Stowe’s rivers and mountain streams are home to rainbow, brook, and brown trout, and you don’t need years of experience to land one. The rivers and streams around town hold rainbow, brook, and brown trout, while the Lamoille and Winooski Rivers and nearby lakes add smallmouth bass to the mix. Beginners can pick up the basics quickly with a guide from The Fly Rod Shop on Route 100, which runs half-day and full-day instructional fly fishing trips, family outings in summer, and ice fishing tours once the lakes freeze over. Guides fit you with waders and boots, start with a short casting lesson on the shop’s own trout pond, and then head to their favorite water to teach you how to read a river and choose the right fly.
The Fly Rod Shop is about 15 minutes from Topnotch, and the Reel Retreat package pairs a stay at the resort with a guided half-day trip, gear included. Anglers 15 and older need a Vermont fishing license, which you can buy online or at the shop, and practicing catch-and-release keeps these waters healthy for the next person who wades in. Check The Fly Rod Shop’s website for current trips and booking. Then bring your best fish story back to Topnotch, where nobody can check the measurements.