Passumpsic River Fishing Guides
The main river of the Northeast Kingdom, gathering three branches above St. Johnsbury and holding brown trout and smallmouth on its way to the Connecticut.
Guides on the Passumpsic River
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About the Passumpsic River
The Passumpsic River is the principal river of Vermont’s Northeast Kingdom, formed where the East and West branches meet above St. Johnsbury and running south to the Connecticut River at Barnet. The gauge at Passumpsic village covers a drainage of about four hundred and thirty-six square miles, which makes this substantially larger water than most Vermont trout streams and gives it a mixed coldwater and warmwater character through its lower reaches.
The branches and the main stem fish differently and it is worth treating them as separate propositions. The East and West branches above town are smaller, colder and better trout water, holding wild brook trout in their upper reaches and brown trout lower down. The main stem below St. Johnsbury is wider, slower and warmer, and there smallmouth bass become a serious part of the fishery alongside stocked and holdover browns.
Vermont stocks the Passumpsic and manages sections of the system under specific regulations, so checking current rules for the particular reach matters. Brown trout are the main draw for many anglers and the river produces good fish, particularly in the deeper runs and undercut banks through the farmland below town. Fallfish, white sucker, chain pickerel and yellow perch fill out the warmer slower water.
The river has an industrial past; dams built for the mills of St. Johnsbury shaped it for a century and several have since been removed, reopening habitat and changing how the river runs. Access is generally good along Route 5 and through town, and the Northeast Kingdom remains one of the quieter corners of New England to fish. Dam removal has improved passage for migratory fish on the lower river, and the system is still adjusting to running freely after so long impounded.
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Access
Passumpsic - the gauge reach with roadside access below St. Johnsbury.
St. Johnsbury - the largest town on the river, where the branches join.
East Branch - colder upper water above town, reached from Route 5.
West Branch - the second branch, with trout water above the confluence.
Barnet - the confluence with the Connecticut River.
Lyndonville - access to the upper main stem and the branches.
Comerford Reservoir - the nearest large still water on the Connecticut.
Seasons
Spring: high water from Kingdom snowmelt, with trout fishing improving as it drops.
Summer: branches hold trout while the main stem fishes well for smallmouth bass.
Fall: brown trout move and colour up, the best season on the main river.
Winter: cold and largely closed to trout, with limited access under snow.
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Questions
What is the current flow on the Passumpsic River?
As of Sep 17, 5:15 am, the USGS gauge PASSUMPSIC RIVER AT PASSUMPSIC, VT reads 152 cfs. Conditions update every 15 minutes.
What species can you catch on the Passumpsic River?
Anglers target Brook Trout, Brown Trout, Chain Pickerel, Fallfish, Rainbow Trout, Smallmouth Bass, White Sucker, Yellow Perch on the Passumpsic River in Vermont.
Where can you access the Passumpsic River?
Passumpsic - the gauge reach with roadside access below St. Johnsbury. St. Johnsbury - the largest town on the river, where the branches join. East Branch - colder upper water above town, reached from Route 5. West Branch - the second branch, with trout water above the confluence. Barnet - the confluence with the Connecticut River. Lyndonville - access to the upper main stem and the branches. Comerford Reservoir - the nearest large still water on the Connecticut.
When is the best time to fish the Passumpsic River?
Spring: high water from Kingdom snowmelt, with trout fishing improving as it drops. Summer: branches hold trout while the main stem fishes well for smallmouth bass. Fall: brown trout move and colour up, the best season on the main river. Winter: cold and largely closed to trout, with limited access under snow.
Where are the fishing regulations for the Passumpsic River?
Regulations change by season and section. Read the current rules on the Vermont agency site: https://vtfishandwildlife.com/fish/fishing-regulations