The traditional opening day for trout is April 12th this year. That’s next Saturday, are you ready? With all the year round fishing opportunities we have in Vermont, opening day simply means, you can harvest a legal quantity of fish by all legal methods.
Generally, the catch rate is slow this time of year. Truthfully, live bait wins the day while water temps are below 45. While they are coming out of winter, their metabolism is low so trout are looking for large food sources that they don’t have to move far for. 
Fly fishers can be successful by fishing similarly to the bait fishermen. Dead drifting large streamers and nymphs under an indicator, just like fishing a worm or a minnows under a bobber. As the water warms, trout activity increases as well as aquatic insect life. At this point small stone flies, PTs, caddis pupa and glo bugs will be great to fish on the bottom. Streamers are always a good option. Don’t be afraid to go big and when water conditions aren’t the best. 12 inch fish will eat a 4 inch streamer, so 6 pinchers are not a bad thing.
Good luck, be safe and don’t forget you 2025 fishing license.
