It’s a fishing day

Connecticut River (Bellows Falls) fishing conditions · Vermont

Today, 2 pm–9 pmSmallmouth bass

The bite peaks at 74.

Log a trip here
Right now: 74 for smallmouth bass, worth the tripTap or drag along the water to move through the next 36 hours

Smallmouth bass, hour by hour

Each float is an hour. The deeper it rides, the better the bite. The strip underneath runs daylight, dusk and dark; the red rule marks the best window. Click any hour to read it.

  1. 743 am
  2. 74
  3. 74
  4. 746 am
  5. 64
  6. 64
  7. 649 am
  8. 64
  9. 64
  10. 6412 pm
  11. 66
  12. 74
  13. 743 pm
  14. 74
  15. 74
  16. 746 pm
  17. 74
  18. 74
  19. 649 pm
  20. 66
  21. 66
  22. 66Tue
  23. 66
  24. 66
  25. 663 am
  26. 66
  27. 66
  28. 666 am
  29. 64
  30. 66
  31. 669 am
  32. 66
  33. 66
  34. 6612 pm
  35. 66
  36. 66
Go, 85+Worth the trip, 70+Marginal, 55+Sit it out

Right now

Water
No reading

Smallmouth bass range 55–78°

Wind
0 mph

From the

Flow
2,060 cfs

steady · +12% in 24 h

Light
Dark

Sunrise 7:16 am

Sky
Partly Cloudy

No rain expected

Air
34°F

NWS hourly forecast

Barometer
Falling

Measured, last 3 hours

Moon
100% lit

Full

What’s biting

Each species is scored against its own water-temperature range and tide preference, then wind, weather and warnings. The rules are Vermont non-tidal regulations for these waters.

Smallmouth Bass

Smallmouth bass

Micropterus dolomieu

74Worth the tripToday, 2 pm–9 pm

Water

No water reading here right now. Smallmouth bass bite in 55–78° water, best near 68°.

Why

Fish feed actively ahead of a pressure drop. Settled river level — clearer water, easier wading. Holds 3–30 ft down.

Keep

10" minimum · 5 a day

Open. Keep fish within the limits. Vermont: 10" minimum, 5 bass a day combined, harvest from the second Saturday in June to Mar 15; catch and release with artificial lures the rest of the year. Lake Champlain is 12" and closes to harvest Dec 1.

Verified Oct 23, 2026 · Vermont non-tidal

Season here: Apr–Oct, estimated from local air temperature, 2023–2025; there is no water gauge here. More on smallmouth bass

Walleye

Walleye

Sander vitreus

74Worth the tripToday, 2 pm–9 pm

Water

No water reading here right now. Walleye bite in 50–72° water, best near 62°.

Why

Fish feed actively ahead of a pressure drop. Settled river level — clearer water, easier wading. Holds 10–40 ft down.

Keep

18" minimum · 3 a day

Open. Keep fish within the limits. Vermont and Lake Champlain: 18" minimum, 3 walleye a day, from the first Saturday in May to Mar 15; catch and release with artificial lures otherwise.

Verified Oct 23, 2026 · Vermont non-tidal

Season here: Apr–Jun, Sep–Nov, estimated from local air temperature, 2023–2025; there is no water gauge here. More on walleye

Yellow Perch

Yellow perch

Perca flavescens

68MarginalToday, 2 pm–9 pm

Water

No water reading here right now. Yellow perch bite in 45–70° water, best near 58°.

Why

Fish feed actively ahead of a pressure drop. Holds 5–30 ft down.

Keep

50 a day

Open. Keep fish within the limits. Vermont: 50 panfish a day in total (no more than 25 crappie), no minimum on perch. Lake Champlain has no perch limit.

Verified Oct 23, 2026 · Vermont non-tidal

Season here: Mar–May, Sep–Nov, estimated from local air temperature, 2023–2025; there is no water gauge here. More on yellow perch

Common Carp

Common carp

Cyprinus carpio

68MarginalToday, 2 pm–9 pm

Water

No water reading here right now. Common carp bite in 52–86° water, best near 72°.

Why

Fish feed actively ahead of a pressure drop. Holds 1–15 ft down.

Keep

no daily limit

Open. Keep fish within the limits. Vermont: carp, suckers and cull fish have no size limit and no daily limit, all year, on rivers, streams, lakes and ponds.

Verified Oct 18, 2026 · Vermont non-tidal

Last checked 8 days ago. Rules may have changed.

Season here: May–Sep, estimated from local air temperature, 2023–2025; there is no water gauge here. More on common carp

The water

  • Water temperatureNo reading
  • River2,060 cfs · steady · +12% in 24 h
  • Barometer30.31 inHg, falling

Sun, moon & solunar

  • Sunrise today7:16 am
  • Sunset today5:50 pm
  • MoonFull, 100% lit
  • Minor solunarToday 7:20 am–8:20 am
  • Major solunarToday 11:40 am–1:40 pm
  • Minor solunarToday 5:10 pm–6:10 pm

Solunar tables are a popular heuristic. A peer-reviewed test found they don’t predict catch on their own, so here they only nudge the score when the tide or moon already agree. How the score works

Fishing report

No current report covers these waters.

We only show reports an agency has published, with their date. Vermont Fish & Wildlife has the state’s fishing pages.

Licenses and rules: Vermont Fish & Wildlife · fish-consumption advisories

About this spot

The Connecticut River along the Vermont–New Hampshire border holds strong smallmouth bass, walleye, and yellow perch in its impoundments and runs. The stretch around Bellows Falls is fished from boats and the bank; live USGS flow at North Walpole reads the river.

NH–VT boundary water: either state's resident license is valid. Bass 2 a day Jan 1–May 14, catch and release May 15–Jun 15, 5 a day after; walleye from 16 to 18" must be released (4 a day, only 1 over 18"); northern pike 28", 1 a day.

Nearby

The closest public spots we cover, with the same 36 hours of floats.

Squam Lake63 mi · New HampshireBest today 4 am–7 am
78Worth the trip
Lake Winnipesaukee64 mi · New HampshireBest now until 7 am
78Worth the trip
Salisbury Beach State Reservation85 mi · MassachusettsBest now until 7 amSmall Craft Advisory
73Worth the trip
North Hampton State Beach85 mi · New HampshireBest now until 7 am
98Go
Farmington River86 mi · ConnecticutBest now until 7 am
96Go
Lake Champlain (Burlington)101 mi · VermontBest now until 6 am
84Worth the trip

Questions people ask

Do I need a fishing license to fish at Connecticut River (Bellows Falls)?

Yes (anglers age 16 and older). To fish at Connecticut River (Bellows Falls) you need the appropriate state fishing license. See the agency's current rules: the state agency website

What fish are commonly targeted at Connecticut River (Bellows Falls)?

Connecticut River (Bellows Falls) is listed on this site for 4 commonly-targeted species: Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Yellow Perch, Common Carp. Which species is currently in season and which is scoring highest today is shown in the per-species ranking on this page.

When is the best time to fish at Connecticut River (Bellows Falls)?

It depends more on the species and the day's conditions than on a fixed "best hour." Water temperature, weather, and — at tidal locations — the stage of the tide drive activity most. The per-species ranking on this page scores every target species at Connecticut River (Bellows Falls) against today's live conditions, so the fish near the top are your best bets right now; check back as conditions change through the day.

What kind of access does Connecticut River (Bellows Falls) have?

Connecticut River (Bellows Falls) has multiple access types — pier, shoreline, and at least one public boat ramp. NH–VT boundary water: either state's resident license is valid. Bass 2 a day Jan 1–May 14, catch and release May 15–Jun 15, 5 a day after; walleye from 16 to 18" must be released (4 a day, only 1 over 18"); northern pike 28", 1 a day.

Which state's fishing regulations apply at Connecticut River (Bellows Falls)?

state agency regulations apply at Connecticut River (Bellows Falls). Size limits, creel limits, and seasonal closures are listed per species on each species page. Always confirm against the agency source linked from each regulation block — emergency closures can take effect mid-season.

Is Connecticut River (Bellows Falls) tidal water?

No. Connecticut River (Bellows Falls) is non-tidal — water level varies with rainfall, seasonal flow, and (where applicable) upstream dam releases rather than tidal exchange.