Island Pond
Island Pond is a 600-acre lake with a namesake 22-acre island in the historic railroad town of Brighton, offering rainbow trout, brook trout, and strong smallmouth bass fishing.
Overview
Island Pond anchors the town of Brighton, its 22-acre wooded island giving both the lake and the village their name. The pond covers roughly 614 acres and reaches 59 feet deep, with rainbow trout and brook trout sharing the water with a healthy smallmouth bass population, yellow perch, and rainbow smelt. The village waterfront, town beach, and nearby Brighton State Park make it one of the Northeast Kingdom's most accessible fisheries.
Trout fishing is best early and late in the season, when rainbows cruise the drop-offs off the island and the deeper eastern basin. Smallmouth provide the summer action, holding on rocky shoals and around the island in 5 to 15 feet of water where they eat crayfish and dragonfly nymph patterns eagerly. Calm evenings bring midge rises within reach of the village shoreline, and a float tube or canoe covers most of the productive water.
Depth & Character
- Surface Area
- 614acres
- Max Depth
- 59ft
- Elevation
- 1196ft
Bathymetric depth chart — click to open the full PDF. Source: Vermont DEC.
Source: Vermont DEC
Water Characteristics
Clear to lightly stained water over rock and gravel shoals with a 59-foot basin east of the island. Smelt and abundant perch fry keep predators well fed.
Access & Boats
A public boat launch on the north shore near the village (off Route 105) provides trailer access, and the town waterfront offers shore fishing and canoe put-ins. Brighton State Park on neighboring Spectacle Pond adds camping a few minutes away.
Ice Fishing
A classic Northeast Kingdom ice fishing pond for perch, pickerel, and trout; the village hosts steady winter traffic.
Fishing Pressure & Local Tips
Moderate near the village and launch; the far shorelines and island structure see much less attention.
Local Knowledge
Circle the island at dawn in June: smallmouth stack on the rocky shelves, and the first hour of light produces topwater takes before the sun pushes fish deeper.
Species Present
Rainbow Trout
The rainbow trout is Montana's most widespread and popular gamefish, celebrated for its explosive surface strikes, aerial acrobatics, and willingness to take a well-presented dry fly. Native to Pacific Coast drainages from Alaska to Mexico, rainbows were first introduced to Montana's waters in the late 1800s and have since established thriving populations in nearly every major river system in the state. On legendary waters like the Madison, Missouri, and Bighorn, wild rainbow trout grow fat on prolific insect hatches and provide some of the finest dry-fly fishing in North America. Rainbow trout in Montana display remarkable variation depending on their home water. Fish in nutrient-rich tailwaters like the Missouri River below Holter Dam can exceed 20 inches with regularity, their deep bodies and broad tails reflecting the abundant food supply. Freestone river rainbows, such as those in the upper Madison and Gallatin, tend to be leaner and more athletic, shaped by faster currents and colder water temperatures. In many Montana rivers, rainbows spawn in the spring from March through June, and anglers should be mindful of spawning redds during this period to protect future generations of fish. Rainbows are arguably the most versatile trout species for fly anglers. They respond well to dry flies during hatches, aggressively chase streamers, and feed heavily on nymphs subsurface throughout the year. Their fighting ability is legendary: a hooked rainbow will often launch itself completely out of the water multiple times during a battle. Montana's catch-and-release regulations on many blue-ribbon streams have produced exceptional rainbow trout fisheries with high densities of large, healthy fish that continue to draw anglers from around the world.
Brook Trout
The brook trout is widely considered the most beautiful freshwater fish in North America, and catching one in a pristine Montana mountain stream is an experience that captures the essence of backcountry fly fishing. Despite their common name, brook trout are not true trout at all; they are a species of char (genus Salvelinus), more closely related to lake trout and Arctic char than to rainbows or browns. Native to eastern North America from Georgia to Hudson Bay, brook trout were among the first salmonids introduced to Montana's waters in the late 1800s and have since established self-sustaining populations in cold, high-elevation streams and lakes throughout the state. In Montana, brook trout thrive best in small, cold headwater streams and high mountain lakes where competition from larger trout species is minimal. In these environments, they are often the dominant, or only, salmonid present. The trade-off is size: Montana stream-dwelling brook trout typically range from 6 to 10 inches, with fish over 12 inches considered noteworthy in most waters. What they lack in size, however, they more than make up for in beauty and willingness to eat a fly. Brookies are aggressive feeders that will strike attractor dry flies, nymphs, and small streamers with enthusiasm, making them an ideal species for beginning fly anglers and a delightful quarry for anyone who appreciates small-stream fishing. Brook trout do present a conservation paradox in Montana. While they are a beloved and beautiful gamefish, they are non-native and can negatively impact native species, particularly Yellowstone and westslope cutthroat trout. In headwater streams, brook trout often outcompete cutthroats for food and spawning habitat due to their higher reproductive rate and earlier maturation. As a result, Montana FWP has implemented brook trout removal projects on some streams to restore native cutthroat populations. In many waters, liberal harvest limits for brook trout are encouraged to reduce their numbers and benefit native fish. Anglers can enjoy excellent brook trout fishing while actively helping conservation by keeping a few for the pan.
Smallmouth Bass
The smallmouth bass is one of the most popular and widely distributed gamefish in North America and one of the finest freshwater species available to fly anglers. Found in clear, cool rivers and lakes from the Great Lakes to the Southern Appalachians, smallmouth bass combine aggressive feeding behavior, remarkable fighting ability, and a preference for the kinds of rocky, current-rich habitats that are ideally suited to fly fishing. Pound for pound, the smallmouth bass is widely considered the hardest-fighting freshwater fish in North America, earning it the nickname 'the bronze bomber' for its explosive takes and powerful, acrobatic battles on the end of a line. While smallmouth bass are not a traditional trout-stream species, they have become increasingly important to fly anglers as warm-water fly fishing has grown in popularity. Rivers like the French Broad in North Carolina, the Susquehanna and Delaware in Pennsylvania, and the St. Lawrence in New York support world-class smallmouth fisheries that attract dedicated fly anglers. In many regions, smallmouth bass inhabit the lower reaches of the same river systems that hold trout in their upper reaches, providing fly anglers with a warm-water counterpart to their cold-water fishing. Smallmouth bass are particularly appealing to fly anglers because they readily take surface flies. On warm summer evenings, smallmouth will crush poppers, sliders, and large dry flies with explosive strikes that rival any trout rise. Their willingness to feed on the surface, combined with their strength and acrobatic leaping ability, makes smallmouth bass on a fly rod one of the most thrilling freshwater fly fishing experiences available.
Food Sources & Hatches
| Insect | Suggested Fly | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Chironomids (midges) evening | Zebra Midge | ||||||||||||
Damselflies morning | Damselfly Nymph | ||||||||||||
Leeches all day | Woolly Bugger |
Chironomids (midges): Calm-evening rises within reach of the village shoreline; sizes 16-20.
Damselflies: Migrations along the weedlines; trout and smallmouth both respond.
Leeches: Buggers along the island shoals cover trout, bass, and the odd pickerel.
Recommended Flies
Woolly Bugger
Top PickThe all-purpose searching pattern for trout along the drop-offs.
Best in spring
Dragonfly Nymph
Top PickDragonfly Nymph on the island's rocky shelves for smallmouth.
Best in summer
Also Effective
Access Points & Boat Launches
Island Pond Public Launch
Boat LaunchEasyPublic boat launch near the village of Island Pond off Route 105, with the town waterfront and beach nearby offering shore fishing and canoe access. The island's rocky shoals are a short run from the ramp.
Regulations
Regulations
General fishing season for trout runs from the second Saturday in April through October 31; bass rules include an early catch-and-release season. Vermont fishing license required. Verify current rules at vtfishandwildlife.com.
Always verify current regulations with Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department before fishing.
Quick Facts
- Surface Area
- 614 acres
- Max Depth
- 59 ft
- Elevation
- 1196 ft
- Lake Type
- Natural Lake
- Region
- Northeast Kingdom / Essex County
- Best Seasons
- spring, summer, fall
- Species
- Rainbow Trout, Brook Trout, Smallmouth Bass
- Difficulty
- Beginner
- Depth Chart
- Download PDF
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