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Best rainbow trout lakes in Connecticut

79 Connecticut waters hold rainbow trout, 74 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 TroutWhy #1: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 2 public access sites
2. Lake Housatonic — 24 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Crappie, BluegillWhy #2: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
3. Colebrook River Reservoir — 130 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Crappie, BluegillWhy #3: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
4. Waramaug Lake — 40 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Crappie, Rainbow TroutWhy #4: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site, 1 carry-in or shore-oriented
5. Bashan Lake — 45 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Bluegill, Rainbow TroutWhy #5: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
6. Lake Saltonstall — 110 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, CrappieWhy #6: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
7. East Twin Lake — 80 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Crappie, BluegillWhy #7: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site, 1 carry-in or shore-oriented
8. Congamond Lakes — 40 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Crappie, BluegillWhy #8: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · no verified access record attached
9. Highland Lake — 60 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Crappie, BluegillWhy #9: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
10. McDonough Lake — 50 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Crappie, BluegillWhy #10: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · no verified access record attached
11. Saugatuck Reservoir — 100 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, CrappieWhy #11: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
12. Congamond Lakes South Pond — 35 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike, Crappie, BluegillWhy #12: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
13. Coventry Lake — 36 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, CrappieWhy #13: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
14. Gardner Lake — 36 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, CrappieWhy #14: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
15. Beach Pond — 60 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, BluegillWhy #15: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
16. Squantz Pond — 40 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Rainbow TroutWhy #16: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 3 public access sites
17. West Twin Lake — 21 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Crappie, Bluegill, Rainbow TroutWhy #17: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · no verified access record attached
18. Salmon Cove — 24 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Crappie, BluegillWhy #18: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
19. Mashapaug Lake — 35 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, CrappieWhy #19: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
20. West Branch Reservoir — 90 ft max · survey depth data · Smallmouth Bass, Bluegill, Rainbow Trout, Yellow PerchWhy #20: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
21. West Hill Pond — 60 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Rainbow Trout, Yellow PerchWhy #21: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
22. Alexander Lake — 48 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Crappie, BluegillWhy #22: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · no verified access record attached
23. Wonoscoponuc Lake — 100 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Crappie, BluegillWhy #23: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · no verified access record attached
24. Long Pond — 66 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, CrappieWhy #24: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
25. Silver Lake — 16 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Crappie, Bluegill, Channel CatfishWhy #25: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site

…plus 54 more Connecticut waters holding rainbow trout.

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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 walleye lakes · best northern pike lakes · best crappie lakes · best bluegill lakes · best channel catfish lakes · best striped bass lakes · best yellow perch lakes · best common carp lakes · best brown trout lakes · best brook trout lakes · best landlocked salmon lakes · best chain pickerel lakes · best rock bass lakes · best white perch lakes · best pumpkinseed lakes · best brown bullhead lakes · best summer flounder (fluke) lakes · best bluefish lakes · best black sea bass lakes · best tautog (blackfish) lakes

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