Photo by Ron Sinfelt

During the early part of summer, New England's bass fishing is consistently rated good to excellent. Biologists in Connecticut, Rhode Island and Massachusetts are working to make the fisheries even better for the summer season. Below are 10 great places to wet a line this summer:

RHODE ISLAND
Pascoag Reservoir
Over the past several years, the Rhode Island Division of Fish and Wildlife has been stocking largemouth bass into Pascoag Reservoir in the towns of Burrillville and Glocester. While it is still too early to tell if these stockings are having an ecological impact on the fishery, biologists expect this summer will be the breakout season for the stocked bass, and anglers should soon start catching some quality fish.

The reservoir is long and narrow, spanning 351 acres. It is manmade with a maximum depth of about 19 feet. While the average depth is about 10 feet, most of the bass action is in shallower water. Look for June bass in the coves on the extreme northern end of the lake, around the two main-lake islands and in the cove leading toward the dam.

According to historical information, Pascoag Reservoir once had a thriving smallmouth bass population. Today, it is rare to catch one there. Instead, largemouth bass predominate and, as stocking figures indicate, the state's bass management program is focused on these fish. Anglers will also catch yellow perch, sunfish and chain pickerel. Golden shiners and crayfish make up the reservoir's forage base.

Pascoag Reservoir, also known as Echo Lake, is heavily developed. Summer anglers will fare better in the early morning, when pleasure boat traffic is light.

Access is via a state-owned boat-launching ramp in Glocester. Take Route 44 into Glocester and then drive north on Jackson Schoolhouse Road for about one mile to the ramp.

Tiogue Lake
This manmade lake is also stocked with largemouth bass. It covers 215 acres with a deep basin of about 11 feet. The average depth is 6 feet, though the eastern shoreline is much shallower.

The pond is overgrown with aquatic weeds. This underwater forest helps young panfish, bass and minnows escape predation. Anglers can therefore expect to catch a bunch of small sub-legal bass between keepers, plus some larger-sized yellow perch, pickerel and the occasional smallmouth bass.

Tiogue Lake is a great place for anglers wishing to master subsurface contour fishing. The pond has numerous V-shaped breaklines. Bass follow these breaklines as they move in and out of the shallow feeding flats. Two of the best breaklines are in the northern end of the lake. The first V runs from the basin halfway toward the eastern shore. It makes a rapid assent from 10 feet up to 3 feet. The second V extends from the tip of the first V straight into the eastern shoreline. Other noteworthy bassing spots are the two large coves on the southern end of the lake.

Anglers will find a state-owned boat-launching ramp on the northwestern end of the lake. Take Exit 6 off Interstate Route 95 north on Route 3. Follow Route 3 to the Route 33 junction. East of this junction, turn south on Arnold Road to the launch ramp.

Tucker Pond
One of the state's most diverse fisheries is Tucker Pond in South Kingston. Anglers may catch everything from yellow and white perch to trout and pickerel in this pond. But largemouth bass are the main drawing card to this 101-acre pond.

Tucker Pond is a natural lake. It is rather deep, running from 32 feet up to an average depth of about 11 feet. Anglers will find a sharp breakline along the southern shoreline of the lake. The northern end of the lake is shallow and weedy. Adjust your fishing accordingly. On cold June days, visit the breakline. During warmer days, concentrate on the shallower portions of the lake.