Fishing For Other Species In Connecticut

Guide to fishing for chain pickerel and northern pike in CT

By AA-Fishing Staff Writers

This state offers unique fishing opportunities. Listed below find information about pike and pickerel, found in CT waters.

Best lakes, lures and bait

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Fishing For Chain Pickerel

Chain pickerel are aggressive, ambush-oriented predators, commonly found in slow-moving rivers and lakes with abundant vegetation. Recognizable by their green, chain-like markings and duckbill snout, pickerel are members of the pike family and are known for explosive strikes, sharp teeth, and a willingness to hit lures year-round. Though often overshadowed by northern pike and muskellunge, chain pickerel provide excellent sport, especially in waters where they are the dominant predator.

Pickerel favor shallow, weedy environments with access to deeper water nearby. They position themselves along weed edges, fallen timber, lily pads, and submerged grass, waiting to attack passing prey such as small fish, frogs, and insects.

In cold water, chain pickerel slow down but remain catchable. They often hold near deep weed edges (8–15 feet), creek channels, or submerged timber adjacent to shallow flats. In waters that freeze over, pickerel are a popular target through the ice, using tip-ups baited with live minnows set just above vegetation. Pickerel spawn early in Spring in shallow, flooded vegetation when water temperatures reach the 40s–50s°F, typically in 1–5 feet of water. As water warms in Summer, pickerel remain shallow but become more cover-oriented. They relate heavily to weed beds, lily pads, and shaded structure, often in 3–10 feet of water, with quick access to deeper water. Early morning and late evening are often the best fishing times. Topwater frogs, weedless spoons, spinnerbaits, and soft plastics rigged weedless shine in summer. As Fall brings cooler water, pickerel prepare for winter by feeding heavily along weed lines, points, and channel edges, often in 5–15 feet of water.

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Fishing For Northern Pike

Northern pike tend to roam a lot. They are not inclined to stay in one spot for too long, but will use the same spots over and over across time. Reading current fishing reports and northern pike tournament results from the lake you wish to fish, can give insight into the type of spots northerns are currently using. Reports and results from this time last year can also be helpful. Use this knowledge and look for spots on contour maps to identify spots and areas that meet criteria outlined in the reports. Use these maps to also identify creek channels, flats, and depth variations. This information can help you plan your time on the water, well before you head to the lake.

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Chain pickerel and northern pike lakes

Lakes with populations of northern pike include Ashland Pond, Bantam Lake, Candlewood Lake, Griswold Pond, Hopeville Pond, Lake Lillinonah, Mansfield Hollow Reservoir (Naubesatuck Lake), Moodus Reservoir, Quaddick Reservoir, the Pachaug River, Pachaug Pond and Winchester Lake. East & West Twin Lakes contains chain pickerel. Other large lakes in the state which may also contain a variety of species include Amos Lake, Bantam Lake, Barkhamsted Lake, Bashan Lake, Beach Pond, Beseck Lake, Black Pond, Cedar Lake, Colebrook Impoundment, Gardner Lake, Green Falls Reservoir, Highland Lake, Lake Lillinonah, Lake McDonough, Lake Zoar, Lower Bolton Lake, Mansfield Hollow Lake, Mashapaug Lake, Moodus Reservoir, Mudge Pond, Pachaug Pond, Pine Acres Lake, Quinebaug Pond, Rogers Lake, Lake Saltonstall, Saugatuck Reservoir, Squantz Pond, Tyler Lake, Waramaug Lake, Washinee Lake - West Twin, Washining Lake - East Twin, West Hill Pond, West Thompson Lake, Winchester Lake and Wononscopomuc Lake.

Check out the Northern Pike Fishing page to get tips, tactics and methods for catching more pike. Also visit the top producing northern pike lures page to assist in selecting the best baits.

Connecticut Miscellaneous State Record Fish

The state record bowfin was caught in the Connecticut River.

The state record chain pickerel was taken out of West Twin Lake.

The state record northern pike was taken out of Lake Lillinonah.

Information on fishing for pike, muskie and other unique species, by state

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