Fishing Bantam Lake

Popular Fish Species
Bantam Lake Fishing Video
Available Fish Species
Amenities
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Bantam Lake, CT

Popular Fish Species Bantam Lake, CT

Bantam Lake Popular Fish - Largemouth Bass

Largemouth Bass Fishing

Bantam Lake is notorious for good largemouth bass fishing. This fertile lake also offers sufficient cover for both baitfish and bass. Thorough fisheries management by the CT Fishing, Department of Energy & Environmental Protection has maintained a quality bass fishery for some time now. When the bite is good, bass typically move shallow and are quite aggressive. If you find them shallow and they are not tempted to bite, slow down and use smaller, lighter baits. Fishing for largemouth bass is good virtually any time they are shallow - in spring, mornings in summer, and during warm Fall afternoons. Use shallow crankbaits around rip rap. Around grass use worms, jigs, topwater and spinnerbaits. In deeper water, big worms, jigs and spoons are three good weapons. In winter, spend your time fishing Bantam Lake on deeper structure where the bass spend much of their time. Smallmouth bass and spotted bass also reside here in good numbers.

Bantam Lake Popular Fish - Northern Pike

Northern Pike Fishing

Thriving in the cool waters of Bantam Lake, northern pike are a very popular target for local anglers. This year they are being caught in good quantity and some mighty big sizes. April and May are the best months of the year for northern pike fishing here. Summer is spotty but pike can be caught all summer long. Fall can also be good sometimes stretching into October. Large, flashy lures that mimic the bait they prey upon are great lures for northerns. Effective lures include spoons, spinners, and crankbaits, particularly those with bright colors or metallic finishes to attract the pike's attention. Additionally, big flies, soft plastic swimbaits and jerkbaits can be successful, especially when retrieved erratically to mimic wounded prey. Trolling along weed edges can often entice strikes. When the lake has safe ice in winter, ice fishing for northern pike can be quite thrilling. Use GPS to locate spots you normally find northern pike holding during summer. Portable fish finders can be a big help.

Yellow Perch Fishing

Bantam Lake continues to have a very healthy population of yellow perch, which have been a mainstay in the fishery for decades. Yellow perch are great table fare, and are a food source for many predator fish in the lake as well. Fishing for yellow perch is simple, their primary diet consists of minnows and other small fish, insects and worms. Yellow perch tend to gather in small groups and hang out on relatively deep structure, near cover and/or drop-offs. Use a small hook and sinker. Bait a small hook with minnows, worms or small jigs using 6 to 10 pound line. They make for an excellent fish fry, are a food source for many of the larger predator fish in the lake, and they are fun to catch in winter when ice fishing.

Bantam Lake Fishing Video

Fish species to fish for...

Guide to fishing for largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, black crappie, rainbow trout, brown trout, bluegill, pumpkinseed sunfish, redbreast sunfish, rock bass, white perch, yellow perch, chain pickerel and northern pike at Bantam Lake in Connecticut.

Home to good largemouth and smallmouth bass fishing, Bantam Lake is an ideal location for the numerous bass tournaments held here annually. This is a 950-acre, natural lake, located in the northwest corner of CT.

One of the most sought-after fish species in Bantam Lake is the largemouth bass. Bantam Lake is also home to other popular fish species, including smallmouth bass, black crappie, rainbow trout, brown trout, bluegill, sunfish, rock bass, white perch, northern pike, pickerel, and yellow perch. Pike fishing is particularly rewarding, as this predatory fish offers thrilling strikes and strong fights. Anglers often target pike using large spinnerbaits, spoons, or live bait such as shiners or suckers.

Fishing report for Bantam Lake

There are almost 10 miles of shoreline and a considerable list of fish species to be caught here. Bass, crappie, trout, sunfish, perch, pickerel and northern pike all swim in these waters. The lake is open to any horsepower outboards, but car toppers, canoes and kayaks are all popular here as well. There is a boat launch ramp, marina and store at Point Folly. There is another boat launch at Deer Island.

Primary fish species residing in Bantam Lake

Click images for fishing tips and details about each species.

Bantam Lake Amenities

Marina: YES
Boat Rental: NO
Boat Launch Ramp: YES
Campgrounds: YES
RV Hookups: NEARBY
Lodging: NEARBY
Convenience Store: YES
Bait & Tackle: NEARBY
Restaurant: YES

Today's Weather & Forecast

Public Boat Launch Ramps & Landings

Bantam Lake Boat Launch Ramp
Located mid lake, west side, off Palmer Road, this is a two-lane, concrete ramp with paved parking.

Litchfield Boat Launch Ramp
Located mid lake, on the north side of the lake, off North Shore Road, this is a two-lane, concrete ramp with a dock and gravel parking.

Southeast Boat Launch Ramp
Located in the southeast section of the lake, off Boat Launch Road, this is a two-lane, concrete ramp with gravel parking.