Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife.

OCTOBER
Landlocked Salmon
Lake Champlain, Vt.
Lake Champlain is a prime salmon destination. Record-class landlocks are taken here annually. Great coldwater fisheries may be found off the west shore of Grand Isle and in Converse Bay and Button Bay south to the Champlain Bridge.

Take Route 2 to Grand Isle for access on the left off West Shore Road.

Atlantic Salmon
Carbuncle Pond, R.I.
Carbuncle Pond in Coventry is one of the Ocean State’s largest ponds. The pond is often stocked with Atlantic salmon brood stock in the 3- to 5-pound range. Because of the unique characteristics of this 35-acre pond, salmon hold over well here.

Some of the country’s best wild brook trout habitat may be found in New England.

There’s plenty of shoreline access, including a new handicapped-access fishing pier. Take Route 102 to Route 14 and drive 4.5 miles. The access road is on the left.

Brook Trout,
Mud Pond, Maine
Mud Pond in Linneus is one of the Pine Tree State’s extended-season waters, providing catch-and-release fishing for brookies, browns, splake and salmon from Oct. 1 through 31 on artificial lures.

Mud Pond is stocked with yearling brook trout each spring. The cold water allows trout to hold over.

The town maintains a gravel parking area and boat launch on the northeast corner of the pond off South Oakfield Road.

NOVEMBER
Rainbow Smelt
Rye Harbor, N.H.
Rye Harbor is known for its steady fall fishing for rainbow smelt. Boat access may be had at the Rye Harbor Marina on Route 1A.

Or try night-fishing under the lights off the commercial pier.

Largemouth Bass
Missisquoi River, Vt.
The stretch of the Missisquoi that flows from Swanton Dam upstream through Swanton to the Highgate Falls Dam is open year ‘round for lunker largemouth bass.

This tributary to Lake Champlain is also home to walleyes, pike, bullheads and white perch.

Tautog
Madaket Harbor, Mass.
The rocky Bay State coast is lined with bays, harbors, jetties and breakwaters where tautog abound. Madaket Harbor in Nantucket offers boat launching facilities and shore access. Fish offshore as waters cool in fall. Crabs, clams and other shellfish are popular baits.

DECEMBER
Largemouth Bass
Flat River Reservoir, R.I.
Flat River Reservoir in Coventry, also known as Johnson’s Pond, is one of the best bass waters in the state.

The Flat River is rich with forage fish and thus grows some big largemouth bass.

Access is at the intersection of Harkney Hill Road and Hill Farm Road on the southern end of the lake. Chain Pickerel Amos Lake, Conn.

Amos Lake in Preston is one of the state’s top pickerel waters. Anglers commonly take big fighting fish here. Pickerel running 15 to 22 inches are not uncommon, and smaller pickerel are plentiful. State-owned access is on the western shore.

Take Exit 85 off I-395, and then take Route 164 south 1.5 miles (past the intersection with Route 165). Turn left onto the access road. Channel Catfish Wright’s Cove, Conn.

Wright’s Cove (Pecausett Pond) in Portland is a backwater cove of the Connecticut River. Channel catfish are abundant here, and it’s not uncommon to land big cats.

Boat access to the river is through a narrow channel. (Larger boats must wait for high tide.) Try the Haddam Meadows State Park launch or the town launch at the Rocky Hill Ferry.

Find more about New England fishing and hunting at NewEnglandGameandFish.com