The Black River is a freestone river in Vermont, listed as Steelhead / salmon water by Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department / Vermont Fish and Wildlife Board.
1 USGS gauge on the water reports flow. 1 guide nearby are listed here; the nearest destination hub is Manchester & the Battenkill.
Black River is a freestone river in Vermont. Our destination hub Manchester & the Battenkill is 30 mi away in a straight line. Vermont has 2 waters named Black River in the USGS Geographic Names Information System; this page is the stream whose mouth is in Windsor County, the one the agency list names.
Pick one of its USGS gauges and hear from us when the flow moves into or out of its usual range for the date, or crosses a flow you set. We check the public USGS reading every 2 hours and email only when it crosses, at most once every 6 hours. Flow alone is not a fishing forecast or a safety call.
Signed in: one step. Otherwise we email a confirmation link first. Every alert has one-click links to stop it.
Start from the agency's public access map. Nothing on this page grants or implies access: check the agency map, posted signs and landowner permission before you fish.
Nothing on this page grants or implies access.
Gauges, shops and guides within 40 miles
Map of Black River: gauges, shops and guides
Map of Black River with 1 USGS gauge.
Restrooms within 2 miles of Black River in a straight line, nearest first, with what anglers found when they went. The map says a restroom is there, not whether it is clean or open today.
No restroom mapped within 2 mi yet — add one you know.
Campgrounds, fishing access sites and boat ramps often have one that isn't on the map yet.
Restroom locations and map details: © OpenStreetMap contributors, Open Database License, read Oct 24, 2026. Ratings, answers and photos are members' own; who shared them is never shown, and every photo is reviewed before it appears. Visits older than 18 months no longer count. Distances are straight-line miles, not driving. Nothing here grants access to private land. Community guidelines.
Freestone riverThe West River at the West Dummerston covered bridge, Vermont. Photo: chensiyuan, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Trophy / quality trout waterRepresentative photo · not Stoughton PondMooselookmeguntic Lake from Oquossoc, Maine. Photo: Doug Kerr, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons Not Stoughton Pond.
Vermont · about 3 mi
Trophy / quality trout waterRepresentative photo · not Colby PondRangeley Lake, Maine. Photo: Manuel Velazquez, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons Not Colby Pond.
Vermont · about 12 mi
Trophy / quality trout waterRepresentative photo · not Lake RescueLake Jocassee from a canoe, South Carolina. Photo: TimothyJ from Atlanta, USA, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons Not Lake Rescue.
Vermont · about 12 mi
Trophy / quality trout waterRepresentative photo · not Echo LakeSunrise over Lake Marion from Santee State Park, South Carolina. Photo: Andrew Parlette from Elkridge,MD, US, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons Not Echo Lake.
Vermont · about 13 mi
Trophy / quality trout waterRepresentative photo · not Amherst LakeSunset at Lake Moultrie, South Carolina. Photo: Kcstanfield, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons Not Amherst Lake.
Vermont · about 14 mi
Seasons, limits, special regulations and closures for each reach are on the agency pages below. Read them before you go.
Each comes from the agency's own published list; where the list names a reach it is quoted. A designation applies to the listed reach, not necessarily the whole water. Listed in the finder under trout, salmon & steelhead.
On the Rainbow Trout (including Steelhead)/Brown Trout rivers and the Clyde River salmon water (10 App. V.S.A. §122, 7.6(d), 7.7(d)) list (Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department / Vermont Fish and Wildlife Board, read 2026-10-16). All waters with this designation
On the Trophy Trout Streams (10 App. V.S.A. §122, 7.6(c)) list (Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department / Vermont Fish and Wildlife Board, read 2026-10-16). All waters with this designation
Measured from the NHDPlus High Resolution (flowlines and waterbodies) (U.S. Geological Survey, read 2026-11-04) for this water’s own mapped feature. Rounded figures; they describe the channel, not today’s conditions.
Whole Black River, not only this reach.
From the agency’s own plan (Fish Stocking Plan (proposed, trophy trout waters), Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department, read 2026-11-04), listed as Black River (Cavendish-Weathersfield). Check the agency for this season.
Agency plan, not a schedule
2026 plan: Brown Trout (2-year), Rainbow Trout (2-year) in May, 2,000 fish.
Listings marked Unclaimed are built from open map records and the business's own website: confirm licensing, rates, dates and hours directly.
Arlington, VT · 39 mi
Wade trips · Euro nymphing · Battenkill & Walloomsac
Nearby
No shop nearby yet.
What 1 nearby guide website mention: what guides advertise, not a survey or a promise of what you will catch.
Named on 1 nearby guide website
8 hatches charted for the region, not measured on this water. From Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission.
Blue Quill (April) · Hendrickson (April) · Quill Gordon (April) · Green drake (May) · Mayflies (best hatches) (May) · Mayflies, stoneflies and caddisflies (June to September) · and 2 more on the chart
Manchester sits in the valley of the Battenkill in southern Vermont, with the Mettawee and Walloomsac rivers and Otter Creek nearby and the West River over the mountains to the east.
Destination hub · 30 mi away in a straight line
A practical checklist for fly fishing small mountain trout streams: a short 3–4 weight rod, light line, a few buoyant dries and simple wet-wading gear, with estimated prices and where to buy.
7′6″–8′6″ rod, 3–4 weight, floating line · Brook, cutthroat, rainbow and brown trout
Open the checklistSeams, shelves and soft water, shown on real rivers.
Public YouTube videos from established channels, chosen by us to support this page. Not sponsored; the creators are not affiliated with Legendary Fly Gear.
Not sponsored All videos on reading water
Indicator rigs, depth and detecting the take.
Public YouTube videos from established channels, chosen by us to support this page. Not sponsored; the creators are not affiliated with Legendary Fly Gear.
Not sponsored All videos on nymphing
Trip stories anglers chose to share publicly and tagged with Black River.
No stories from here yet.
Not a statement of access, fish presence or conditions.
A water page organises discovery. It does not assert public access, legal access, current fish presence, guide availability or fishing conditions.
Flows, gauge statistics and flood stages come from USGS and the National Weather Service when the page is shown. Regulations, stocking, species and season statements link to the agency that publishes them; this page copies only the species names and the quoted sentences. Guide and shop listings come from the Legendary directories. Position: the USGS gauge BLACK RIVER AT NORTH SPRINGFIELD, VT. Water type is our own classification.
Limited data: Normal flow for the date: no water temperature here
No water temperature here.
At BLACK RIVER AT NORTH SPRINGFIELD, VT (USGS 01153000) Provisional USGS data
USGS 01153000 · NWS NSPV1
What the agencies suggest
Carry a pocket thermometer to monitor water temperatureNational Park Service
General guidance from the readings and the published lines named above, not a fishing forecast. Local rules and closures come first.
Reading Nov 5, 6:30 PM EST · provisional USGS data
Below normal for Nov 5 Steady · 24 h Below NWS action stage
Discharge, last 7 days: 169 readings from Oct 29, 7:30 PM EDT to Nov 5, 6:30 PM EST; ranging 50.9 to 61.7 ft³/s; latest 57.5 ft³/s.
USGS provisional data may be revised. Source: USGS instantaneous values.
| Time | Discharge (ft³/s) | Gauge height (ft) |
|---|---|---|
| Nov 5, 6:30 PM EST | 57.5 | 1.92 |
| Nov 5, 5:30 PM EST | 57.5 | 1.92 |
| Nov 5, 4:30 PM EST | 57.5 | 1.92 |
| Nov 5, 3:30 PM EST | 57.5 | 1.92 |
| Nov 5, 2:30 PM EST | 56.2 | 1.91 |
| Nov 5, 1:30 PM EST | 56.2 | 1.91 |
| Nov 5, 12:30 PM EST | 56.2 | 1.91 |
| Nov 5, 11:30 AM EST | 56.2 | 1.91 |
| Nov 5, 10:30 AM EST | 54.8 | 1.9 |
| Nov 5, 9:30 AM EST | 53.5 | 1.89 |
| Nov 5, 8:30 AM EST | 53.5 | 1.89 |
| Nov 5, 7:30 AM EST | 53.5 | 1.89 |
| Nov 5, 6:30 AM EST | 53.5 | 1.89 |
| Nov 5, 5:30 AM EST | 53.5 | 1.89 |
| Nov 5, 4:30 AM EST | 53.5 | 1.89 |
| Nov 5, 3:30 AM EST | 53.5 | 1.89 |
| Nov 5, 2:30 AM EST | 53.5 | 1.89 |
| Nov 5, 1:30 AM EST | 54.8 | 1.9 |
| Nov 5, 12:30 AM EST | 54.8 | 1.9 |
| Nov 4, 11:30 PM EST | 54.8 | 1.9 |
| Nov 4, 10:30 PM EST | 54.8 | 1.9 |
| Nov 4, 9:30 PM EST | 54.8 | 1.9 |
| Nov 4, 8:30 PM EST | 54.8 | 1.9 |
| Nov 4, 7:30 PM EST | 54.8 | 1.9 |
| Nov 4, 6:30 PM EST | 54.8 | 1.9 |
| Nov 4, 5:30 PM EST | 54.8 | 1.9 |
| Nov 4, 4:30 PM EST | 54.8 | 1.9 |
| Nov 4, 3:30 PM EST | 54.8 | 1.9 |
| Nov 4, 2:30 PM EST | 54.8 | 1.9 |
| Nov 4, 1:30 PM EST | 54.8 | 1.9 |
| Nov 4, 12:30 PM EST | 54.8 | 1.9 |
| Nov 4, 11:30 AM EST | 54.8 | 1.9 |
| Nov 4, 10:30 AM EST | 54.8 | 1.9 |
| Nov 4, 9:30 AM EST | 54.8 | 1.9 |
| Nov 4, 8:30 AM EST | 54.8 | 1.9 |
| Nov 4, 7:30 AM EST | 54.8 | 1.9 |
| Nov 4, 6:30 AM EST | 54.8 | 1.9 |
| Nov 4, 5:30 AM EST | 54.8 | 1.9 |
| Nov 4, 4:30 AM EST | 54.8 | 1.9 |
| Nov 4, 3:30 AM EST | 54.8 | 1.9 |
| Nov 4, 2:30 AM EST | 54.8 | 1.9 |
| Nov 4, 1:30 AM EST | 54.8 | 1.9 |
| Nov 4, 12:30 AM EST | 54.8 | 1.9 |
| Nov 3, 11:30 PM EST | 54.8 | 1.9 |
| Nov 3, 10:30 PM EST | 54.8 | 1.9 |
| Nov 3, 9:30 PM EST | 54.8 | 1.9 |
| Nov 3, 8:30 PM EST | 54.8 | 1.9 |
| Nov 3, 7:30 PM EST | 56.2 | 1.91 |
| Nov 3, 6:30 PM EST | 56.2 | 1.91 |
| Nov 3, 5:30 PM EST | 56.2 | 1.91 |
| Nov 3, 4:30 PM EST | 56.2 | 1.91 |
| Nov 3, 3:30 PM EST | 56.2 | 1.91 |
| Nov 3, 2:30 PM EST | 56.2 | 1.91 |
| Nov 3, 1:30 PM EST | 56.2 | 1.91 |
| Nov 3, 12:30 PM EST | 56.2 | 1.91 |
| Nov 3, 11:30 AM EST | 56.2 | 1.91 |
| Nov 3, 10:30 AM EST | 56.2 | 1.91 |
| Nov 3, 9:30 AM EST | 54.8 | 1.9 |
| Nov 3, 8:30 AM EST | 52.2 | 1.88 |
| Nov 3, 7:30 AM EST | 50.9 | 1.87 |
| Nov 3, 6:30 AM EST | 50.9 | 1.87 |
| Nov 3, 5:30 AM EST | 53.5 | 1.89 |
| Nov 3, 4:30 AM EST | 56.2 | 1.91 |
| Nov 3, 3:30 AM EST | 58.9 | 1.93 |
| Nov 3, 2:30 AM EST | 58.9 | 1.93 |
| Nov 3, 1:30 AM EST | 57.5 | 1.92 |
| Nov 3, 12:30 AM EST | 53.5 | 1.89 |
| Nov 2, 11:30 PM EST | 52.2 | 1.88 |
| Nov 2, 10:30 PM EST | 53.5 | 1.89 |
| Nov 2, 9:30 PM EST | 54.8 | 1.9 |
| Nov 2, 8:30 PM EST | 56.2 | 1.91 |
| Nov 2, 7:30 PM EST | 56.2 | 1.91 |
| Nov 2, 6:30 PM EST | 57.5 | 1.92 |
| Nov 2, 5:30 PM EST | 57.5 | 1.92 |
| Nov 2, 4:30 PM EST | 58.9 | 1.93 |
| Nov 2, 3:30 PM EST | 60.3 | 1.94 |
| Nov 2, 2:30 PM EST | 61.7 | 1.95 |
| Nov 2, 1:30 PM EST | 60.3 | 1.94 |
| Nov 2, 12:30 PM EST | 56.2 | 1.91 |
| Nov 2, 11:30 AM EST | 54.8 | 1.9 |
| Nov 2, 10:30 AM EST | 54.8 | 1.9 |
| Nov 2, 9:30 AM EST | 56.2 | 1.91 |
| Nov 2, 8:30 AM EST | 56.2 | 1.91 |
| Nov 2, 7:30 AM EST | 56.2 | 1.91 |
| Nov 2, 6:30 AM EST | 56.2 | 1.91 |
| Nov 2, 5:30 AM EST | 56.2 | 1.91 |
| Nov 2, 4:30 AM EST | 56.2 | 1.91 |
| Nov 2, 3:30 AM EST | 56.2 | 1.91 |
| Nov 2, 2:30 AM EST | 56.2 | 1.91 |
| Nov 2, 1:30 AM EST | 56.2 | 1.91 |
| Nov 2, 12:30 AM EST | 56.2 | 1.91 |
| Nov 1, 11:30 PM EST | 56.2 | 1.91 |
| Nov 1, 10:30 PM EST | 56.2 | 1.91 |
| Nov 1, 9:30 PM EST | 56.2 | 1.91 |
| Nov 1, 8:30 PM EST | 56.2 | 1.91 |
| Nov 1, 7:30 PM EST | 56.2 | 1.91 |
| Nov 1, 6:30 PM EST | 56.2 | 1.91 |
| Nov 1, 5:30 PM EST | 56.2 | 1.91 |
| Nov 1, 4:30 PM EST | 56.2 | 1.91 |
| Nov 1, 3:30 PM EST | 56.2 | 1.91 |
| Nov 1, 2:30 PM EST | 56.2 | 1.91 |
| Nov 1, 1:30 PM EST | 56.2 | 1.91 |
| Nov 1, 12:30 PM EST | 56.2 | 1.91 |
| Nov 1, 11:30 AM EST | 56.2 | 1.91 |
| Nov 1, 10:30 AM EST | 56.2 | 1.91 |
| Nov 1, 9:30 AM EST | 56.2 | 1.91 |
| Nov 1, 8:30 AM EST | 56.2 | 1.91 |
| Nov 1, 7:30 AM EST | 56.2 | 1.91 |
| Nov 1, 6:30 AM EST | 56.2 | 1.91 |
| Nov 1, 5:30 AM EST | 56.2 | 1.91 |
| Nov 1, 4:30 AM EST | 57.5 | 1.92 |
| Nov 1, 3:30 AM EST | 57.5 | 1.92 |
| Nov 1, 2:30 AM EST | 57.5 | 1.92 |
| Nov 1, 1:30 AM EST | 57.5 | 1.92 |
| Nov 1, 1:30 AM EDT | 57.5 | 1.92 |
| Nov 1, 12:30 AM EDT | 57.5 | 1.92 |
| Oct 31, 11:30 PM EDT | 57.5 | 1.92 |
| Oct 31, 10:30 PM EDT | 57.5 | 1.92 |
| Oct 31, 9:30 PM EDT | 57.5 | 1.92 |
| Oct 31, 8:30 PM EDT | 58.9 | 1.93 |
| Oct 31, 7:30 PM EDT | 58.9 | 1.93 |
| Oct 31, 6:30 PM EDT | 58.9 | 1.93 |
| Oct 31, 5:30 PM EDT | 58.9 | 1.93 |
| Oct 31, 4:30 PM EDT | 58.9 | 1.93 |
| Oct 31, 3:30 PM EDT | 58.9 | 1.93 |
| Oct 31, 2:30 PM EDT | 58.9 | 1.93 |
| Oct 31, 1:30 PM EDT | 58.9 | 1.93 |
| Oct 31, 12:30 PM EDT | 58.9 | 1.93 |
| Oct 31, 11:30 AM EDT | 58.9 | 1.93 |
| Oct 31, 10:30 AM EDT | 58.9 | 1.93 |
| Oct 31, 9:30 AM EDT | 58.9 | 1.93 |
| Oct 31, 8:30 AM EDT | 57.5 | 1.92 |
| Oct 31, 7:30 AM EDT | 57.5 | 1.92 |
| Oct 31, 6:30 AM EDT | 58.9 | 1.93 |
| Oct 31, 5:30 AM EDT | 58.9 | 1.93 |
| Oct 31, 4:30 AM EDT | 58.9 | 1.93 |
| Oct 31, 3:30 AM EDT | 58.9 | 1.93 |
| Oct 31, 2:30 AM EDT | 60.3 | 1.94 |
| Oct 31, 1:30 AM EDT | 60.3 | 1.94 |
| Oct 31, 12:30 AM EDT | 60.3 | 1.94 |
| Oct 30, 11:30 PM EDT | 60.3 | 1.94 |
| Oct 30, 10:30 PM EDT | 60.3 | 1.94 |
| Oct 30, 9:30 PM EDT | 60.3 | 1.94 |
| Oct 30, 8:30 PM EDT | 60.3 | 1.94 |
| Oct 30, 7:30 PM EDT | 60.3 | 1.94 |
| Oct 30, 6:30 PM EDT | 60.3 | 1.94 |
| Oct 30, 5:30 PM EDT | 60.3 | 1.94 |
| Oct 30, 4:30 PM EDT | 61.7 | 1.95 |
| Oct 30, 3:30 PM EDT | 61.7 | 1.95 |
| Oct 30, 2:30 PM EDT | 61.7 | 1.95 |
| Oct 30, 1:30 PM EDT | 60.3 | 1.94 |
| Oct 30, 12:30 PM EDT | 61.7 | 1.95 |
| Oct 30, 11:30 AM EDT | 61.7 | 1.95 |
| Oct 30, 10:30 AM EDT | 61.7 | 1.95 |
| Oct 30, 9:30 AM EDT | 61.7 | 1.95 |
| Oct 30, 8:30 AM EDT | 61.7 | 1.95 |
| Oct 30, 7:30 AM EDT | 61.7 | 1.95 |
| Oct 30, 6:30 AM EDT | 61.7 | 1.95 |
| Oct 30, 5:30 AM EDT | 61.7 | 1.95 |
| Oct 30, 4:30 AM EDT | 61.7 | 1.95 |
| Oct 30, 3:30 AM EDT | 60.3 | 1.94 |
| Oct 30, 2:30 AM EDT | 60.3 | 1.94 |
| Oct 30, 1:30 AM EDT | 60.3 | 1.94 |
| Oct 30, 12:30 AM EDT | 60.3 | 1.94 |
| Oct 29, 11:30 PM EDT | 60.3 | 1.94 |
| Oct 29, 10:30 PM EDT | 60.3 | 1.94 |
| Oct 29, 9:30 PM EDT | 60.3 | 1.94 |
| Oct 29, 8:30 PM EDT | 61.7 | 1.95 |
| Oct 29, 7:30 PM EDT | 61.7 | 1.95 |
Normal for Nov 5: 83–298 ft³/s (middle half of 68 years of record). Now: 57.5 ft³/s, below normal.
Below normal for this date. 57.5 ft³/s is between the 10th and 25th percentiles of daily mean flow for Nov 5 at this gauge over 68 years of record (1931–2026): 10th 47, 25th 83, median 142, 75th 298, 90th 457 ft³/s.
Daily means on record for Nov 5: lowest 14 ft³/s, highest 1,450 ft³/s.
Classes as USGS labels them (hyswap: flow categories (WDFN_stats schema) (U.S. Geological Survey) ); percentiles from the USGS daily statistics (U.S. Geological Survey) (approved daily means; the reading is provisional and instantaneous).
Steady over 24 hours (+4.9% discharge). Rising or falling means a change of more than 10% in discharge (or 0.2 ft of gauge height) over 24 hours; our rule of thumb, not a USGS class.
Below NWS action stage. The National Weather Service reports this gauge below its action stage. That is not a statement that wading is safe.
NWS observed 1.92 ft stage, 58 ft³/s at Nov 5, 5:30 PM EST (NWS gauge NSPV1; its stage datum can differ from the USGS gauge height).
Forecasts are not available. Only observed stages are available for this point.
Open the NWS gauge page · What the categories mean (National Weather Service)
No current water-temperature reading at this gauge, so no temperature guidance is given. Take a stream thermometer: the trout lines Vermont Fish and Wildlife uses are 70°F.
This gauge is on our page for Black River, but no agency page we read lists its species.
Below NWS action stage. The National Weather Service reports this gauge below its action stage. That is not a statement that wading is safe.
Flood categories: action stage, minor, moderate and major flooding (National Weather Service)Turn Around Don't Drown. “A mere 6 inches of fast-moving flood water can knock over an adult.” No flow number makes a crossing safe; if in doubt, stay out.
Turn Around Don't Drown (National Weather Service)Guidance from the readings above and the published thresholds named with each line; not a fishing forecast, a safety guarantee or a statement about access. Local rules and closures come first.
Checked Nov 5, 6:59 PM EST; readings refresh at most every 15 minutes and statistics daily. Provisional USGS data can be revised. Conditions change: re-check before you go. This is general guidance, not a fishing forecast, a safety guarantee or a statement about access.
Freestone riverThe West River at the West Dummerston covered bridge, Vermont. Photo: chensiyuan, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Trophy / quality trout waterRepresentative photo · not Stoughton PondMooselookmeguntic Lake from Oquossoc, Maine. Photo: Doug Kerr, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons Not Stoughton Pond.
Vermont · about 3 mi
Trophy / quality trout waterRepresentative photo · not Colby PondRangeley Lake, Maine. Photo: Manuel Velazquez, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons Not Colby Pond.
Vermont · about 12 mi
Trophy / quality trout waterRepresentative photo · not Lake RescueLake Jocassee from a canoe, South Carolina. Photo: TimothyJ from Atlanta, USA, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons Not Lake Rescue.
Vermont · about 12 mi
Trophy / quality trout waterRepresentative photo · not Echo LakeSunrise over Lake Marion from Santee State Park, South Carolina. Photo: Andrew Parlette from Elkridge,MD, US, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons Not Echo Lake.
Vermont · about 13 mi
Trophy / quality trout waterRepresentative photo · not Amherst LakeSunset at Lake Moultrie, South Carolina. Photo: Kcstanfield, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons Not Amherst Lake.
Vermont · about 14 mi
