Candlewood Lake
You can’t talk about Connecticut’s smallmouth bass fishing without mentioning Candlewood Lake. In the southwest corner of the state, it’s the largest lake in the entire Nutmeg State, with some 5,420 acres of water near the New York state border.

Candlewood is a stone’s throw from Lake Lillinonah in the towns of Danbury, New Fairfield, Sherman, New Milford and Brookfield. It’s classified as a Trophy Trout Lake, but has plenty of smallies in the 2- to 4-pound range as well as largemouths and a smattering of calicos.

Two boat launches are available, one in Danbury and the other in New Fairfield. From Danbury, travel north on Route 202. The launch is located in Lattins Cove. The New Fairfield launch is east of Route 39, south of Squantz Pond Park.

If you make the journey to Lake Lillinonah and Candlewood Lake, you owe it to yourself to complete the western Connecticut triad of bass waters with a visit to Squantz Pond.

As temperatures increase, bass begin to move onto spawning beds, so anglers should target the shoreline shallows early in the season.

Squantz Pond has 270 acres and is known for its great smallmouth fishing. Part of Candlewood Lake, Squantz Pond was created as part of a hydroelectric project in the early 20th century.

Squantz Pond is classified as a Trophy Trout Lake and Walleye Lake, so expect to encounter these species along with smallmouths.

Squantz Pond may be accessed from the city of Danbury by traveling north on Route 37 to Route 39. There is a boat launch where the Route 39 bridge crosses the inlet between Squantz Pond and Candlewood Lake.

In the western part of the state, Wonoscopomuc Lake in the corner next to the New York State and Massachusetts’s State borders. Wonoscopomuc, also known as Lakeville Lake because it is south of the town of Lakeville, offers some 348 acres of Bass Management Lake waters.

Anglers can expect smallies and largemouths at this location. There is a town-operated boat launch that charges a fee. Boat motors are restricted to 12 cubic inches. Travel north on Route 7 to Route 112 and look for the signs for the boat launch.

Mudge Pond
South of Wonoscopomuc, Mudge Pond in the town of Sharon holds good numbers of bass, plus pickerel and yellow perch.

From Route 112, take Indian Mountain Road south. The boat launch is located at the pond’s southern tip. Motors are limited to 7 1/2 horsepower.

Bantam Lake is classified as a northern pike lake, but its 947 acres of water also hold bass. The boat launch is in South Bay. From the town of Litchfield, take Route 202 west to Route 209 south.

A little gem for bass not far from Bantam Lake is Dog Pond in the town of Goshen. Dog Pond offers good bass populations including calicoes on its 66 acres of water. To access the boat launch, travel north from the city of Litchfield on Route 63 to Route 4 west and then proceed onto Beach Street. The boat launch is on the pond’s southeastern shore.