Wrightsville Reservoir near Montpelier: Fishing Spots, Seasons and Access

• Overview

  Look for Wrightsville Reservoir in Washington County, Vermont. What surrounds it is mixed forest. Surface area is around 181 acres, which gives you real water without needing a boat. With 4.4 miles or so of shoreline, boat anglers cover ground the bank cannot. Size puts it in the front rank of our Washington County list. Montpelier sits 4.4 miles from here and is the nearest stop. Further out sit Middlesex (5.7 miles) and Waterbury (9.1 miles). There is no boundary nearby to worry about.

• Where to Fish on Wrightsville Reservoir

  No figure exists for depth, so let the water show you. Draw-down through summer strips the margins, so follow the water out. Points where the flooded channel swings in are the reliable ones. Reported across Washington County: brook trout, rainbow trout, white sucker and brown trout. Those are county-wide records, so not every one of them will be in this water. Treat Wrightsville Reservoir as a water to read rather than to cover.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The warmest month averages 67°F, the coldest about 15°F. A solid cap is the normal state through winter. Expect a solid lid for months and a thaw around mid April. Open water usually runs from mid April until about early December. The shoulder weeks of the open season are the productive ones. Plan around that when you fish Wrightsville Reservoir.

• Tackle & Baits

  No public source sets out the position on this bank. Wrightsville Reservoir Boat Launch gives a made launch, half a mile off. You can park half a mile away and walk in from there. Toilets show in mapping about half a mile away. A phone call first saves an afternoon. Night access is frequently treated as a separate matter. The nearest alternative is Nelson Pond, 2.4 miles out. Nothing here settles the position at Wrightsville Reservoir for certain.