Best smallmouth bass lakes in Connecticut
82 Connecticut waters hold smallmouth bass, 78 mapped with real state-agency depth surveys. Ranked below by size and depth-data quality — open any water to see exactly where to fish it: depth contours, scored spots with plain-English reasons, seasonal windows and bait picks. Current- and rock-loving fighter. Lives around gravel, boulders and hard-bottom structure.
- Lake Lillinonah — 60 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Northern Pike, Crappie
- Candlewood Lake — 50 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Crappie, Rainbow Trout
- Lake Housatonic — 24 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Bluegill, Yellow Perch
- Saugatuck Reservoir — 100 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Bluegill, Yellow Perch
- Lake Zoar — 64 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Northern Pike, Crappie
- Rainbow Reservoir — 35 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Bluegill, Yellow Perch
- Colebrook River Reservoir — 130 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Bluegill, Yellow Perch
- Waramaug Lake — 40 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Crappie, Rainbow Trout
- Bashan Lake — 45 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Bluegill, Rainbow Trout
- Lake Saltonstall — 110 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Bluegill, Yellow Perch
- Aspinook Pond — 20 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Bluegill, Yellow Perch
- East Twin Lake — 80 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Crappie, Bluegill
- Congamond Lakes — 40 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Bluegill, Yellow Perch
- McDonough Lake — 50 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Bluegill, Yellow Perch
- Mansfield Hollow Reservoir — 21 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Bluegill, Yellow Perch
- Highland Lake — 60 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Crappie, Bluegill
- Shenipsit Lake — 60 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Crappie, Rainbow Trout
- Coventry Lake — 36 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Crappie
- Beach Pond — 60 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Bluegill, Rainbow Trout
- Squantz Pond — 40 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Rainbow Trout
- West Twin Lake — 21 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Bluegill, Yellow Perch
- Salmon Cove — 24 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Bluegill, Yellow Perch
- Mashapaug Lake — 35 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Crappie, Rainbow Trout
- West Thompson Reservoir — 30 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Bluegill, Yellow Perch
- Gardner Lake — 36 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Crappie, Bluegill
…plus 57 more Connecticut waters holding smallmouth bass.
When to fish smallmouth bass in Connecticut
- Spring 3–12 ft — Gravel and rock flats near deep water; spawning happens on hard bottom.
- Summer 10–30 ft — Offshore rock humps and deep points; smallmouth suspend near bait.
- Fall 8–25 ft — Feeding hard for winter — long tapering points and rocky drops.
- Winter 20–45 ft — Deep, vertical presentations near rocky wintering holes.
Also in Connecticut: best largemouth bass lakes · best crappie lakes · best bluegill lakes · best rainbow trout lakes · best yellow perch lakes · best common carp lakes · best brown trout lakes · best chain pickerel lakes · best white perch lakes
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