Fishing Gardner Lake

AKA: Gardner Reservoir

Popular Fish Species
Gardner Lake Fishing Video
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Gardner Lake, CT

Popular Fish Species Gardner Lake, CT

Gardner Lake Popular Fish - Largemouth Bass

Largemouth Bass Fishing

Gardner Lake is a popular bass tournament for local anglers. Weekend and tournament anglers find the fishing to be slow at time, yet pretty good at other times. Fishing for bass can be quite rewarding, with an occasional bass over 4 pounds being caught. Anglers can also catch smallmouth bass, which reside here in decent numbers. In winter when the lake freezes over and the ice is safe, bass can also be caught while ice fishing. Bass often move shallow and become aggressive when they are in a feeding mood. Use shallow crankbaits around rip rap. Around grass, use worms, jigs, topwater and spinnerbaits. In deeper water, drop shot rigs, big worms, jigs and spoons are good options. In winter, spend your time fishing deeper structure where the bass spend much of their time. A history of careful fisheries management by the CT Department of Energy & Environmental Protection has helped to maintain a good bass fishery for anglers.

Gardner Lake Popular Fish - Black Crappie

Black Crappie Fishing

A nice population of black crappie resides in Gardner Lake. Crappie tend to run in schools, and once a school is located, there is a good chance for catching significant numbers. Crappie fishing is easy and requires simple, basic gear. Virtually any fishing pole, reasonably small line and crappie jigs or small hooks baited with live bait, creates the ideal setup. Add a bobber and you can set the depth you prefer the bait to maintain. The best time to catch crappie tends to be at dawn and dusk. Live bait and small jigs are the most common method for crappie here. When the lake freezes over, ice fishing is often a great way to catch a nice bunch of slabs. Because crappie prefer cover and structure, locate brush and vegetation in appropriate water depths. Using a fish finder can help locate schools of crappie, which tend to stack vertically around cover. In spring and fall focus on the 8 to 12 foot range. As the crappie move deep in summer and winter, follow points out deep, as well as find ledges near channels in deeper water.

Gardner Lake Popular Fish - Chain Pickerel

Chain Pickerel Fishing

Chain pickerel prefer to weedy areas of lakes and rivers. They ambush baitfish and sunfish which requires cover for them to hide within. Submerged aquatic vegetation, brush, fallen tree limbs, or structures such as rock piles, bridge pilings, rip-rap, or debris. Gardner Lake has a very healthy population of these toothy critters, many approaching 30 inches and exceeding 5 pounds. Unlike many freshwater fish species, chain pickerel do not school up. They tend to be loners. Once you catch one, find other, spots with similar cover and depth to fish. Flashy spoons, live minnows, and bait-imitating crankbaits all work well. For added excitement, try fishing topwater lures over vegetation areas. Topwater lures that mimic wounded baitfish are very tempting to these predators. When the lake freezes over, ice fishing can get very exciting with these big pike.

Gardner Lake Fishing Video

Fish species to fish for...

Guide to fishing for largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, white catfish, black crappie, walleye, rainbow trout, brook trout, brown trout, bluegill, pumpkinseed sunfish, yellow perch and chain pickerel at Gardner Lake in Connecticut.

Naturally beautiful scenery surrounds Gardner Lake, a 430-acre lake located in the southeast corner of the state 2 miles northeast of Salem. Adventurous anglers can find plenty of places to fish from the bank, along the 5 miles of shoreline, in remote areas, at parks and boat launch areas.

One of the popular fish species found in Gardner Lake is largemouth bass. In addition to largemouth bass, the lake is also home to northern pike, pickerel, and various panfish species such as yellow perch and black crappie.

Several boat launch ramps are available for use by the public. Bass, crappie, trout and yellow perch are some of the favorite species here. Catfish and sunfish are also plentiful. Camping is popular at campgrounds in the area.

Primary fish species residing in Gardner Lake

Click images for fishing tips and details about each species.

Gardner Lake Amenities

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

Today's Weather & Forecast

Public Boat Launch Ramps & Landings

Gardner Lake Boat Launch Ramp
Located mid lake, on the south side of the lake, off Old Colechester Road, this is a four-lane, concrete ramp with a dock and paved parking.