Most anglers believe the best bass fishing occurs in spring. At this time of year, it is possible to catch large numbers of largemouth bass as they shake off their winter slumber and prepare for spawning in their shallow-water beds.

Reports around southern New England indicate the upcoming spring should be better than last year as fisheries biologists from Connecticut, Massachusetts and Rhode Island continue to manage resident bass populations to provide quality fishing.

Eager anglers should see the fruits of their labors at the following lakes and ponds.

CONNECTICUT
Beseck Lake
Bass anglers will find an interesting fishery in this 116-acre lake. The pond was created by placing a dam across Ellen Doyle Brook. It is also fed by several bottom springs and five other brooks. Each brook inlet has been known to yield big spring largemouths. The pond has a deep 26-foot basin near the dam, but much of the main lake consists of 3- to 6-foot-deep shoals.

Most of the shoreline is developed with plenty of boat docks to fish around. Look for painted docks or rafts resting on black-colored barrels. These structures transfer the spring sun heat into the water. The better dock fishing areas are along the west side of the lake across from the state boat-launching ramp. Another good spring spot is at the mouth of the cove leading up to the dam. The points at the cove mouth have steep dropoffs where spring bass often congregate.

The golden shiner is the main forage species at Beseck Lake. Banded killifish are also present for bass to feed upon. Pick lures that imitate these baitfish.

Access is via a state-owned boat-launching area off Route 147. The ramp has an unusual turnaround that limits bass boats to less than 18 feet. In spring, the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection enforces an 8-mile-per-hour speed limit on the lake.

Silver Lake
Many bass anglers overlook this lake because large bass are hard to locate. But local fishermen looking for lots of action featuring 10- to 12-inch largemouth bass know Silver Lake is the place to be in the early spring.

The average depth here is 5 feet. The water is discolored and there is a dark bottom. Thus, this 146-acre pond warms up very quickly.

When fishing the lake, be prepared to deal with weeds. Silver Lake has a thick covering of coontail. This plant is cold tolerant and often survives through the winter. Anglers may also find milfoil and budding lily pads as spring progresses.

Like most Connecticut ponds, the golden shiner is the main forage at Silver Lake. Weedless lures, such as tube jigs, seem to work better than weedless soft plastic worms. Some of the better spring action can be found in the extreme northern end of the lake near the dam. In this area, the bottom drops down to 12 feet with a few submerged secondary points. Also, the area around the island at the southern end of the lake has undergone some dredging activity and is likely to produce some hot bass fishing, as well as good numbers of black crappies and sunfish.

The DEP maintains a boat-launching area at the north end of the lake. Take Exit 21 off Route 9 to Route 15 south. After three miles, turn right onto Toll Gate Road. Turn left onto Norton Lane, which ends at the boat launch. Shoreline fishing is limited to the area around the boat-launching area and the dam. Boats must adhere to an 8-mile-per-hour speed limit.

Hatch Pond
Hatch Pond is an underutilized largemouth bass pond because access is limited to carry-in boats. Anglers willing to endure the inconvenience often find plenty of largemouth bass exceeding 14 inches in length. Bass in the 3- to 4-pound class are also present in higher-than-average numbers.