Snow blankets the Connecticut landscape, while ice covers its lakes and ponds, sealing their waters from the cold winter air.

But bass anglers know that when February's winds blow, that's the perfect time to fish. Avid bass enthusiasts who can't stay indoors during the cold months should consider the following lakes, which seem to offer great ice-fishing action -- even during the warmest of New England winters:

LAKE WARAMAUG
Lake Waramaug is Connecticut's second-largest natural lake, covering 656 acres. During summer months, much of the lake is unreachable for bass anglers because it lacks a public boat launch, and shoreline fishing areas are limited. But during the winter season, ice-anglers may walk right across the lake to pursue Waramaug's plentiful largemouth and smallmouth bass, brown trout, chain pickerel and yellow perch.

This lake lies in the towns of Kent and Warren in Litchfield County. Although it is a natural lake, a small dam raises its water level. Today, Lake Waramaug has a maximum depth of about 40 feet in the basin at the southwest corner of the lake and an average depth of 22 feet. Weeds can be a problem along the shoreline, but tip-ups set in 8 to 15 feet of water should stay clear of any aquatic vegetation.

In this lake, the alewife is the premier forage fish. Lures and live minnows that mimic this baitfish should produce the desired results. White suckers are also plentiful in the pond. Some savvy anglers seeking trophy- sized bass use live suckers as tip-up bait.

Much of the shoreline is privately owned, with numerous houses and cottages. Public access to the lake is largely confined to Lake Waramaug State Park at the lake's northwestern end.

The park can be reached by taking Route 45 north from Route 202 in Warren. Turn west onto North Shore Road. Signs mark the way to the state park. You should show up equipped with bait because there are no tackle shops near the lake.

ROGERS LAKE
Boaters who travel to Rogers Lake in summer often have difficulty launching boats because of low water levels. And fishermen must then deal with thick weed beds. These problems virtually vanish for ice-anglers visiting this 260-acre lake in the towns of Lyme and Old Lyme.

Like Waramaug, Rogers Lake is a natural lake with an elevated water level. Its maximum depth of 61 feet can be deceiving because the lake has a significant shoal around its perimeter and expansive areas of shallow water -- ideal places to look for the lake's winter population of largemouth bass and chain pickerel.

The Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection also stocks the lake with trout and walleyes. Both species are legal game for ice-anglers.

The lake is shaped like an upside-down boot. Trout hunters will find the deepest water in the boot's "toe" at the northernmost end. Another deep basin is at the top of the boot at the southern end of the lake.

The better bass action seems to be near the shoal separating the two deep basins at the "ankle" portion of the lake. Also, try fishing the shoal near the dam at the lake's southern end, as well as the many isolated humps scattered throughout the northern basin.

Shoreline development is heavy, with numerous houses and cottages lining the shore. Access to the lake and parking comes mainly through a state-owned boat ramp on the eastern shore. Anglers will also find a small town park off Route 1 on the pond's southern end.

You can reach the launch ramp by taking Exit 70 from the Connecticut Turnpike (I-95) to Route 1. Travel east on Route 1 for approximately 2.5 miles. Turn north on Grassy Hill Road. Anglers parking at the launch ramp should be prepared to walk. The ramp is on a shallow canal away from the main lake. You'll find several tackle shops along Route 1 between Old Saybrook and Lyme.