Little Averill Lake
Little Averill Lake is a deep, cold, undeveloped lake in Vermont's far Northeast Kingdom, holding wild lake trout and rainbow trout in remarkably clear water just below the Canadian border.
Overview
Little Averill Lake sits in the town of Averill in Vermont's remote northeastern corner, one of the wildest lake settings in the state. The lake plunges to 112 feet at its deepest point, and its cold, oligotrophic water supports a self-sustaining lake trout population along with rainbow trout. The Nature Conservancy protects a natural area along the shoreline, and nesting common loons share the lake with anglers all season.
For fly anglers, the productive windows are ice-out through mid-June and again in late September, when lake trout and rainbows cruise the shoals and drop-offs within reach of sinking lines. Trolling streamers over points and along the steep eastern shore is the classic approach, while midge and Callibaetis activity brings rainbows up over the shallower flats on calm mornings. A canoe or small boat is essential; shore access is limited and the water deepens quickly.
Depth & Character
- Surface Area
- 470acres
- Max Depth
- 112ft
- Elevation
- 1742ft
Bathymetric depth chart — click to open the full PDF. Source: Vermont DEC.
Source: Vermont DEC
Water Characteristics
Exceptionally clear, cold, oligotrophic water over a bottom that drops quickly from rocky shoals to a 112-foot basin. Rainbow smelt provide the primary forage for lake trout.
Access & Boats
A Vermont Fish and Wildlife gravel boat launch on the north shore is reached via Little Averill Road off Route 114 in Averill. The road is unpaved but passable for most vehicles. Shoreline development is nearly nonexistent, so plan to fish from a boat or canoe.
Ice Fishing
Ice fishing is popular for lake trout through the winter season; jigging smelt imitations over deep water is the standard approach.
Fishing Pressure & Local Tips
Light. The remote location keeps crowds away even in mid-summer; you will often share the lake only with loons.
Local Knowledge
Fish the two weeks after ice-out, when lake trout chase smelt in the top 10 feet of water and a Grey Ghost on an intermediate line can produce the best fish of the year. In summer, go deep or go home.
Species Present
Lake Trout
The lake trout is the largest member of the char family and the signature deep-water gamefish of northern New England's coldest, cleanest glacial lakes. A native coldwater char of the northern tier of North America, the lake trout reaches the southern edge of its natural range in the deep, oligotrophic lakes carved by Pleistocene glaciers across northern New England, including Vermont's Lake Champlain and the remote glacial lakes of the Northeast Kingdom. Unlike the stream-dwelling brook trout to which it is related, the lake trout is a true creature of the depths, spending most of the year in the cold, dark, well-oxygenated water far below the surface. Lake trout are long-lived, slow-growing fish that can survive for decades in the frigid depths of their home lakes. Average fish run 18 to 24 inches, but trophy specimens exceeding 30 inches and 15 pounds are taken each season from the best Vermont waters, and the state record approaches 35 pounds. Their size and strength, combined with the challenge of reaching them in deep water, make lake trout a prized quarry for anglers willing to adapt their tactics to the fish's coldwater lifestyle. For fly anglers, the lake trout presents a unique seasonal opportunity. Through most of the year these fish hold too deep for practical fly fishing, but during the narrow windows of ice-out in spring and the fall turnover, lake trout move into the shallows to feed and spawn, bringing them within reach of a well-presented streamer. Casting large baitfish patterns near rocky shorelines and drop-offs during these periods can produce the fish of a lifetime, connecting the angler to the deep glacial history of Vermont's finest coldwater lakes.
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.
Food Sources & Hatches
| Insect | Suggested Fly | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Rainbow Smelt (post ice-out) morning | Grey Ghost | ||||||||||||
Chironomids (midges) morning | Chironomid (Bomber) | ||||||||||||
Leeches evening | Woolly Bugger |
Rainbow Smelt (post ice-out): Lake trout and rainbows follow spawning smelt shoreward after ice-out. Grey Ghost on an intermediate or sinking line.
Chironomids (midges): Emergences over 15-30 feet of water bring rainbows up on calm days. Sizes 12-16 under an indicator.
Leeches: Slow-stripped buggers along the drop-offs take fish when nothing shows on the surface.
Recommended Flies
Grey Ghost
Top PickThe essential post-ice-out smelt pattern for lakers and rainbows. Sizes 4-8.
Best in spring
Woolly Bugger
Top PickOlive or black along the drop-offs on a sinking line.
Best in summer
Also Effective
Access Points & Boat Launches
Little Averill Lake Boat Launch
Boat LaunchModerateVermont Fish and Wildlife gravel launch on the north shore, reached via Little Averill Road off Route 114. Suited to small trailered boats, cartop craft, and canoes. The lake deepens quickly off the launch, putting laker water within a short paddle.
Regulations
Regulations
General fishing season for trout runs from the second Saturday in April through October 31; lake trout regulations differ, so verify current rules at vtfishandwildlife.com. Vermont fishing license required.
Always verify current regulations with Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department before fishing.
Quick Facts
- Surface Area
- 470 acres
- Max Depth
- 112 ft
- Elevation
- 1742 ft
- Lake Type
- Natural Lake
- Region
- Northeast Kingdom / Essex County
- Best Seasons
- spring, summer, fall
- Species
- Lake Trout, Rainbow Trout
- Difficulty
- Intermediate
- Depth Chart
- Download PDF
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