Lake Willoughby Wildlife & Fish

Lake Willoughby's cold, deep water, averaging about 185 feet, makes it one of Vermont's premier cold-water fisheries. It produced the state-record lake trout: 35 pounds, 3.2 ounces, caught in 2003. Above the water, peregrine falcons nest on the cliffs of Mount Pisgah, and rare alpine plants cling to the rock faces. Downstream, the Willoughby River hosts one of Vermont's best wildlife spectacles each spring, when steelhead rainbow trout leap Willoughby Falls in Orleans.

By Vermont Lake Collection · Last reviewed: October 2026

The Short Answer

What fish are in Lake Willoughby?

Lake trout, rainbow trout, landlocked Atlantic salmon, burbot, yellow perch and round whitefish, a native fish with a limited range in Vermont.

What is the Vermont record lake trout?

35 pounds, 3.2 ounces, caught in Lake Willoughby in 2003 by Shawn Dutil, according to Vermont Fish & Wildlife.

When do the steelhead jump at Willoughby Falls?

Usually from mid-to-late April into early May, at Willoughby Falls in Orleans. The best viewing lasts only a few days, when flows and water temperatures are just right.

A Deep, Cold-Water Fishery

Lake trout, a char native to Vermont's deep, cold lakes, are Willoughby's signature fish. They cruise shallower water after ice-out in spring, then move deep as the lake warms. Willoughby also holds rainbow trout, landlocked Atlantic salmon, burbot, yellow perch and round whitefish, a native species with a limited range in Vermont.

Peregrine Falcons and Alpine Cliffs

The cliffs of Mount Pisgah and Mount Hor are a National Natural Landmark and part of the 950-acre Willoughby Cliffs Natural Area. Pulpit Rock, on the Mount Pisgah trail, is a known peregrine falcon nesting area; peregrines are among the fastest birds in the world. The cliffs also shelter protected alpine plants found almost nowhere else in Vermont, and no trails lead to or through them. More than 100 bird species have been recorded at the lake.

The Willoughby Falls Steelhead Run

The Willoughby River flows out of Lake Willoughby and winds about 11.6 miles to the Barton River, which empties into Lake Memphremagog's South Bay. Each spring, steelhead rainbow trout run up the river to spawn, and at Willoughby Falls in Orleans village, along Route 58, you can watch them leap the falls. Vermont Fish & Wildlife calls it one of the state's premier wildlife-watching opportunities. The run usually peaks from mid-to-late April into early May, and the stretch from the Tarbox Hill Road bridge down to the falls is closed to all fishing until June 1 to protect spawning fish.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Lake Willoughby good for fishing?
Yes, especially for cold-water species. It produced Vermont's record lake trout and also holds rainbow trout, landlocked salmon, burbot and perch.

Are there peregrine falcons at Lake Willoughby?
Yes. They nest on the cliffs of Mount Pisgah, including around Pulpit Rock.

Where can I see the steelhead run near Lake Willoughby?
At Willoughby Falls in Orleans village along Route 58, usually from mid-to-late April into early May.