Saltonstall Lake
Near New Haven, Saltonstall Lake in the towns of Branford and East Haven is managed as a Bass Management Lake, as well as a walleye lake. Saltonstall covers over 400 acres of water that are fishable from shore or by boat. Only electric motors are allowed.

From New Haven, travel north on Route 95 to Exit 52 and Route 100. The Maltby lakes in the cities of Orange and West Haven are a cluster of three lakes ranging in size from 19 to 25 acres. These lakes are part of the state’s Bass Management Lake program and are known for their largemouths.

Access to Maltby is from shore only. Maltby and Saltonstall are both part of the South Central Connecticut Regional Water Authority. You’ll need a permit to access these ponds, but the extra effort to gain the permit is worth it.

Call (203) 562-4020 or obtain a permit online at www.rwater.com

Highland Lake
In the northwest part of the state, bass anglers should try Highland Lake, Winchester Lake, and West Side Pond. Highland Lake is in the town of Winchester. Its 445 acres is included in the DEC’s Bass Management Program as well as its Trophy Trout Program.

Highland Lake has two main portions, First Bay and Third Bay. In First Bay there is a boat launch. To get there from the city of Winsted, travel west on Route 44 to Route 263. Secondary roads will provide access to the boat launch.

Winchester Lake is a stone’s throw from Highland Lake and is part of the DEC’s Northern Pike Lake program. However, largemouths also cruise its 246 acres. The boat launch is at the lake’s southern tip.

To access the launch from Winsted, take Route 263 to West Road.

West Side Pond in the town of Goshen is also in the area. West Side offers 42 acres of water in the Bass Management Lake Program. Expect trout and yellow perch in numbers, too. To access West Side’s boat launch, travel north on Route 63 from the town of Goshen and take Westside Road, which skirt’s West Side Pond’s southern edge.

SMALLMOUTH BASS
Lake Lillinonah
Lake Lillinonah and Candlewood Lake hold good populations of smallmouths and largemouths with some calicoes mixed in, too.

Lake Lillinonah is one of the larger lakes in the state, with some 1,900 acres spreading through the towns of Brookfield, Bridgewater, Southbury, New Milford and Newton.

Lillinonah is actually part of the Housatonic River and, starting in New Milford, extends 12 miles to the Shepaug Dam in the town of Newtown. It offers 45 miles of shoreline, but much of it is steep hillside that rises more than 200 feet from the waterline.

The lake was created in 1955 as a source of hydroelectricity and flood control. This is a good spot to go with your powerboat, canoe or kayak.

Anglers can expect largemouths and white perch along with smallmouths. To get there from the city of Danbury, take Route 7/202 north to Route 133. Follow Route 133 until it crosses the Housatonic and Lake Lillinonah. A boat launch may be found after crossing the water. The speed limit on Lillinonah is 45 miles per hour during the day, and 25 miles per hour from sunset through sunrise.