Bass were once considered "trash fish" among New England's devoted trout and salmon anglers. Over the past few decades, however, tackle-busting bass action has earned the species new respect, improved management and hordes of avid bass anglers.

"Black bass," which are neither black nor even true bass, are now the most enthusiastically pursued fish in North America. They probably also haul in more fishing-related dollars than all other freshwater species combined.

These feisty fish are cousins to the sunfish family, despite being larger and longer than the typically short, chubby varieties of "sunfish." The color reference comes from the fact that bass fry are black for a short time after hatching and hover in dark clouds near their nests.

For most anglers, bass are fun to catch and good to eat, and that's all that matters at the end of a day on the water.

Thanks to hard work and careful management by New England's fisheries biologists, largemouth and smallmouth bass are plentiful in most of the region's inland waters. Bass action may be enjoyed year 'round on many waters, and management projects to create trophy bass fisheries are already underway.

Here's a state-by-state roundup of waters that will offer reliable year-round bass action for your 2006 fishing forays:

CONNECTICUT
Warmwater fisheries are an important part of the Nutmeg State's outdoor recreation picture. Interest in bass fishing is on the rise. That increased pressure calls for innovative and effective management.

Trophy bass management plans and regulations set in place in 2002 should be paying off now. Two general types of Bass Management Areas were included in the plan: Big Bass Lakes, where the goal is to increase the number of quality bass, and Trophy Bass Lakes, where the goal is to develop a trophy-class fishery.

Trophy Bass Lakes, where the slot limit is 12 to 18 inches with a daily creel limit of six bass, include Amos and Pattagansett lakes, Moodus Reservoir and Mudge Pond.

Big Bass Areas, with a minimum length of 16 inches and a daily creel limit of two bass, include Gardner, Highland and Housatonic lakes, and Mehegan Park Pond.

For a complete listing of Connecticut's Trophy and Big Bass management waters, visit http://dep.state. ct.us.

Lake Housatonic, Lake Zoar, Amos, Cedar, Gardner, Halls, Bantam, Shenipsit, Candlewood and Mudge lakes all give up bass in the 6- to 7-pound range in April's icy waters. Spring smallmouth action, with fish ranging from 3 to 4 pounds, can be had at the Saugatuck Reservoir and Bashan, Waramaug and Wyassup lakes.

Summer waters yield good to excellent fishing for largemouths in Lake Williams, Lake Lillinonah, Congamond, Billings (which gave up an 8.25-pound bass in 2005) and East Twin lakes.

Summer smallmouths can be found at Housatonic, Hatch Pond, Squantz Pond and Coventry Lake. Fishing ranges from very good to excellent in the Farmington (especially in the Tarrifville area), Quinebaug, Pomperaug and Housatonic rivers.

Anglers will find fall largemouths at Mansfield Hollow Reservoir, North Farms Reservoir, Congamond, Candlewood, Rogers and Crystal lakes, and at Beach, Pierrepont and Stillwater ponds. Fair fall smallmouth action may be enjoyed at Gardner Lake, Squantz Pond and in the Quinebaug and Housatonic rivers.

To pull largemouth bass up through the ice, head for Lake Waramaug, Coventry, West Twin or Bantam lakes or the Enfield Cove on the Connecticut River.

For fisheries information, visit http://dep.state.ct.us or call (860) 424-3474. For travel information, visit www.visitconnecticut.com.