One of Northeast Connecticut’s premier fishing areas is Mashapaug Pond. This serene fishing spot sits on 300 acres. Largemouth bass, rainbow trout, and yellow perch are the most commonly caught species here. However, the area also features bluegill, chain pickerel, sunfish, perch, walleye, crappie, and bass. The four miles of shoreline at Mashapaug Pond can only be accessed by watercraft, but anglers can still enjoy fishing by boat or kayak.

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Mashapaug Pond has an average depth of 15 feet and areas of water up to 39 feet deep. The bottom of the pond is covered with gravel and sand with very few weeds, which makes the water quite clear. Mashapaug Pond is surrounded by the Nipmuck State Forest, Bigelow Hollow State Park, and private properties. Popular fishing techniques include fly fishing, spinning, and baitcasting. The best fishing times are early morning and right after lunch.

The clear water means excellent bass fishing. The daily bag limit is 6 bass, and only two of these can be over 16 inches. Catch and release bass between 12 and 16 inches long. Keep the smaller ones. Brown and rainbow trout are stocked in the spring. Walleye are stocked in the fall. Yellow perch are plentiful. If you take your motorboat, you must keep it below 10 miles per hour on the lake. Ice fishing is allowed when the lake is frozen.

Mashapaug Lake boat ramps:

The following boat ramps provide access to Mashapaug Lake.