Gihon River
Fly fishing in Vermont · Beginner · Best seasons: Summer, Fall
Target Species
Brook Trout
About This Water
Northern Vermont tributary to the Lamoille. Wild brook trout in pristine mountain waters.
Fishing Recommendations
The Gihon River is one of Vermont’s best-kept secrets. Flowing through Lamoille County—specifically the towns of Eden, Hyde Park, and Johnson—it is a classic northern Vermont freestone stream. While it eventually joins the Lamoille River, the Gihon maintains its own distinct character: intimate, rugged, and teeming with wild fish.
As your guide, here is everything you need to know to find success on the Gihon.
🎣 Location Overview
The Gihon River is a quintessential "small water" fly fishing destination. It is characterized by its crystal-clear water, steep gradients in sections, and a substrate dominated by granite boulders and cobble.
What makes it special is its diversity. The upper sections near Eden feel like a mountain brook, while the lower sections as it approaches Johnson widen out into deeper pools and classic riffle-run sequences. Anglers love the Gihon because it offers a sense of solitude; while the nearby Lamoille River gets heavy pressure, you can often spend a whole day on the Gihon without seeing another soul. It is a "high-gradient" stream, meaning the water stays well-oxygenated and cool even when larger rivers are warming up.
🐟 Target Species & Behavior
The primary draw here is the Wild Brook Trout. While the lower reaches may hold the occasional brown or rainbow trout migrating up from the Lamoille, the heart of the Gihon is a native brookie factory.
- Behavior: These fish are opportunistic but wary. Because the water is so clear, they have excellent vision. They are not "size queens"—they will rise to a well-presented fly even if it’s slightly out of season, but they are incredibly spooked by heavy wading or shadows.
- Where they hold: Look for "the bucket"—the soft water right behind a large boulder or the transition zone where a riffle enters a deeper pool. In the summer, they gravitate toward the fastest, most bubbly water (the "white water") where oxygen levels are highest.
- Feeding: Their diet consists mainly of caddis larvae, stoneflies, and small terrestrials (ants/beetles) that fall from the dense overhanging canopy.
📅 Best Times to Fish
Summer (Late June – August)
This is prime time for the Gihon. While other Vermont rivers suffer from high water temperatures in July, the Gihon’s shaded canopy and spring-fed headwaters keep it cold.
- Best Time of Day: Early morning (6:00 AM – 10:00 AM) or "the golden hour" before sunset.
- Conditions: Low, clear water. Stealth is your most important tool during this window.
Fall (September – October)
Fall is spectacular for two reasons: the foliage and the Brook Trout spawn.
- Behavior: Brookies become aggressive and territorial as they prepare to spawn. Their colors turn a vivid, fiery orange.
- Best Time of Day: Mid-day. As the air temperatures drop, the water takes longer to warm up, making 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM the most productive window.
🪰 Recommended Flies & Techniques
The Gihon is a "short game" river. You rarely need to cast more than 20 feet.
Top Fly Patterns
- Dry Flies:
- Royal Wulff or Royal Coachman (Size 14-16): The white wings are easy to see in the pocket water.
- Elk Hair Caddis (Tan or Olive, Size 14-18): A staple for Vermont mountain streams.
- Black Ants & Foam Beetles (Size 16-18): Lethal in late summer.
- Nymphs:
- Bead-head Pheasant Tail (Size 16-20): Mimics almost any small mayfly.
- Prince Nymph (Size 14-16): Great for the faster, deeper runs.
- Streamers:
- Black Ghost or Woolly Bugger (Size 10-12): Use these in the deeper pools during the Fall to trigger aggressive strikes.
Techniques
- Dry-Dropper: This is the most effective way to fish the Gihon. Use a buoyant dry fly (like a Stimulator) and hang a small unweighted nymph 18 inches below it.
- High-Sticking: Since the current is complex with many eddies, keep as much line off the water as possible to avoid "drag."
- Bow-and-Arrow Cast: In the tighter, brush-choked upper sections, you'll need this specialized cast to get your fly under overhanging branches.
💡 Pro Tips & Local Knowledge
- Fish Upstream: Always walk and fish upstream. Because the Gihon is clear and shallow, if you fish downstream, the silt you kick up and your physical profile will alert the fish before you ever make a cast.
- The "Shadow Rule": The Gihon is heavily forested. If your shadow falls across a pool, the fishing in that pool is likely over for the next 30 minutes. Keep a low profile.
- Focus on Johnson: The stretch near the town of Johnson offers some of the most accessible "big" water on the river with deeper holes that hold surprisingly large Brookies (10-12 inches).
- Check the Gauges: The Gihon is "flashy." It rises quickly after a rain and drops just as fast. If it’s been raining heavily, give it 24 hours to clear up.
⚠️ Important Information
- Access: Much of the Gihon flows through private land, but Vermont has a friendly "tradition of access." However, always look for "Posted" signs. Good public access can be found near bridge crossings along Route 100 and Route 15 in Johnson.
- Regulations: The Gihon is generally managed under General Fishing Regulations for trout (5 fish limit, no size limit), but many local anglers practice 100% Catch and Release to protect the wild genetics of the brook trout.
- Gear: A 7-foot to 8-foot 3-weight or 4-weight rod is perfect. Anything longer will get tangled in the trees. Use a 5X or 6X fluorocarbon tippet for the best presentation in clear water.
- Safety: The rocks in the Gihon are notoriously slippery. Felt-soled boots or studs are highly recommended. Watch out for stinging nettles along the banks!
Guide’s Final Word: The Gihon isn't about trophy-sized fish; it's about the beauty of the surroundings and the purity of the pursuit. Slow down, observe the water, and enjoy one of Vermont's true gems.
Bug Hatches & Matching Flies
| Hatch | Type | Peak months | Time of day | Hook sizes | Matching flies |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hendrickson Ephemerella subvaria | mayfly | May | Afternoon | #12-14 | Red Quill #12-14, Hendrickson Nymph #12-14, Pheasant Tail #12-14 |
| Grannom Caddis Brachycentrus | caddis | May | Morning/Afternoon | #14-16 | Grannom Pupa #14-16, Elk Hair Caddis (Olive) #14-16, Peacock Caddis #16 |
| Blue Winged Olive Baetis | mayfly | April, May, September, October | Late Morning/Afternoon | #18-22 | RS2 (Olive) #20-22, BWO Sparkle Dun #18-22, Cdc Baetis #20 |
| Sulphur Ephemerella invaria/dorothea | mayfly | June, July | Evening | #14-18 | Sulphur Parachute #16-18, Sulphur Emerger #16-18, Pheasant Tail (Flashback) #16-18 |
| Light Cahill Stenacron canadense | mayfly | June, July | Evening | #12-14 | Light Cahill Dry #12-14, Cream Usual #14 |
| Little Yellow Stonefly Isoperla | stonefly | June, July | Late Afternoon/Evening | #14-16 | Yellow Sally Dry #14-16, Little Yellow Stone Nymph #14-16 |
| Terrestrials (Ants/Beetles) Formicidae / Coleoptera | terrestrial | July, August, September | All Day | #12-18 | Black Foam Ant #14-18, Chernobyl Ant #12, Cinnamon Ant #16 |
| Tan Caddis Hydropsyche | caddis | June, July, August | Evening | #14-18 | Tan Elk Hair Caddis #14-16, Holy Grail (Tan) #16 |
| Early Brown Stonefly Strophopteryx fasciata | stonefly | March, April | Afternoon | #12-16 | Early Brown Stone Nymph #12-14, Stimulator (Orange/Brown) #14 |
| Trico Tricorythodes | mayfly | August, September | Morning | #20-24 | Trico Spinner #22-24, Zebra Midge #20-22 |