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Best rainbow trout lakes in Connecticut

19 Connecticut waters hold rainbow trout, 14 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. The classic stocked cold-water trout. Depth is everything: rainbows follow the temperature layer they like.

1. Candlewood Lake — 50 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Crappie, Rainbow Trout
2. Waramaug Lake — 40 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Crappie, Rainbow Trout
3. Bashan Lake — 45 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Bluegill, Rainbow Trout
4. East Twin Lake — 80 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Crappie, Bluegill
5. Highland Lake — 60 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Crappie, Bluegill
6. Shenipsit Lake — 60 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Crappie, Rainbow Trout
7. Coventry Lake — 36 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Crappie
8. Beach Pond — 60 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Bluegill, Rainbow Trout
9. Squantz Pond — 40 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Rainbow Trout
10. Mashapaug Lake — 35 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Crappie, Rainbow Trout
11. Gardner Lake — 36 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Crappie, Bluegill
12. West Hill Pond — 60 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Rainbow Trout, Yellow Perch
13. Crystal Lake — 42 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Bluegill, Rainbow Trout
14. Amos Lake — 42 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Crappie, Bluegill, Rainbow Trout
15. Naugatuck River — 6 ft max · Smallmouth Bass, Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout, Landlocked Salmon
16. Willimantic River — 6 ft max · Smallmouth Bass, Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout, Rock Bass
17. Housatonic River — 6 ft max · Smallmouth Bass, Rainbow Trout, Common Carp, Brown Trout
18. Farmington River — 6 ft max · Smallmouth Bass, Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout, Brook Trout
19. Salmon River — 6 ft max · Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout, Landlocked Salmon

When to fish rainbow trout in Connecticut

• Spring 5–20 ft — Post-ice-out trout roam shallow; fish inflows and windblown shorelines.
• Summer 8–30 ft — Rainbows hold near cold inflows, current seams and the thermocline — find the cool water and you've found the fish.
• Fall 10–35 ft — Fall feeding on rock shoals, current and channel edges as water cools.
• Winter 8–40 ft — Trout are comfortable in cold water — one of the best winter targets; streams and tailwaters fish shallow, deep lakes hold on basin edges.

Also in Connecticut: best largemouth bass lakes · best smallmouth bass lakes · best crappie lakes · best bluegill 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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