Vermont
Poultney River below Fair Haven
Current River Rating
Poor · 37
Conditions are unfavorable based on the available readings.
Scores are model-specific and are not directly comparable across water types.
Partial water evidence · Low confidence
Should I Go?
Wait
Limited opportunity
Timing Outlook
No reliable fishing window is recommended while current river conditions remain Poor.
Why
- Very clear skies may make trout more cautious in shallow water.
- Water temperature is unavailable.
Favorable Factors
- Recent precipitation has been light.
- Light wind should make casting and boat control easier.
Cautions
- Recent observed air temperature suggests unfavorable river water temperature for trout. Verify with a stream thermometer; this is not a measured water temperature.
Timing Evidence
Dawn low light is favorable.
Current Readings
- Flow
- 22.3 CFS
- Gage Height
- 1.59 ft
- Water Temperature
- Not available
- Observation Time
- Sep 5, 2026, 7:30 AM
Updated recently · USGS station 04280000 · Direct monitoring location
Readings from past 7 Days
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Historical readings are provided for context. Readings outside the current freshness window are not used to rate current conditions.
Better Nearby Options
Checking nearby StrikeTracks waters…
Preliminary guidance only. Always assess current weather, access, water depth, current speed, and your own ability before entering the river.
Changing Conditions Advisory
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Weather Near Gauge
Current Weather
Clear
Temperature
61°F
Feels like
62°F
Wind
2 mph NE
Wind gust
3 mph
Current precipitation
0.00 in
Updated
Sep 5, 2026, 3:45 AM
Recent Rainfall
Estimated precipitation near this gauge
Last 6 hours
0.00 in
Last 24 hours
0.00 in
Last 48 hours
0.00 in
Little recent rainfall near this river.
Next 24 Hours
Sat 4 AM
Clear
Temp 61°F
Chance 0%
Precip 0.00 in
Wind 2 mph
Sat 8 AM
Mostly clear
Temp 63°F
Chance 0%
Precip 0.00 in
Wind 8 mph
Sat 12 PM
Clear
Temp 71°F
Chance 2%
Precip 0.00 in
Wind 10 mph
Sat 4 PM
Mostly clear
Temp 74°F
Chance 3%
Precip 0.00 in
Wind 11 mph
Sat 8 PM
Clear
Temp 66°F
Chance 8%
Precip 0.00 in
Wind 9 mph
Sun 12 AM
Overcast
Temp 64°F
Chance 2%
Precip 0.00 in
Wind 4 mph
Four-Day Forecast
Sat, Sep 5
Overcast
High 74°F / Low 58°F
Chance 11%
Precip 0.00 in
Max gust 23 mph
Sun, Sep 6
Rain
High 72°F / Low 53°F
Chance 16%
Precip 0.33 in
Max gust 20 mph
Mon, Sep 7
Overcast
High 79°F / Low 49°F
Chance 7%
Precip 0.00 in
Max gust 14 mph
Tue, Sep 8
Overcast
High 74°F / Low 55°F
Chance 3%
Precip 0.00 in
Max gust 9 mph
Weather and rainfall are estimated for this river's coordinates. Local conditions can vary, especially in mountainous terrain and during isolated storms.
Recent rainfall can influence river flow, but the timing and magnitude depend on watershed size, soil conditions, upstream reservoirs, and dam releases.
Weather data: Open-Meteo
Historical Flow
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Fishing Overview
USGS streamgage POULTNEY RIVER BELOW FAIR HAVEN, VT (04280000). Coordinates are the USGS monitoring-location point. App-supported continuous parameters currently available: streamflow (00060) and gage height (00065). No live water-temperature series at this site. VFWD lists brook, brown, and rainbow trout as common on the Poultney; lower reaches also fall under Lake Champlain boundary-water regulations for bass and coolwater species.
Fishery Profile
Documented species you may encounter at Poultney River.
Species images are AI-generated illustrations for visual reference and may simplify natural variation. Fishery records are based on the cited agency sources. About fish illustrations
Fishery overview
Lower Poultney River below Fair Haven with a mixed fishery: VFWD lists brook, brown, and rainbow trout as common, while Lake Champlain boundary-water rules also manage bass, northern pike, walleye, and panfish on designated reaches. Recommendation scoring uses the river-trout profile. USGS gage 04280000 provides live streamflow and stage.
Target species
Brook Trout
Salvelinus fontinalis
- Expectation
- Primary
- Population
- Wild
- Native status
- native
- Confidence
- High confidence
VFWD Where the Fish Are (Southwest Region) lists brook trout as common on the Poultney River; brook trout are a primary recommendation focus alongside other stream trout.
Brown Trout
Salmo trutta
- Expectation
- Primary
- Population
- Wild
- Native status
- introduced
- Confidence
- High confidence
VFWD Where the Fish Are (Southwest Region) lists brown trout as common on the Poultney River; brown trout are a primary recommendation focus.
Rainbow Trout
Oncorhynchus mykiss
- Expectation
- Primary
- Population
- Wild
- Native status
- introduced
- Confidence
- High confidence
VFWD Where the Fish Are (Southwest Region) lists rainbow trout as common on the Poultney River; rainbow trout are a primary recommendation focus.
Largemouth Bass
Micropterus nigricans
- Expectation
- Common
- Population
- Established
- Native status
- introduced
- Confidence
- High confidence
VFWD Lake Champlain boundary regulations on the Poultney manage largemouth bass under Champlain-style bass rules; retained as common in a mixed lower-river fishery.
Northern Pike
Esox lucius
- Expectation
- Common
- Population
- Established
- Native status
- native
- Confidence
- High confidence
VFWD Champlain-boundary Poultney regulations manage northern pike among coolwater gamefish.
Smallmouth Bass
Micropterus dolomieu
- Expectation
- Common
- Population
- Established
- Native status
- introduced
- Confidence
- High confidence
VFWD Lake Champlain boundary regulations on the Poultney manage smallmouth bass under Champlain-style bass rules; retained as common in a mixed lower-river fishery.
Walleye
Sander vitreus
- Expectation
- Common
- Population
- Established
- Native status
- native
- Confidence
- High confidence
VFWD Champlain-boundary Poultney regulations manage walleye among coolwater gamefish.
Yellow Perch
Perca flavescens
- Expectation
- Common
- Population
- Established
- Native status
- native
- Confidence
- Medium confidence
VFWD Where the Fish Are (Southwest Region) lists yellow perch among common Poultney River warmwater/coolwater species.
Lake Trout
Salvelinus namaycush
- Expectation
- Present
- Population
- Established
- Native status
- native
- Confidence
- Medium confidence
VFWD Champlain-boundary Poultney regulations include lake trout among managed salmonids; kept present so stream trout remain the recommendation focus.
Fishery characteristics
- Composition
- Mixed wild and stocked
- Great Lakes tributary
- No
- Flow regime
- Natural flow
Low-gradient Champlain Valley river with trout opportunity plus boundary-water warmwater/coolwater habitat toward Carver Falls and Lake Champlain.
Best seasons
- Spring
- Summer
- Fall
Common techniques
- Boat fishing
- Fly fishing
- Nymphing
- Shore fishing
- Spinning
Access and Public Fishing Rights
VFWD lists Poultney River fishing access including Ward Marsh (West Haven). Confirm current access on the official VFWD fishing access search.
Stocking information
Confirm any current VFWD stockings on the official schedule. Lower Champlain-boundary reaches also support established warmwater and coolwater species.
Official sources
Regulations can change. Always verify current Lake Champlain boundary-water and inland rules on the official Vermont Fish & Wildlife regulations page before fishing.
Hatch Match
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Location and Access
USGS monitoring location
Rutland, Vermont
The map marker represents the cataloged waterbody or monitoring location and may not indicate legal parking or public access. Confirm access through the official information before visiting.
River Details
County
Rutland
Management Category
Trout stream
Regulation Scope
Poultney River (Lake Champlain boundary reaches)
Regulation Summary
Lake Champlain boundary-water and Vermont inland regulations apply on designated Poultney reaches (including Fair Haven to Carver Falls corridor). Confirm current seasons and limits on the official VFWD regulations page.
Target Species
Brook Trout, Brown Trout, Rainbow Trout, Smallmouth Bass, Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike, Walleye, Yellow Perch
Access, Parking, and Regulations
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