Vermont
Winooski River near Essex Junction
Location Snapshot
Winooski River near Essex Junction is a large northern Vermont river approaching Lake Champlain through a corridor of pools, riffles, and deeper mainstem water. Smallmouth bass and landlocked salmon are important targets, while trout add another component to a fishery influenced by both river habitat and the nearby lake system.
Current River Rating
Unavailable
Not enough local guidance to rate conditions.
Low confidence
Should I Go?
Not Enough Data
Timing Outlook
No reliable fishing window is available with the current data.
Why
- This river does not yet have enough local fishing guidance to assign a rating.
Cautions
- Water temperature is unavailable.
Current Readings
- Flow
- Not available
- Gage Height
- Not available
- Water Temperature
- Not available
- Latest current reading
- Not available
Monitoring temporarily unavailable. · USGS station 04290500 · 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
38°F
Feels like
33°F
Wind
2 mph N
Wind gust
4 mph
Current precipitation
0.00 in
Updated
Oct 20, 2026, 6:00 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
Tue 7 AM
Clear
Temp 37°F
Chance 0%
Precip 0.00 in
Wind 1 mph
Tue 11 AM
Clear
Temp 51°F
Chance 0%
Precip 0.00 in
Wind 9 mph
Tue 3 PM
Clear
Temp 55°F
Chance 0%
Precip 0.00 in
Wind 11 mph
Tue 7 PM
Clear
Temp 45°F
Chance 0%
Precip 0.00 in
Wind 5 mph
Tue 11 PM
Clear
Temp 39°F
Chance 0%
Precip 0.00 in
Wind 4 mph
Wed 3 AM
Clear
Temp 34°F
Chance 0%
Precip 0.00 in
Wind 3 mph
Four-Day Forecast
Tue, Oct 20
Clear
High 55°F / Low 37°F
Chance 0%
Precip 0.00 in
Max gust 19 mph
Wed, Oct 21
Fog
High 53°F / Low 33°F
Chance 0%
Precip 0.00 in
Max gust 11 mph
Thu, Oct 22
Overcast
High 54°F / Low 38°F
Chance 5%
Precip 0.00 in
Max gust 22 mph
Fri, Oct 23
Clear
High 49°F / Low 32°F
Chance 5%
Precip 0.00 in
Max gust 16 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
Landlocked salmon and smallmouth bass are in the mixed fishery on the Winooski River near Essex Junction.
Fishery Profile
Documented species you may encounter at Winooski 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
Target species

Landlocked Salmon
Salmo salar
- Expectation
- Primary
- Population
- Stocked
- Native status
- native
- Confidence
- High confidence

Smallmouth Bass
Micropterus dolomieu
- Expectation
- Primary
- Population
- Established
- Native status
- introduced
- Confidence
- High confidence

Brook Trout
Salvelinus fontinalis
- Expectation
- Present
- Population
- Wild
- Native status
- native
- Confidence
- Medium confidence

Brown Trout
Salmo trutta
- Expectation
- Present
- Population
- Stocked
- Native status
- introduced
- Confidence
- Medium confidence

Rainbow Trout
Oncorhynchus mykiss
- Expectation
- Present
- Population
- Stocked
- Native status
- introduced
- Confidence
- Medium confidence
Fishery characteristics
- Composition
- Mixed wild and stocked
- Great Lakes tributary
- No
- Flow regime
- Mixed flow regime
Best seasons
- Spring
- Summer
- Fall
Common techniques
- Boat fishing
- Fly fishing
- Shore fishing
- Spinning
Stocking information
- Stocked
Landlocked Salmon
Stocked · Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department
- Stocked
Brown Trout
Stocked · Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department
- Stocked
Rainbow Trout
Stocked · Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department
Official sources
Hatch Match
General fly suggestions
- Woolly-bugger-style streamerConservative overlap streamer family. Not an insect Hatch claim.
- Parachute-style dryOne general surface family appropriate to mixed fisheries — not a Hatch report.
- Pheasant-tail-style nymphOne general subsurface family. Not destination entomology.
These are general fishing suggestions, not a report of insects currently hatching at this destination.
Location and Access
USGS monitoring location
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.
Access, Parking, and Regulations
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