Caspian Lake is known as one of the most pristine lakes in Vermont, with crystal clear water, loons, no nuisance aquatic species, and self sustaining populations of lake trout, rainbow trout, brown trout, and rainbow smelt.  While the typical lake trout from Caspian weighs 2-4 pounds, giant lakers exceeding 20 pounds are on display at Willey's store and are occasionally caught.

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Several distinct "seasons" of lake trout fishing occur in Caspian:

• "Ice Out" usually happens in the last weeks of April or the first week of May.  Lake trout concentrate near schools of smelt which are staging to spawn.  Fly rod fishing can be excellent, especially early in the day or in rainy weather.

• Spring and summer- as surface waters warm above the temperature tolerance level of lake trout, they retreat to deeper water and follow schools of smelt, yellow perch, and other baitfish.  These fish can be a little harder to locate, but are often very willing to bite.  I had two 50+ fish days in 2024 during this time.  Bite is best at dawn and in rainy weather, but vertical presentations with light spinning tackle can be effective at all times of day.

• Fall pre-spawn- lakers stage in large schools as they ready for the spawn.  They are very easy to locate, but can be hard to get a bite from.  Light tackle, a careful approach, and persistence are key to success.

• Spawn- lakers move onto spawning reefs as it gets dark in the evening and will chase a fly.  Not a high numbers game, but the largest fish in the lake (did I mention they exceed 20 pounds?) are vulnerable at this time to fly fishing.

• Spawn to ice-in-occasionally a  day warm enough to fish comes along in December or even January and the post spawn lake trout can be vulnerable to flies.