One of the state’s premier wildlife watching opportunities is taking place in Vermont. The steelhead rainbow trout have started their upstream migration to leap up waterfalls in a spectacular display of determination on their way to their spawning grounds.

Steelhead can be spotted moving up the falls during warmer days in mid-to-late April and sometimes into early May.

“Many people may not realize we have opportunities to watch fish in Vermont just like there are for birds and mammals,” said Jud Kratzer, fisheries biologist for the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department.

“Witnessing these trout migrate is a powerful reminder of the importance of maintaining healthy and connected waters to allow fish to thrive. We’re working to conserve Vermont’s waterways and the surrounding habitats so that future generations can continue to witness this incredible migration each spring. While the annual migration occurs over several weeks, the best opportunities for seeing jumping fish only last for a few days when flows and water temperatures are just right.”

Willoughby River steelhead also provide an excellent fishing opportunity attracting anglers from all over the Northeast for Vermont’s trout fishing season that opens April 13. The section of the river in Orleans from the downstream edge of the Tarbox Hill Road Bridge to the top of the natural falls just upstream is closed to all fishing from April 13 to May 31.