat. The bank runs about 1.9 miles all the way round, so one visit can cover most of it. For supplies, Hardwick is 5.3 miles out. Morrisville is 11 miles and Morristown 12 miles. Being near a boundary, it pays to know which side you are fishing.

• Where to Fish on Valley Lake

  There is no recorded depth, so work from what you can see. The arms fish better than the open middle whenever the water is up. Held water runs deepest at the wall and shallows back to the inflow. Open biodiversity records for Washington County list brook trout, rainbow trout, white sucker, brown trout and pumpkinseed. Species recorded across the county may be limited to a few waters. Valley Lake fishes better once you know its edges.

• Seasonal Patterns

  In an average year July sits at 65°F and January at 14°F. Cold locks it up for a good stretch each year. The open season starts with the thaw, near enough mid April. Break-up sits around mid April on average, with the water closing again about early December. June through September is the settled part of the year, with the shoulders busier for fish. It holds true on Valley Lake more years than not.

• Tackle & Baits

  Access status is simply unknown for this water. A boat ramp sits about half a mile from the water. You will be walking about half a mile from the nearest car park. Largemouth respond to soft plastics tight to cover; go weedless where the growth is heavy. Rules for this water may differ from the county norm. Rules for boats are stricter than rules for the bank in many places. The nearest alternative is Walton Pond, 0.6 miles out. Nothing here settles the position at Valley Lake for certain.