The Battenkill is a storied river in American angling and it also happens to be one of the local rivers that I get to fly fish fairly regularly. The river has many moods and doesn’t give up its secrets very readily, but for the adventurous angler (one willing to walk) there are many nooks and crannies to explore. The video that accompanies this fish-tale encompasses three trips to the Battenkill River. The fly fishing took place from both the New York and the Vermont sides of the Battenkill river. The anglers were ChrisR, Shaq, msyelf and a new friend Doug. I have exclusively explored the NY side of the Battenkill river and have had many days of good fly fishing, but not with dry flies. Most of my fish had been caught with streamers and nymphs. Doug invited me to fly fish the Vermont side of the Battenkill river and to see the trico hatch. What a treat to see numerous little 6-8 inch wild Brookies steadily feeding on the size 24 spinners. Although I couldn’t get a good picture of them we really got into the Brook Trout. There were pods of fish rising steadily to the spent spinners. We were using #22 and #24 spinners on 7X and getting a long and drag free drift was crucial. I can’t even count how many trout I missed because of pulling the fly out of their mouths without a hookset. I have never been a fan of fishing to fish from an upstream position for this very reason, as I have never gotten good at getting consistent hook sets from that angle. However, I had a blast. It had been a while since I fly during a good hatch (early June on the big D). The trips with ChrisR and Shaq took place in July and we fished a few spots on the NY side and had fun with the Brown Trout. None of our fish were big, but there are some nice fish in the river that show up from time to time. I have only been fly fishing the Battenkill river for two seasons and I am by no means a local expert, nor do I know all of its secrets and moods. But the Battenkill river continues to weave its magic on me. I find myself becoming fonder of this water with each trip and new discovery found hidden along the banks of this beautiful fly fishing river.
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great video. Glad I could be a part (cameo at best) of the process. It has also been my experience that The Battenkill is slow to show you it’s secrets. Everytime I/we go, I learn more and am looking forward to learning more.
Nice work Robin. Thanks for showing me some new spots on the river that I haven’t fished before. I see you found the trico hatch. Sounds similar to the times I have managed to hit it right. Lots of little brookies taking spinners one after the other. Great fishing with you. Hope we can get out again soon.
Nice story. I hope to get out that way one of these days.My wife loves Bennington VT. Shes an art teacher so her painting while I’m fishng goes well for a beautiful weekend.
I too look forward to more outings especially northeast of here as we are on the verge of salmon/steelehad season and there is so much to learn and so little time.
Chris, I would like to get out again soon. School is starting up this week, but I can still get out for a partial day.
ok .. i am definately callin’ you guys next time i go to vermont .. i actually go fairly frequently to the manchester area .. and though i have had great luck on other surrounding rivers …. i have never had great luck on the battenkill …. it looks beautiful, the runs look like i should do well … but rarely do … maybe you guys are just what i need for a change of “luck” …and to help me figure it out a little better …. thanks
ps .. some say that “there are no fish on the vermont side” …. i know it is a wild fishery .. but some say “the river has been damaged because of farm water pesticide run-off” … and “they are thinking of stocking it”
what is your guys opinions in regards to these things … has the fishery been compromised .. are they gonna stock the vt. side … is the ny side stocked? if so, still a good population of wild fish on the ny side and if so … how can a stockie be distinguished from wild ??? — thanks
The best fish I have caught on the VT side has probably been a 10 inch brown. Can’t say I have seen any larger than that either. Mainly small 4-8 inch brookies. The NY side I am finding is a whole different story. They do stock parts of the Kill in NY. I couldn’t really say if most of those fish are stocked, wild or hold over stocked. As far as the decline of the fish on the VT side I have heard and read numerous theories. One being a story and testing regarding the pesticides and fertilzer theory. The study saw a decline in bugs more so fish. Mainly mayflies. That study was done a while ago. Not sure how the river has been doing since then. Personally I think the VT side has more fishing pressure and areas that are more difficult to get to on foot for the bigger fish to hold in. I wouldn’t mind fishing it from a canoe sometime to get to a lot more of the water.
jeremy,
I’d be happy to show you the waters that I know, give a shout next time you are in the area. It’s only a bit over an hour for us. I have only fished the VT side once, but it has only wild fish from what I saw and hear from those who know. Most of the fish are the small brookies, but there are larger browns. However they are shy and reclusive. I have heard of very nice fish 22-24 inches that are taken here and there each season, but not a weekly occurence. The Vt side has not been stocked since 1976 or something like that (others may know the exact date). The NY side is stocked, mostly with small 8-10 inch fish with some two year old 14-16 ince fish. However there is some natural reproduction so are the larger fish on the NY side stocked or holdevers or wild, I have no idea. Vt is talking about stocking triplod rainbows and many TU people and others concerned with the wild fishery are fighting it. For more info on this battle check out the southwest vermont TU website. The one thing I do like about it is that after seeing a bunch of the water you know there are fish in there and the river kind of draws you in and you want to understand it.
Jeremy, The NY side of the Battenkill is a stocked fishery however has a special regs, artificials only section. It is my understanding that the VT side hasn’t been stocked in a great while as WRH said. The VT Trout Unlimited website has alot of good info on the fight to keep it wild. It is also my understanding that the stocked fish will be rainbows. Something that the B-kill has none of at this time so it SHOULD be easy to pick them out but I am sure the Good Ole Bait Chuckers will take some brookies. It is my opinion that the B-kill is promoted all wrong. It shouldn’t be promoted as a good fishery, it should be promoted as a tough fishery. Many good fishermen have problems catching fish on the kill so you are not alone by any means. It took me at least five years to find the spots and figure it out. Streamers and nymphs are key on the NY side, the VT side is smaller and a different story, one I haven’t begun to unlock yet.
Hi guys. A little info on the Vt side …. not stocked since 1976. There was a population crash around 1994 / 95 .. no kill instituted in 200 helped stabilize the population.
vt Fish and wildlife has determined that a chronic loss of in stream habitat has resulted in a river with less than ideal habitat for mid range sized fish .. thus you see lots of 6-8 inchers and few 10 – 14 inchers. Those fish that do find good habitat are big big big .. and not all that uncomon – for the skilled angler, which I am not!
As Robin said, our TU chapter is adamantly opposed to stocking the river for a variety of reasons – check it out at ww.tuswvt.org or drop mea note at [email protected]
Robin is, by the way, a fantastic fisherman, photagrapher (thanks for the great pic of Molly, my fishin dog) and all around good guy.
Take it easy. Doug
hey Doug,
Glad to have you aboard, have seen you on other boards. Keep up the good fight on the B-kill and looking forward to seeing more of you on F&F.com!!
Thanks! See you on the river sometime soon!!!!