Gardner Lake
Gardner Lake, in the southeastern part of the state, lies in the towns of Salem, Montville and Bozrah and covers over 500 acres of water.

Expect lots of smallmouth action here on this Bass Management and walleye lake. The bass can be, small, but the action is exciting.

Yellow perch, walleyes and trout are also denizens of Gardner Lake.

To get there from the city of Colchester, travel south on Route 354, which provides access to the western shore of Gardner. The boat launch is on the southern tip.

Mashapaug Lake
Mashapaug Lake in the town of Union offers 287 acres of water with smallmouths and largemouths in good numbers. It’s a Bass Management Lake and a walleye lake. Anglers can also expect walleyes and an abundance of sunfish.

Mashapaug is within Bigelow Hollow State Park, which is part of Nipmuck State Forest. The state-record largemouth, pulled out of the Mashapaug in 1962, weighed in at 12 pounds, 14 ounces.

Mashapaug also has the distinction of holding the state record for channel catfish, which weighed in at 29 pounds, 6 ounces.

Traveling west on Route 171 from the city of Putnam, follow the signs to Bigelow Hollow State Park to access the Mashapaug Lake boat launch.

Wondering where the largest smallies was caught? Back in 1980, a 7-pound, 12-ounce smallmouth was pulled from 532-acre Shenipsit Lake in Tolland. Fishing here is by permit only, available from the Connecticut Water Company. For more information, contact the Connecticut Water Company at 1-860-875-1850. To get to the Shenipsit from the city of Rockville, head east on Route 74 to Shenipsit Lake Road.

The bass management lakes mentioned have specific regulations. The state has protected slot lengths, which means that anglers must release all smallmouths and largemouths between 12 and 18 inches. In these areas also, only one fish longer than 18 inches can be kept per day.

Many lakes and ponds have different creel limits and length requirements for bass, so read the state guidelines for the specific body of water you are targeting.

For more fishing information, including resident and non-resident fishing license fees, contact the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection at 1-860-424-3555, or visit www.dep.state.ct.us