Southern Vermont / Windsor County

Woodward Reservoir

Woodward Reservoir is a scenic, largely undeveloped 106-acre reservoir on Route 100 in Plymouth, stocked with rainbow and brook trout over a basin that drops to about 50 feet.

Overview

Woodward Reservoir stretches along Route 100 south of Plymouth village, its irregular shoreline of coves and points backed by forested hills and remarkably little development. DEC's 2018 bathymetry shows a main basin dropping through tight two-foot contours to about 50 feet — considerably deeper than older references suggest — which gives the reservoir genuine coldwater habitat. Stocked rainbow and brook trout headline the fishery, with bass, pike, and perch in the warm shallows.

The reservoir divides naturally into a shallow, weedy northern arm and the deep southern basin. Trout anglers should key on the southern basin's drop-offs: chironomid fishing over 20 to 40 feet of water is productive from May onward, and the abrupt edges concentrate cruising fish. The northern arm fishes like a bass pond and is a fine fallback when wind pins down the main lake. The Route 100 access makes launching easy for any craft.

Depth & Character

Surface Area
106acres
Max Depth
50ft
Elevation
1342ft
Woodward Reservoir depth chart (bathymetric map)

Bathymetric depth chart — click to open the full PDF. Source: Vermont DEC.

Download Depth Chart (PDF)

Source: Vermont DEC

Water Characteristics

Clear water over a two-part basin: a weedy, shallow northern arm and a steep southern bowl dropping to roughly 50 feet. The tight contours along the south basin create well-defined feeding edges.

Access & Boats

A Vermont Fish and Wildlife access area with a boat launch sits directly on Route 100 in Plymouth. The shoreline is largely undeveloped, and the reservoir's coves reward exploring by canoe or kayak.

Ice Fishing

Open to ice fishing for trout, perch, and pike.

Fishing Pressure & Local Tips

Light to moderate; a quiet alternative to the busier Black River chain lakes a few miles south.

Local Knowledge

When summer heat slows the chain lakes, Woodward's south basin keeps producing — fish a Zebra Midge dropper below a Chironomid Bomber over the 30-foot contour through the middle of the day.

Species Present

Rainbow Trout

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

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.

Food Sources & Hatches

InsectSuggested FlyJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Chironomids (midges)
morning
Chironomid (Bomber)
Damselflies
morning
Damselfly Nymph
Dragonflies
all day
Dragonfly Nymph

Chironomids (midges): The south basin's tight contours make classic indicator water; fish 15-30 feet down.

Damselflies: Migrations along the weedy northern arm; trout and bass both eat them.

Dragonflies: Dragon nymphs over the cove mouths for bass and opportunistic trout.

Recommended Flies

Access Points & Boat Launches

Woodward Reservoir Access

Boat LaunchEasy

Vermont Fish and Wildlife access with a launch directly on Route 100 in Plymouth. The shallow northern arm and the deep southern basin are both reachable in minutes; the undeveloped shoreline invites exploring by canoe.

Boat launch · ParkingParking: 8-10 vehiclesFreeNone
Map

Regulations

Regulations

General trout season runs from the second Saturday in April through October 31 with standard bag limits. 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
106 acres
Max Depth
50 ft
Elevation
1342 ft
Lake Type
Reservoir
Region
Southern Vermont / Windsor County
Best Seasons
spring, summer, fall
Species
Rainbow Trout, Brook Trout
Difficulty
Beginner
Depth Chart
Download PDF

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