The Fly Rod Shop

The Fly Rod Shop on Route 100 keeps Stowe anglers busy in every season. From spring through fall, its instructional fly fishing tours start with a quick casting lesson on the shop’s own trout pond, then head to local rivers and streams, where guides teach you to mend a line, read the current, and choose the right fly for what the trout are eating. When the lakes freeze, the guides switch to ice fishing, setting tip-ups and jigging for northern pike, landlocked salmon, and lake trout. All gear and bait are included, so you don’t need to own a single rod. Winter evenings bring fly tying classes for beginners, where you learn to tie classic patterns like the Woolly Bugger and the Elk Hair Caddis, and private lessons are available for every skill level.

The Fly Rod Shop is about 15 minutes from Topnotch, and the Reel Retreat package pairs your stay with a guided half-day fly fishing trip, gear included. Trips run rain or shine and book up quickly, so reserve ahead through The Fly Rod Shop’s website or by phone. Anglers 15 and older need a Vermont fishing license, which you can buy at the shop. After a few hours on a frozen lake, the indoor jacuzzi at Topnotch may feel like the best catch of the day.