Moose River Fishing Guides
A Northeast Kingdom trout river draining the Victory Basin bog country, wild brook trout above and mixed water below.

Guides on the Moose River
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About the Moose River
The Moose River rises in the high country east of Island Pond and runs southwest through the Victory Basin before turning toward St. Johnsbury and its confluence with the Passumpsic. The gauge at Victory sits in the middle of that run, below the basin itself, which is one of the largest boreal wetland complexes in Vermont. That bog country gives the river a tea-colored stain and a flow pattern that holds up better in dry spells than the steeper mountain streams nearby.
Wild brook trout are the native fish and the main draw in the upper river and its feeder streams. The water above and around Victory is small, brushy and cold, and it fishes the way northern New England brook trout water is supposed to fish, which is to say with short casts and a lot of walking. Downstream, as the river gathers volume toward St. Johnsbury, brown and rainbow trout become more common and smallmouth bass appear in the warmer lower reaches.
The Victory Basin is state land and the Wildlife Management Area there is the practical access for most of the upper river. Roads through the basin are unpaved and can be rough, and in a wet spring the low ground beside the river stays saturated well after the water has dropped. Anglers who fish it regularly plan around that as much as around the flow itself.
The river responds quickly to rain despite the wetland storage, and a summer thunderstorm can put color in it for a day. Best conditions are usually late spring after runoff and again in September, when the water cools and the brook trout move ahead of spawning. The Victory gauge is the clearest single indicator of whether the upper river is fishable on a given morning.
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Access
Victory - the gauge reach, with road access through the basin.
Victory Basin Wildlife Management Area - the main public land along the upper river.
Gallup Mills - a small settlement with river access on the upper water.
North Concord - access on the middle river below the basin.
Concord - bridge and roadside access downstream of the gauge.
St. Johnsbury - the confluence with the Passumpsic River at the bottom end.
Moose River Road - unpaved river access along much of the upper valley.
Seasons
Spring: high and stained through runoff, with fishing improving as the water drops in May.
Summer: low and clear in the upper river, best fished early and late in the day.
Fall: the strongest wild brook trout fishing of the year as the water cools in September.
Winter: the river is closed and iced through the cold months.
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Questions
What is the current flow on the Moose River?
As of Sep 17, 6:00 am, the USGS gauge MOOSE RIVER AT VICTORY, VT reads 26 cfs. Conditions update every 15 minutes.
What species can you catch on the Moose River?
Anglers target Brook Trout, Brown Trout, Chain Pickerel, Rainbow Trout, Smallmouth Bass on the Moose River in Vermont.
Where can you access the Moose River?
Victory - the gauge reach, with road access through the basin. Victory Basin Wildlife Management Area - the main public land along the upper river. Gallup Mills - a small settlement with river access on the upper water. North Concord - access on the middle river below the basin. Concord - bridge and roadside access downstream of the gauge. St. Johnsbury - the confluence with the Passumpsic River at the bottom end. Moose River Road - unpaved river access along much of the upper valley.
When is the best time to fish the Moose River?
Spring: high and stained through runoff, with fishing improving as the water drops in May. Summer: low and clear in the upper river, best fished early and late in the day. Fall: the strongest wild brook trout fishing of the year as the water cools in September. Winter: the river is closed and iced through the cold months.
Where are the fishing regulations for the Moose River?
Regulations change by season and section. Read the current rules on the Vermont agency site: https://vtfishandwildlife.com/fish/fishing-regulations