Stopped in Manchester Vermont yesterday briefly while driving home from Maine. Of course I checked out the Orvis store(s) and managed about an hour of fishing on the Batten Kill. This river is the last on a list of lengendary trout streams around the country that I have hoped to wet a line on. I have been "working" on the list for over 20 years. The Batten Kill's reputation as a tough, technical creek is well deserved I'm sure. Nevertheless, I am convinced that any angler who learns the game in central PA can hang with tough trout just about anywhere and I had some luck. The fish were small brookies that were feeding on very small flying ants and some BWOs. Brown trout, curiously, have declined in numbers in recent years and I saw no browns. The stream is fairly slow, brushy, and a tea stained color typical of tannin stain. Casting is tight. The Batten Kill reminds me of lower Big Fishing Creek with perhaps a bit more vegetation. I also got to see the Museum of Fly Fishing. The Ogden Pleissner exhibit that Padraic mentioned in an earlier post is still open at the museum. As an art junkie, I only wish I had had more time. The Green Mountains were beautiful and dwarf the hills we have in PA. Anyway, a trip to Manchester VT is well worth it.
Batten Kill VT 8/28/08
- Thread starter Fishidiot
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