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Rating depth structure for rainbow trout.
Recent public catches load as you reach this section.
15-acre pond near Hartland. The lake tops out around 8 ft. The depth chart comes from published agency bathymetric survey data, so the contours are survey-derived rather than computer-modeled. Here is how the season plays out for each species, straight from the data behind the map.
Howells Pond maps at 15 acres behind 0.6 miles of shoreline. Its 1.1 shoreline index means few bank features; the contours below do the pattern work. Nothing on this chart breaks 15 ft, which makes the whole surface littoral: weeds, bait and ambush cover everywhere. It sits in Northwest Hills County. Its nearest charted neighbour, West Branch Reservoir, is 2 mi to the southwest.
When the water first warms, rainbow trout slide up into 2 to 8 ft. There's no big seasonal slide here — summer means 2 to 8 ft, winter 2 to 8 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Break off the point: a drop-off around 6 ft that scores prime in winter. In summer the feeding windows fall in early morning and the evening. Keep a dodger + spoon (deep troll) or a flutter spoon rigged through the warm months.
Depth note: when a documented seasonal range extends below this chart, the table shows the deepest mapped working water, not a verified holding depth.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 8 ft chart-limited; documented 5 to 20 ft | dawn & dusk | Main-lake point (2 ft) | Inline spinner (silver), Small spoon |
| Summer | 2 to 8 ft chart-limited; documented 8 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | Break off the point (6 ft) | Dodger + spoon (deep troll), Flutter spoon |
| Fall | 2 to 8 ft chart-limited; documented 10 to 35 ft | dawn & dusk | Main-lake point (2 ft) | Casting spoon, Jerkbait over shoals |
| Winter | 2 to 8 ft chart-limited; documented 8 to 40 ft | dawn | Break off the point (6 ft) | Jigging spoon, Tube jig (white) |
In spring, yellow perch run shallow here, mostly 2 to 8 ft. Summer keeps them at 2 to 8 ft, and they winter in 2 to 8 ft. Fall yellow perch concentrate at Deep basin, a prime-rated deep basin around 8 ft. Fish it in early morning and you'll meet the bite. You won't need more than a drop-shot micro plastics or a small spoon tipped with worm most summer days.
Depth note: when a documented seasonal range extends below this chart, the table shows the deepest mapped working water, not a verified holding depth.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 8 ft chart-limited; documented 3 to 12 ft | midday & dawn | open water | Small jig + curly tail, Perch-pattern micro crank |
| Summer | 2 to 8 ft chart-limited; documented 10 to 30 ft | dawn | Deep basin (8 ft) | Drop-shot micro plastics, Small spoon tipped with worm |
| Fall | 2 to 8 ft chart-limited; documented 12 to 35 ft | midday | Deep basin (8 ft) | Jigging spoon (small), Perch rig / spreader |
| Winter | 2 to 8 ft chart-limited; documented 15 to 35 ft | midday & dawn | Deep basin (8 ft) | Tungsten jig + spikes, Rattle spoon (small) |
In spring, pumpkinseed run shallow here, mostly 1 to 8 ft. Summer keeps them at 2 to 8 ft, and they winter in 2 to 8 ft. Deep basin is the standout, a deep basin at roughly 8 ft, rated prime for winter pumpkinseed. Time it for the evening and early morning. You won't need more than a micro tube or a sponge spider (fly) most summer days.
Depth note: when a documented seasonal range extends below this chart, the table shows the deepest mapped working water, not a verified holding depth.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 1 to 8 ft | midday & dusk | open water | Micro jig under a float, Tiny beetle-spin |
| Summer | 2 to 8 ft chart-limited; documented 2 to 10 ft | dusk & dawn | open water | Micro tube, Sponge spider (fly) |
| Fall | 2 to 8 ft chart-limited; documented 4 to 14 ft | dusk & dawn | Break off the point (6 ft) | Micro jig + waxworm, Small spoon tipped |
| Winter | 2 to 8 ft chart-limited; documented 6 to 18 ft | dawn | Deep basin (8 ft) | Tungsten ice jig + plastic, Tiny spoon |
Spring puts chain pickerel in skinny water — 2 to 8 ft is the zone. Summer fish stay in 2 to 8 ft, and winter fish hold in 2 to 8 ft. Break off the point is the standout, a drop-off at roughly 6 ft, rated prime for fall chain pickerel. Plan around early morning and the evening in the warm months. A weedless spoon + trailer or a buzzbait covers the summer program.
Depth note: when a documented seasonal range extends below this chart, the table shows the deepest mapped working water, not a verified holding depth.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 8 ft chart-limited; documented 2 to 10 ft | midday & dawn | open water | Inline spinner (silver), Small spoon (red/white) |
| Summer | 2 to 8 ft chart-limited; documented 3 to 15 ft | dawn & dusk | Break off the point (6 ft) | Weedless spoon + trailer, Buzzbait |
| Fall | 2 to 8 ft chart-limited; documented 4 to 15 ft | midday & dawn | Break off the point (6 ft) | Jerkbait along weed edges, Spinnerbait |
| Winter | 2 to 8 ft chart-limited; documented 5 to 18 ft | dawn | Break off the point (6 ft) | Jigging spoon (through ice) |
Howells Pond carries 3 mapped structure features, topping out (or rather bottoming out) at Deep basin, about 8 ft down.
Access data: Reviewed Connecticut DEEP state and municipal coastal-access sources. Confirm conditions and fees locally before you launch.
| Date | Species | Count | Size |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 6 | Trout | — | — |
Source: CT DEEP trout-stocking report, retrieved 2026-09-23.
Season dates, license requirements, and size and bag limits for Connecticut waters are set by the Connecticut DEEP — and special regulations can apply to Howells Pond specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official Connecticut fishing regulations →
Howells Pond is about 8 ft (2 m) deep at its deepest point. The depth chart comes from published agency bathymetric survey data, so the contours are survey-derived rather than computer-modeled.
Anglers target rainbow trout, yellow perch, pumpkinseed, chain pickerel on Howells Pond.
Deep basin is the top-rated area: a deep basin in about 8 ft of water that rates prime for yellow perch in fall. Scroll up to the map for the complete spot list by species and season.
For rainbow trout, the summer bite is best in early morning and the evening. Each species page section below lists the seasonal windows, and the map shows a live NOW badge when you're inside one.
Yes — per CT DEEP trout-stocking report records, Howells Pond was most recently stocked Mar 6 with trout. The full stocking history is listed above.
Fishing on Howells Pond is regulated by the Connecticut DEEP. Check the official Connecticut regulations for current license requirements, season dates, and size and bag limits — special regulations can apply to this specific water.
West Branch Reservoir 2 mi · Colebrook River Reservoir 3 mi, CT/MA · Lost Pond 8 mi · McDonough Lake 9 mi · Otis Reservoir 9 mi, MA · Highland Lake 9 mi · West Hill Pond 10 mi · Wood Creek Pond 10 mi · York Lake 11 mi, MA · Winchester Lake 11 mi · Little Benton Pond 12 mi, MA · Lower Spectacle Pond 12 mi, MA
See how Howells Pond stacks up: best rainbow trout lakes in Connecticut · best yellow perch lakes in Connecticut · best chain pickerel lakes in Connecticut · best pumpkinseed lakes in Connecticut
More water nearby: Northwest Hills County fishing maps (28 charts). Browse all Connecticut fishing maps. See every water on DepthScout. Bathymetry: published agency survey data. How we build these maps. Fish here with a sonar unit that logs? Send us your depth data and we'll improve this chart, credited to you. For fishing guidance only, never navigation.