Fly Fishing

Matt1515 · Location: Greensboro, NC

My career may be taking me to the Manchester, VT area. Looking for any advice or opinion on this area. I will be visiting at the end of March to check things out. Of course I know the fishing is good but as far as locations to hit, I'm at a loss. Any suggestions? Basically, any information regarding the way of life as far art, community, and most of all fishing is much appreciated. I'm from NC so the move would be a pretty big one. I am 31, married, two small kids.

waterwhippa · Location: Upstate, NY

Manchester is very Norman Rockwellesque. Typical New England town......Green Mountains are sweet. Lots of history and roots. Plenty of good fishing to be had....Battenkill...Lamoille River...etc. super liberal politics and young urban professionals....In my book, a progressive place to live. Good Luck

Shaq · Location: Adirondacks

you will enjoy that area. Of course today it's getting 2 feet of snow but the summers in VT can't be beat. within 3 hours you will have enough water so that you won't be able to fish it all in a lifetime

Matt1515 · Location: Greensboro, NC

I went on some travel and relocation sites and some of the sentiments I read are not quite as positive. I actually read that there were not many young people at all. I'm glad to hear quite the opposite. Art, music, and polotics are very important to me. Though I tend to be socially on the center and conservative economically, most of my friends are what I tease them as raging liberals. I went to college at a very liberal school so that aspect doesn't bother me at all. Just makes for interesting conversation! If I lived in Manchester, is there good fishing in the town or would I still have to travel 1-3 hours for the best of it? I'm in the center of NC now and have an hour and half drive to the mountains and 3 and half to the coast. One thing that appeals to me is the possibility of immediate fishing instead of knocking out a whole day due to travel. Are my assumptions correct? Last question- what is there to do that's fun outside of fishing? I appreciate the help. I know this is something that I have to go and find out for myself but I know a lot of you are in the northeast and familiar. I knew the best opinions were going to come from other fishers!

Boz · Location: Portland

I don't know much about Manchester proper, but like Whippa said you'd have some good local water, the Adirondacks around the corner. Not to mention, with a short days drive you can fish Great Lakes Steelhead, NE Stripers/Blues, and Trout/Salmon in upcountry NY, VT, NH, MA, and ME. My input is only based on the fishing opportunity...of course...then again, what else matters?

Shaq · Location: Adirondacks

A+ for local fishing. D- for Social Scene. If you are looking for 8 bars within walking distance with a band in all of them and a raging party scene thn you will be dissapointed. N-easterners are more like talking to your neighbor at the end of the drive, fall festival with hot cider, quaitn sunday drive people. The best social scene is the town meetings and voting days where you can converse with all sorts of lunatics and get on to all sorts of rivate land.

Matt1515 · Location: Greensboro, NC

If I worked in Manchester, are there cities near by that I could commute from easily? I grew up in Charlotte NC so I like at least to have a city nearby. The small town would take some getting used to. When I got out of college, I moved to a town outside of Raleigh, NC. When we wanted to do something, we would drive a little.

Shaq · Location: Adirondacks

Nothing that you would call a "City" Here is what the locals call "The City" Albany, NY 1.5 hrs (Has a few high rises but Not a city) Bennington VT (Not a city) Springfield, Ma (Not a city) You will be 3 hrs from Boston and 3.5 hrs from New York (Definately a city)

Matt1515 · Location: Greensboro, NC

Glad to hear that NYC is near by. My buddies that live in NY said they thought it was a much longer trip. They didn't know for sure though. I'll be taking the trip to visit next month. With it being so cold, are there still some spots in that area to fish this time of year? I'd hate to be up there even for a visit and not fish.

ChrisR · Location: Southeast Massachusetts

The Battenkill River has a 3 mile stretch in New York that is open all season. From the VT border to the Eagleville bridge. That is about it unless you want to drive a ways.