There’s something about the Battenkill River that makes even getting skunked feel worth it. Flowing through the rolling hills of southwestern Vermont and into New York, the Battenkill is one of those rare places where time slows down. Clear, cold water winds past farm fields, shaded bends under tall maples, and the hum of summer insects fills the air.
We fished it in June, wading through long, glassy stretches that looked like they should have been full of trout. And they are, just not easy ones. The Battenkill is known for its wild brown trout, wary and smart from generations of survival. No stocked fish here; these trout make you work for every take.
We managed to raise a few, brief flashes in the current that sent our hearts racing, but nothing stayed on the line. At one point, we even saw a massive brown trout come out from under a log to chase a duckling across the surface. Proof they’re down there, big, old, and very much in charge.
Even without a catch, it was impossible to feel disappointed. The river itself is the reward: cool water, green hills, and the sense that you’re fishing through a living piece of New England history. The Battenkill once powered small mills along its banks and later inspired artists like Norman Rockwell, who lived nearby in Arlington. You can see why; the place looks like it belongs in a painting.
So if you go, bring your fly rod and your patience. You might not land a fish, but you’ll come away with something better: quiet, beauty, and maybe a story about the one that got away.