Lake Groton
Lake Groton is the 422-acre recreational hub of Groton State Forest, flanked by Stillwater and Boulder Beach state parks and offering brook trout, rainbow trout, and reliable smallmouth bass fishing.
Overview
Lake Groton (locally Groton Pond) is the largest water in Groton State Forest, a 422-acre lake at 1,076 feet with a hard sand, gravel, and boulder bottom. Stillwater State Park's campground and launch and Boulder Beach State Park's day-use beach anchor the western shore, making the lake the busiest — and most convenient — fishery in the forest. Stocked brook and rainbow trout share the lake with a strong population of smallmouth and largemouth bass, pickerel, and perch.
At a maximum depth of about 36 feet, the lake fishes best for trout early and late in the season, when fish spread across the shoal edges and tributary mouths; summer trout fishing means finding the deeper water off the eastern shore. The smallmouth fishing, by contrast, only improves as the water warms: rocky points, boulder fields, and the island shoals produce steadily on crayfish and dragonfly patterns from June through September.
Depth & Character
- Surface Area
- 422acres
- Max Depth
- 36ft
- Elevation
- 1076ft
Bathymetric depth chart — click to open the full PDF. Source: Vermont DEC.
Source: Vermont DEC
Water Characteristics
Clear water over hard sand, gravel, and boulders with a maximum depth around 36 feet. Extensive shoals and rocky points create abundant bass structure and springtime trout water.
Access & Boats
Stillwater State Park provides a boat launch and campground off Boulder Beach Road; Boulder Beach State Park offers day-use access and a swimming beach. Camps line parts of the shore, but public access is excellent by Vermont standards.
Ice Fishing
Popular for ice fishing, mainly perch and pickerel with occasional trout near the tributary mouths.
Fishing Pressure & Local Tips
Moderate to heavy in summer given the two state parks; trout anglers find room in May and after Labor Day.
Local Knowledge
Fish the Stillwater Brook inlet at ice-out for the lake's best trout window, then spend summer evenings throwing poppers and Muddlers at the boulder points — the smallmouth here hit like fish twice their size.
Species Present
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.
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.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Damselflies morning | Damselfly Nymph | ||||||||||||
Chironomids (midges) evening | Zebra Midge | ||||||||||||
Dragonflies all day | Dragonfly Nymph |
Damselflies: Weedline migrations feed trout and smallmouth alike.
Chironomids (midges): Evening midge activity over the shoals; Zebra Midge under a small indicator.
Dragonflies: Dragon nymphs crawled over the boulder fields are the top smallmouth producer.
Recommended Flies
Woolly Bugger
Top PickBuggers at the Stillwater Brook inlet at ice-out; the lake's best trout window.
Best in spring
Dragonfly Nymph
Top PickDragonfly Nymph on the boulder points — the smallmouth here hit like fish twice their size.
Best in summer
Also Effective
Access Points & Boat Launches
Stillwater State Park Launch
Boat LaunchEasyBoat launch at Stillwater State Park off Boulder Beach Road on the western shore, with a large campground and beach. Boulder Beach State Park day-use area lies just south. The launch reaches both the trout water of the deeper east side and the smallmouth shoals.
Regulations
Regulations
General trout season runs from the second Saturday in April through October 31 with standard bag limits; bass regulations 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
- 422 acres
- Max Depth
- 36 ft
- Elevation
- 1076 ft
- Lake Type
- Natural Lake
- Region
- Central Vermont / Groton State Forest
- Best Seasons
- spring, summer, fall
- Species
- Brook Trout, Rainbow Trout, Smallmouth Bass
- Difficulty
- Beginner
- Depth Chart
- Download PDF
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