The Hard water on Lakes and ponds is still the place to be. Pike are heading to the shallows following the perch to their spawning ground. Pike will stay in the shallows to spawn themselves making them very accessible to anglers who chase them with fly. The month of May is a great time to chase pike with fly on both lakes and tribs to lakes.
Rivers around the state are starting to come out of their frozen hibernation. We hope it is at a slow pace, particularly after the cold winter and the thicker ice that has formed. If air temps warm to quick, the ice could breakup too fast and cause ice jams on bends and around bridges. With the sequent melting of snow in the mountains, and any liquid precipitation, some towns could be in for trouble.
There is a chance of localized ice jams during the long range forecast, but not much precipitation, however we’ll have air temps into the lower 60s in many locations across Vermont.
Most die hard fly fishers are chomping at the bit for rivers to give just a glimpse of a chance to throw some line. Many of these die hards have had the luxury, over the past few years, of warmer than normal winters, allowing access to rivers that are ice free and open year round. This winter, not so much, it has been great for hard water action. 