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Montebello Resort

Fee-Based Trout Pond

*FLY FISHING IS NOT ALLOWED AT THE TROUT POND*

If you enjoy fishing in a beautiful, clean, and safe setting, then come to Montebello Resort in Nelson County and catch some Rainbow Trout in our fee-based ponds!  Our ponds are stocked with 12 to 18 inch Rainbows. The trout ponds are available to fish Sun-Thurs from 9am-4:30pm and Fri-Sat from 8am-5:30pm. Hours can vary during a particular season so please call us at 540-377-2650 to verify exact times.

There is no fee to fish but you must keep what you catch. Our fish are sold by the pound. Since you will be fishing on private property, a fishing license is not required. If you have any questions about fishing in the trout ponds, please contact us.

Current trout prices range from $6.25 to 6.95 per pound, depending on volume caught. 

If you are just passing by and decide to fish, or maybe you left your fishing supplies at home... don't worry! We sell an assortment of fishing poles for adults and children, fishing line, a variety of lures and spinners, assorted sinkers and hooks, as well as live and artificial bait, in our Country Store.

Good luck and happy fishing!

Didn't get lucky or just don't want to catch your own?

We now offer vacuum sealed trout fillets sold by the pound in our country store. The current price is $11.49 per pound. This is a seasonal product and may not be available year-round.

Trout Fishing Guidelines

  • No license required; Fly Fishing Prohibited
  • Check in at the store before fishing
  • Keep what you catch and pay by the pound
  • Only use buckets provided
  • No Cooler/tackle boxes allowed in the pond area
  • All fish caught must be kept..injured fish die
  • Please be courteous of your fellow fisherman
  • Pond open during store hours only
  • Rinse and bag your fish whole to be weighed in store
  • No fish cleaning allowed at the rinse sink
young girls fishing for trout
Learn

Helpful Tips

Use size 6 or 8 hooks, a bobber, and a good 3-4 feet of lead line. Trout will bite on a variety of bait: mealworms, nightcrawlers, power bait, salmon eggs, lures, corn, cheese, etc.

You may get several nibbles before actually getting a bite. Once you are certain you've got a bite, firmly and quickly flick the rod at your wrist to hook the fish; be sure not to jerk too hard or you will lose the fish!

When pulling the fish ashore, be sure to get some distance between yourself and the water's edge; often times the fish will get off the hook and back into the water if you are too close to the water's edge. The fish will remain active if you keep some water in the bucket but expect to be splashed!

How To Handle Fresh-Caught Trout

trout fish

The last thing you want to do is bring home spoils of the battle that are, well, spoiled. That's particularly true when anglers pursue trout. Trout are legendarily delicious and tender, but they're also exceptionally prone to spoilage.

We all love to eat trout, and catching them is fun, but there are a few things you need to keep in mind when you fish for trout. First of all, trout are aggressive. You've got to catch them before they're gone. Because of this, the tendency is to unhook them and quickly get the bait back in the water. The tendency is not to take care of them.

Unfortunately, trout is one of the most delicate fish and it's very susceptible to naturally occurring enzymes that deteriorate it. Recreational anglers have to keep the fish whole, but they can greatly hinder the enzymatic breakdown by keeping the fish exceptionally cold. In the case of fee-based trout ponds, the caught trout may not legally be sliced, gutted, or filleted while on site. Therefore, we recommend purchasing a bag of ice, putting it in a chest, and recognize that every fish you add to the chest will quickly raise the temperature of the chest.

PUT YOUR FISH ON ICE IMMEDIATELY AND CLEAN THEM AS SOON AS POSSIBLE TO AVOID SPOILAGE, ESPECIALLY IN HOT WEATHER!

Montebello Resort

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Contact
  • 540-377-2650
  • reservations@montebellova.com
  • 15072 Crabtree Falls Hwy.
    Montebello, VA 24464