Fishing Report For Candlewood Lake, CT

Current Report: Good To Very Good

SUMMER. Smallmouth bass, including many quality ones, are currently feeding shallow early and late in the day, where they are being caught on topwater, crankbaits, swimbaits, Ned rigs and tube baits. Smallmouth bass here feed on crawfish, alewives, yellow perch and other small sunfish. They prefer rocky or gravel bottom areas, as this is where crayfish live. During the hotter parts of the day, they are being caught on points, humps, and ledges 15 to 30 feet deep. Often these deeper fish are part of a school of smallmouth. Anglers fishing rocky points in the New Fairfield area, and ledges outside the town of Knollcrest, are reporting good catches.

FALL. As Fall arrives, smallmouth here follow schools of baitfish into coves and bays, where spoons, drop-shots, lipless crankbaits, and slow-rolled spinnerbaits, are very successful. 10 to 20 feet deep is where most are caught. The average smallie being caught here is about 1 1/2 pounds, but plenty of 3 to 5 pound beauties show up with some regularity. Fishing shallow for smallmouth is often good on cold, windy, cloudy and rainy days.

WINTER. Winter will isolate them around deeper structure, points and creek channels, often suspending in open water above these features. They can generally be found from 30 to 50 feet deep. Here they hold, feeding less frequently, awaiting warmer water to return in Spring. Drop shots, flutter spoons, blade baits and jigs are good options, with slow presentations a must.

SPRING. When water temperatures rise into the 50's, smallmouth will move from deep wintering spots to shallower water, just outside spawning areas. They feed heavily at this time, and are typically caught on jerkbaits, crankbaits, tube baits, Ned rigs, and crayfish imitating plastics. They will be preparing for the spawn. Once water warms into the high 50's, they move into shallower water, and create nests in gravel or sand areas, then lay their eggs. Females then move to deeper water and males remain to guard the eggs, and then the fry. After a week or 10 days, the males leave the fry and also move to slightly deeper water to feed aggressively. Crankbaits, tube baits, Ned rigs, plastic worms, and swimbaits are catching smallies during this period.

Current Report: Good

SUMMER. Water temperatures are in the 70's, so summer patterns are in full swing. Bass are feeding shallow early and late in the day, where they are being caught on topwater, crankbaits and swimbaits. Some largemouth will stay shallow all day, in shady areas under docks, and around thick vegetation. Wacky-rigged stick worms are catching finicky bass when the bite is slow. Largemouth bass here feed on alewives, small sunfish and crawfish. During the hotter parts of the day, many are being caught on points, channel edges, and ledges 10 to 20 feet deep, especially around weed patch edges, all over the lake.

FALL. When Fall arrives, bass here will follow schools of baitfish into coves and shallow bays in 5 to 15 feet of water. Here spoons, swimbaits, and slow-rolled spinnerbaits have been successful in prior years. As deeper water cools, bait and bass move out to ledges, channel edges, points and humps where flutter spoons are often the ideal bait.

WINTER. Winter will isolate them around deeper structure, submerged timber, flats, points and creek channels. They can be found from 20 to 40 feet deep. Here they hold, feeding less frequently, awaiting warmer water to return in Spring. A slow presentation with live shiners, spoons, bladebaits and shaky head worms.

SPRING. Once water temperatures rise into the low 60's, largemouth will move from deep wintering areas, to shallower water just outside spawning areas. Jerkbaits, spinnerbaits, swimbaits and vibrating jigs typically get bites just away from the shoreline. At this time they are preparing for the spawn. Once water warms into the mid to high 60's, they will move into 1 to 4 feet of water in areas protected from the wind. Here they create nests, then lay their eggs. Immediately afterwards, females move to deeper water and males remain to guard the eggs, and then the fry. After a couple weeks, the males also move to slightly deeper water. Crankbaits, vibrating jigs, plastic worms and swimbaits are catching bass during this period.

Current Report: Good

SUMMER. Fat yellow perch here feed primarily on small fish and invertebrates. Jigging spoons, minnows, mealworms, nightcrawlers and maggots are catching perch in 10 to 25 feet of water. They are being caught around drop-offs, points, and the edges of areas with submerged vegetation.

FALL. Fall finds yellow perch feeding aggressively in coves and bays in 10 to 20 feet of water. As the water turns even colder in late Spring, they migrate toward Winter holding areas, often in the deeper pools where creeks flow into the lake.

WINTER. The cold of winter drives perch deeper again in search of food and stable water conditions. Perch are being caught when they are feeding in deep weedy areas, in 20 to 40 of water. Fishing for perch through the ice was very good again this year, using shiners, mealworms, maggots, and nightcrawlers.

SPRING. Perch spawn in Spring, among weedy areas or on rocky structure, when the water temperature warms to the mid 40's. Anglers will begin to catch them shallow using small crankbaits, minnows, mealworms, maggots, and nightcrawlers. Docks, bridges, vegetation, trees and brush all attract yellow perch searching for a meal, once the water warms into the 60's.