By Barnet Sherman

Bass fishing in New England has never been better or more popular, so it comes as no surprise that some of the top national talents in bass fishing are born and bred right here.

Local anglers Joel St. Germain of Rhode Island and Lee Baily Jr. of Connecticut and other New England-based pros like Jordon Paullo, Mike Wolfenden, Mark Burgess, Rick Lilligard, Tom LaVictorie and Mark Desjardin made strong showings in regional events over the course of their careers.

Where do these guys like to kick back when they come home? It is hard to pin them down to just a couple of lakes and ponds, but each angler offered bodies of water in their home state that may be fished either by bass rig, cartopper or canoe. Here is a look at their top picks:

"I've fished for largemouth bass all over the country, but as far as I'm concerned, the Connecticut River from Hartford down to Hamburg Cove in Lyme will always be my favorite place to fish. I grew up on this river. There isn't any other place quite like it," Jordan stated.

In spring and early summer, bass stack up in the tidal oxbows and backwaters like Wethersfield Cove in Wethersfield, Pecauset Pond in Portland or Whalebone Creek, Selden Cove and Selden Creek, and Hamburg Cove in Lyme.

Massachusetts' Mark Burgess, one of the state's top tournament bass fishermen, caught this lunker largemouth while fishing Lake Nippenicket in Bridgewater. Photo by Barnet Sherman

"Fish these on the high tide," Jordan suggested, "when access and the bite are best."

In the spring, flip crayfish tubes and jitterbug patterns into the lily pads and arrowheads, or run buzzbaits over thin water - both consistent producers.

In summer, the bass move out to the main river. Fishing the main river requires a change in strategies, Jordan noted. Anglers are better off switching to crankbaits in natural colors like red, green or brown; or try chrome-blue minnow imitations.

Connecticut River coves can be accessed from the river. There are two landings for boaters in Hartford, including the Charter Oak Landing on the western shore and Great River Park on the eastern shore. Both are maintained by Riverfront Recapture (www.riverfront.org), and there is a user's fee for each site. Check the Web site or call (860) 713-3131 for directions and the current schedule.

Cartop boaters can put in at Gillette Castle State Park off Route 431 in East Haddam. This site is ideal for accessing the Lyme-area coves. Call the Connecticut State Parks and Forests office at (860) 424-3200 for directions and schedules.

Additionally, boaters should review NOAA charts 12375, 12377 and 12378 before navigating the Connecticut River.

"Some anglers think the Connecticut River is just a big, rushing 40-foot-deep stream," said Jordan. "It's not. In fact, in some places it's as shallow as 2 or 3 feet. The river does have channel buoys, day markers and no-wake zones, but there are no hazard buoys."

Check with the Connecticut Bureau of Natural Resources for information at http://dep.state.ct.us or call (860) 424-3474.

"Rhode Island's largemouth fishing is sometimes overlooked because of all the obvious saltwater opportunities, but Johnson Pond in Coventry and Worden Pond in South Kingston are my top choices when I get a chance to fish my local waters," he said. "Each is a bit different, but both offer great fishing opportunities for bass fishermen."

Johnson Pond, at 659 acres, is great for all-season angling, Wolfenden noted, with access for cartop and fully rigged bass boats at the state boat launch at Zeke's Bridge on Harkney Hill Road. Low bridges might limit access to the northern parts of the pond, however, so anglers should be alert while fishing this area.

When spring water temperatures are in the 50s and 60s, bass are usually found near deep structure, where they tend to fall for chrome-blue crankbaits or shad-colored jerkbaits.

As the summer sun warms the water, the bass move up to the flats to spawn.

"I throw either a small chartreuse grub on an 1/8-ounce jighead or a 4- inch black worm on a 1/8- to 3/8-ounce jighead for a 'reaction bite,' " Wolfenden said. "I try to get the fish back into the water quickly so it can continue to protect the spawn site."

Through the summer, floating docks are easy targets, but anglers should also fish the channel that runs the length of the pond. Dropping a jig with a blue-black skirt and a red pork tail at every turn in the channel can produce big fish.

For big rigs and cartops, Wolfenden also likes the big 1,043-acre Worden Pond in South Kingston. Access is off state Route 110 at Worden Pond Road.

This pond is shallow, with an average depth of 4 feet and is no deeper than 7 feet.

"In the early morning, a white 3/8-ounce buzzbait can be spectacular if you throw it up in the grass and bring it out toward the deeper water," Wolfenden said. "Target rocks at the end of the pond and rocky points with the jig-and-pig, but don't ignore the overhanging trees along the shoreline."

Bob's Bait and Tackle in Taunton at (508) 828-5881 sells a great watermelon tube bait. Wolfenden recommends a 1/4-ounce bullet weight just above the tube.

"Pitch the lure under the branches for some arm-jarring strikes," Wolfenden enthused.

Check with the Rhode Island Division of Fish and Wildlife at www.state.ri.us/dem, or call (401) 789-3094 for licensing and other regulations.