Brandon Sectionon Otter Creek (Upper)
What's working on Otter Creek
- 01Fall Blue-Winged Olive (BWO) hatches and October Caddis are active, particularly during the warmer parts of the day, providing dry fly opportunities for rising trout.
- 02Predatory fish like Walleye, Northern Pike, Pickerel, and Bass are actively feeding on baitfish and crayfish in preparation for winter, making streamer fishing highly effective.
- 03Trout in the upper sections are beginning their fall spawning rituals, increasing the effectiveness of egg patterns and subsurface nymph presentations.
- 04Cooling water temperatures suggest fish are becoming less aggressive, necessitating slower retrieves for streamers and precise dead drifts for nymphs and egg patterns.
- 05The 50°F air temperature and clear conditions indicate a good day for targeting active fish, especially during midday warms.
What to tie on at Brandon Section
Picked from recent reports for this stretch.
Blue-Winged Olive Comparadun
Blue-Winged Olives are actively hatching in early spring, especially on overcast days, and this low-profile dry fly is excellent for selective trout feeding on emergers and adults.
Hendrickson
Hendricksons are a key early spring hatch; adults are active on the surface, providing prime dry fly opportunities for trout.
Buy at AmazonElk Hair Caddis
Caddis activity picks up significantly in late spring through May, making this a reliable dry fly choice for rising trout.
Buy at AmazonHare's Ear Nymph
An essential and versatile nymph that mimics a wide array of active mayfly nymphs, providing consistent subsurface feeding for trout in spring.
Buy at AmazonWoolly Bugger (Black/Olive)
A versatile streamer, effective year-round for predatory fish like Walleye, Pickerel, Bass, and aggressive trout, imitating leeches and baitfish in warming spring waters.
Clouser Minnow (Bass) (Chartreuse/White)
This pattern effectively imitates baitfish, a primary food source for active predatory warmwater species like Walleye, Pickerel, and Bass as water temperatures rise.
Pike Bunny
Northern Pike and Pickerel are becoming increasingly active in spring, and this robust streamer is designed to entice their aggressive strikes.
Perch Pattern
Effective for Walleye, Northern Pike, and Pickerel, as perch fry become a key food source and are actively hunted by these predators in early spring.
Woolly Bugger (Olive)
A versatile streamer pattern imitating leeches and baitfish, effective for all predatory species including trout, walleye, pike, pickerel, and bass in Otter Creek.
Vermont season by season
What changes on the water through the year, with the flies for each season.
Fly shops nearby
Local flies, current advice and guided trips.