West Hill Pond Fishing near Hardwick, Vermont

• Overview

  West Hill Pond belongs to Washington County, Vermont. The ground around here is mixed forest. Surface area is around 48 acres, which gives you real water without needing a boat. The bank runs about 1.3 miles all the way round, so one visit can cover most of it. You are 6.2 miles from Hardwick. Montpelier is 16 miles and Morrisville 16 miles. A county line runs close by, so local bylaws can differ within a short drive.

• Where to Fish on West Hill Pond

  Depth is unmeasured here, so let the shoreline guide you. Rip-rap along the wall holds fish that the open bank never does. Look for where the old bank line still shows under the surface. Survey and observation records for Washington County include brook trout, rainbow trout, white sucker, brown trout and pumpkinseed. Those are county-wide records, so not every one of them will be in this water. Treat West Hill Pond as a water to read rather than to cover.

• Seasonal Patterns

  On the long-term average, July reads 66°F and January reads 14°F. The year runs cold to warm and back, with clear transitions. Break-up comes around mid April, and the run that follows is short and strong. The water is typically free of ice between mid April and early December. Right after break-up, and again as the nights sharpen, is when to go. West Hill Pond runs to its own calendar within the local pattern.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether the bank is open is not something our records settle. West Hill Pond Access Area sits half a mile out and is marked for fishing. Bass water: a Texas-rigged worm near cover, a spinnerbait when you need to cover ground. Sort the permit out before you load the car. Where tickets apply, they are sold in the nearest town rather than on the bank. East Long Pond sits 2 miles off and takes the overflow. Signs at West Hill Pond carry more weight than any list.