Anglers should avoid the temptation to stay huddled up by the fire this winter, because some of New England’s best fishing takes place through the ice. Photo by Mike Bleech

From trophy trout to powerful pike or plentiful panfish action, New England’s frozen lakes and ponds have it all -- and more!

Here’s a roundup of some of your best bets for steady action throughout the region this winter:

CONNECTICUT
Candlewood Lake
If trophy trout are the goal, there are several excellent Constitution State lakes that are worth a visit this winter.

Candlewood Lake, at 5,064 acres, is Connecticut’s largest. It is managed as a trophy trout lake, plus it’s one of the region’s best bets for largemouth bass. The lake is also home to smallmouth bass, yellow perch, white perch, walleyes, calico bass, brown bullhead and sunfish, making it a great family fishing destination.

Candlewood is open to fishing from the third Saturday in April until March 31, but is open for hardwater trout only from March 1-31, with a 16-inch minimum-length limit and a creel limit of two fish. Early in the season, the big lake may not have enough ice for safe access, so anglers should concentrate on the shoreline coves where great bass, perch and bluegill fishing await.

Access may be had from the Squantz Cove boat launch on Route 39 at the northwestern end of the lake.

Squantz Pond
Walleyes began moving into Candlewood from Squantz Pond in the late 1990s. These fish averaged between 3 and 5 pounds, and biologists report that maximum weights for the species increase every year. Squantz Pond has given up many 9-pounders, and an 11-pound monster was pulled out of Gardner Lake. Walleye fans will also want to try Lake Saltonstall.

Squantz Pond is about eight miles north of Danbury in the towns of Sherman and New Fairfield. It is technically part of Candlewood Lake, but is separated from the main lake by state Route 39. The pond is stocked periodically with brown trout and rainbows, and is also home to largemouth bass, yellow and white perch and chain pickerel.

Crystal Lake
Crystal Lake is another trophy trout destination, with plenty of diverse species to keep the day interesting. The 200-acre lake is stocked with rainbows and hefty brown trout brood stock. Most of the browns weigh from 2 to 5 pounds, but there are a few 8-pounders as well.

The lake also contains yellow perch, chain pickerel, largemouth and smallmouth bass, sunfish and calico bass. There is a protected slot length between 12 and 16 inches on trout, with a daily creel limit of five fish. Only one trout may be longer than 16 inches.

To find Crystal Lake’s big trout, try jigging about a foot off the bottom, using small pieces of cut bait.

Crystal Lake is at the intersection of Route 30 and Route 140 in Ellington. Access to the west side of the lake is off Route 30.

For information about fishing regulations, destinations and more, visit Dep.State.CT.US/Burnatr/Fishing/FDHome.htm.

MAINE
Moosehead Region
Moosehead Lake is the largest lake in New England, but not the only one in this region worth sinking auger holes into. Chesuncook Lake, the Pine Tree State’s third largest lake, is known for its mature lake trout. One lunker pulled out last winter weighed 12.5 pounds, a holdover from stocking back in the 1990s.