Connecticut has over 3,000 lakes with 2,200+ larger than 10 acres and 180+ public fishing lakes, plus 618 miles of coastline on Long Island Sound. Candlewood Lake, the largest lake entirely within the state, offers excellent smallmouth and largemouth bass fishing, while the Connecticut River provides outstanding shad, striped bass, and northern pike fishing. Long Island Sound offers world-class fishing for striped bass, bluefish, fluke, and black sea bass, and the numerous trout streams in the L
Fishing Regulations
- From March 1 until 6:00 am on the second Saturday of April, trout fishing is catch and release only statewide.
- Taking of Atlantic salmon is prohibited (except stocked Naugatuck/Shetucket/Housatonic rivers and DEEP lakes per Commissioner's Declaration).
- Spearing and bow-and-arrow prohibited in trout-stocked streams; spearing prohibited in all lakes and ponds.
- Taking of elver eel, glass eel, and silver eel is prohibited.
- Trout and Salmon Stamp may be required.
- Bass management lakes have different regulations - check the lake/pond page for the specific waterbody.
5 species limits are shown per spot in the CatchTales app.
Pick a region below to explore its fishing spots.
Central Connecticut Region
Connecticut River Inlet, Barkhamsted Reservoir, Hartford area, Lake J9
40 spots
Eastern Connecticut Region
Mansfield Hollow Inlet, Pachaug Pond, Thames River, Quaddick
40 spots
Long Island Sound Coast Region
Long Island Sound Inlet, New Haven, Mystic, Stonington
37 spots
Northwestern Connecticut Region
Bantam Lake Inlet, Housatonic River, Farmington River, Lake K10
40 spots
Southwestern Connecticut Region
Candlewood Lake Inlet, Lake Lillinonah, Zoar Pond, Saugatuck
40 spots
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