Freshwater Bassing Time in the Nutmeg State

Posted by Wayne G. Barber

LARGEMOUTH BASS;

 Fishing is generally reported as fair to good (with a few tough spots). Night fishing is productive. Try Fred Arborgast black Jitterbugs 3/8ths or 5/8ths with dressing or not and Hula Popper surface poppers. Dual Blade Buzzbaits are my son Wayne's favorite. Places to try include Lake McDonough, West Hill Pond, East Twin Lake, Gardner Lake, Pickerel Lake, Beseck Lake, Amos Lake, Beach Pond, Highland Lake, Seymour Reservoir #4, Crystal Lake, Mudge Pond, West Side Pond, Tyler Lake, Mansfield Hollow Reservoir, Dog Pond, Hatch Pond, Park Pond, Lake Wononskopomuc, Lake Saltonstall, Bishop Swamp, Winchester Lake, Congamond Lakes, Quinebaug Lake, Black Pond (Meriden), Burr Pond, Griggs Pond, Anderson Pond, Billings Lake, Moodus Reservoir, Aspinook Pond, Babcock Pond, Pachaug Pond, Lake Hayward, Quonnipaug Lake, Rogers Lake and Stillwater Pond.

Tournament angler reports are from Gardner Lake (fair action, a 3.13 lb lunker, but not much else for any size), Long Pond (slow to fair, but with a 6.13 lb lunker),  Pachaug Pond (fair to good action, with a nice 6.3 lb lunker for one club, and 4.8 lbs for another), Quaddick Lake (good fishing, 4.4 lb lunker), Candlewood Lake (fair with better action at night for one club, 5.03 lb, 4.71 lb and 4.56 lb  lunkers), East Twin Lake (fair to good, 3.88 lb lunker), Lake Lillinonah (fair for largemouth, 3.56 lb lunker), Lake McDonough (fair action at best, only a 2.14 lb lunker), and the Connecticut River (slow, 3.24 lb lunker). 

SMALLMOUTH BASS.

  Catches reported from Candlewood Lake, Housatonic River (Upper), Naugatuck River, Lake McDonough, Lake Zoar and Lake Lillinonah. Housatonic River smallmouth fishing has been good.
Tournament angler reports are from Candlewood Lake (fair to good, 5.16 lb and 5.05 lb lunkers), Lake Lillinonah (fair to good for smallmouth, 3.45 lb lunker), Lake McDonough (a few in the Bags), Pachaug Pond (some), and the Connecticut River (slow. 3.06 lb l