Waterbury reservoir, cotton brook access

[VTarborist]

My wife and I hiked out to try to access the reservoir at the conoe access. Right after the last corn field, the road had flooded and was covered with a thin, fresh layer of sketchy looking ice.  I even tried to walk some of it and broke through!  We searched around to try to find another way and couldn’t. We did see some snowmobiles up in the woods headed out toward cottonbrook.  I’ve never been up there but was wondering if there is a way to get on the ice from up there on foot?

Figured I’d let everyone know what I found and hope for some help!

[thefishingweatherman]

There's a tote road that leads from near the canoe access out to cotton brook, and then heads inland (West-ish), a good ways away from the lake. Technically, you can access the Res from anywhere along that road, but there are very steep wooded banks along the shore that will prove challenging. Once you get close to the brook though, it's less steep, and you can cut down through the woods to get to a little camping area. Should be easy walking onto the ice there, but it's still kind of steep in spots, so you'll want to tie your gear down onto your sled. Just watch for thin ice around the brook. Let us know if you catch anything! Always wanted to ice fish around there!

[cbice]

Yeah like TFW said it's a good walk in and quite steep.  If you walk the road until you get to the shed then you can cut down right there and you'll be at the mouth of the cotton brook.  I've  only fished that area in my kayak from the access.  Plenty of small bass and perch/sunnies that time of the year.  Z