Meccawe Pond
Simply put, the fishing is excellent. Meccawe Pond is home to approximately 800 rainbow and brook trout ranging from 5 inches up to 26 inches. We stock the pond every April.
Ours is a natural pond that has been dammed and dredged to a maximum depth. It has two feeder streams plus several springs that help it remain the optimum temperature for our brookies and rainbows.
During most of the spring, summer, and fall fish will readily feed on the surface and can be taken by dry flies and nymphs; members, their families, and guests also have good success with lures and worms.
Boats
There are eight rowboats and a dock for member use; there is also a large cleared shoreline with easy fishing access.
Limits
Members are allowed to keep up to 60 fish a year. A Vermont license is not required to fish at the Club. Fishing is allowed from boats, the dock, and the shore. Members bring their own equipment, as none is available at the Club.
No live bait, such as shiners, is allowed, in order to protect the ecology of the pond.
Children
Children under 12 must be accompanied by an adult in boats and the children must wear life vests (provided).
Beginners welcome!
If you don't know how to flyfish and want to learn, let us know. We'll be happy to get you started!
August 17, 2023 — Raw Data
Meccawe Club Fishing Report for 2022
By C. Honsinger and F. Hammond
Weather Conditions
Spring 2022 brought less than normal precipitation to much of Vermont with most of southern Vermont seeing below normal rainfall (VT Forest Health Rept., 2022). The summer was abnormally dry as well with widespread drought conditions. Water temperatures were higher than previous years, but for some reason the amount of invasive aquatic weeds continued to be low and fishing was surprisingly good during the warmer months with members reporting quality fishing in all months of the fishing season.
Stocking/Harvest Report
A total of $6,750 was spent to stock 1,229 trout. This was an increase of $1,044 and an additional 232 trout stocked from 2021. Fish were obtained from two sources—Danaher Fishery and Hy-On-A Hill Trout Farm with Danaher also providing 27 large “trophy” trout that were paid for by special member donations.
A total of 483 trout were harvested by members and their guests (see table below).
Four hundred and eighty-three trout were caught by members and their guests with the majority (338 or 70 %) being released. Rainbow trout were stocked in the highest numbers and also were the most common species caught by members. Forty of this species were caught for every 100 stocked. Brook trout were the next most frequent species caught with a catch rate of 26 percent, a much lower catch rate than for rainbows despite there being some level of natural reproduction of brook trout that augments the number caught. The catch rate for brown trout was lowest for the three species at only 10 percent. More trout were harvested than in the previous season due most likely to more having been stocked and to more members fishing after two years of pandemic restrictions.
Wounding Loss and Predation
Most Club fishers fish with flies and practice catch and release fishing. It is unknown what percent of trout survive after being released or how many are caught multiple times. The loss of trout to predators may be substantial—perhaps as high as 25 percent or more in some years. Predators that have been observed taking trout from the pond include otter, loons, osprey, eagles, herons, mergansers, and mink. In 2022 a pair of loons was present for most of the season. One year an otter raised a litter of young in the pond and members observed each of them catching multiple trout per day for most of the season. In recent years a pair of loons has begun fishing in the pond during most days of the season.
Wildlife take many trout from the pond each season. Despite this loss most members express enjoyment at seeing them and accept the loss of some fish as part of the Meccawe experience. The result is that the Club stocks trout at higher levels than in past years to compensate for the fish taken by predators.
Pond Health and Management
In recent years Club members have been concerned with the decreased water depth observed throughout the pond. This is a natural process for ponds and reservoirs that is known as “eutrophication”. The change in water depth has been especially noticeable after severe storm events. This gradual filling in of the pond has concerned many Club members and the Board of Directors has been exploring improving pond depth through potentially dredging and other pond management methods. During 2022, the Club contracted with Ondine Fresh Water Consultants for a pond survey and report on the health of our pond. Their findings were interesting, but the recommended actions would be financially costly. The full report can be read on the Club’s website Meccawe.org. Additional information on pond health including measurements of water temperatures and dissolved oxygen content can also be found on our web site.
