CONNECTICUT
Amos Pond
Medium-sized pond in the town of Preston. It is a natural lake that had its water level raised by a small masonry dam. The dam expanded the pond to 112 acres with a maximum depth of 45 feet. Its average depth is 20 feet, but most of the better bass-fishing water is less than 10 feet deep.
The lake is fed by outlets from several nearby private ponds and two small brooks. These inflows produce a fertile lake that supports extensive weed growth, including huge lily pad beds. Largemouth bass use these weeds for cover while ambushing their prey and fending off anglers’ temptations. Amos Lake has an abundant supply of largemouth bass in all age-classes and, more specifically, the population of 14- to 16-inch bass is very healthy. Also, expect to catch pickerel, trout, bluegills and bullheads.
Amos Lake has an extremely dense population of stunted alewives. These silvery baitfish provide a significant portion of the pond’s forage base, so bass anglers should fare well with lures that mimic the alewife. Think small when selecting lures, as many of the alewives are less than 3 inches in length.
Gardner Lake
Gardner Lake gives up several trophy-class bass every season. Anglers will also find walleyes, trout, pickerel and catfish throughout the pond. The lake is 487 acres, is natural in origin, but a dam has increased its size and depth. The maximum depth is 42 feet, which is confined to a small basin near Minnie Island State Park. The lake has an average depth of 14 feet.
Gardner Lake has a well-defined shoal around the lake running about 6 feet deep. This shoal varies from gravel and rock to weedy mud flats, providing loads of fishing options for every angling style. Anglers looking for weeds and largemouth bass should concentrate on the extreme northern end of the lake. Smallmouth bass hunters will find their quarry on the points along the eastern shoreline. Boat docks also provide shady cover for both species.
The forage base in Gardner Lake includes golden shiners, banded killifish and darters. Bullhead fry are plentiful at this time of year. Crayfish are scattered throughout the pond, and anglers will find excellent water clarity, which often translates into super topwater action.
Uncas Pond
Big bass are often found in small ponds, and Uncas Pond in Lyme is a perfect example. This pond covers 69 acres, but its elongated shape gives it the illusion of a much larger waterway. The pond has a maximum depth of 39 feet but averages 22 feet. It is also clear, with visibility exceeding 10 feet.
Limnologists report that Uncas Lake forms a well-defined thermocline during midsummer at about 16 feet. This temperature stratification forces bass into shallower water, especially in the northern end of the lake. Also, much of the shoreline is wooded with moderate to severe slopes that extend into the lake as sharp dropoffs. Bass anglers may fish the dropoffs effectively with alewife-imitating lures.
Aquatic vegetation is confined to the shallower areas in the northern and southern ends of the lake. Water lily, water shield and common pondweed are the major weed species. Along with largemouth bass, the DEP stocks the lake with 3,000 trout every year. Yellow perch and sunfish are common.
Mohawk Pond
Anglers looking for a bass-fishing jewel will enjoy Mohawk Pond. This 15-acre natural kettle pond in Cornwall has a good population of largemouth bass. Its maximum depth is 25 feet with a steep average depth of 15 feet. But the pond has a well-defined shoal circling it at about 3 feet deep.
Mohawk Pond is spring fed, giving it very clear water. Topwater lures worked around the shoal often provide anglers with unlimited thrills, as the pond has plenty of largemouth bass in the 12- to 15-inch class. Dense beds of white-water lily, yellow-pond lily and common pondweed are found along the shoreline. Thus, bring plenty of weedless lures when visiting Mohawk Pond.
MASSACHUSETTS
A-1 Site
Most Northern bass anglers never see extensive stumpfields like their Southern counterparts. But in Westboro, Massachusetts, New England’s anglers get a taste of flooded timber at the A-1 Site, often called “Stump Pond.”
This 325-acre pond was created when the dam was placed across the Assabet River. The trees and stumps along the river were not removed before flooding thus this structure provides exceptional hiding cover for largemouth bass. The A-1 Site is onee of the most productive largemouth bass waters in the state, with bass in the 3- to 5-pound class being common. You'll also find tiger muskies, northern pike, yellow perch, sunfish, crappies & white catfish.
Except for the small open-water area near the dam and launch area, expect to be confronted by a maze of fallen trees and submerged stumps, brushpiles and root systems. Take care when navigating around the pond to avoid capsizing after hitting submerged timber.
Also, leave the twin-engine bass boat home. You will enjoy the outing better in a canoe or small cartop boat using an electric motor. Golden shiners and bullhead fry are the primary forage species in the pond. Lures mimicking these baits work well. Jigs and tube lures are also popular A-1 baits. Because of all the timber and snags, weedless lures and heavy line are required.
Pontoosuc Lake
Tucked neatly in the northern Berkshire Mountains, 480-acre Pontoosuc Pond has a maximum depth of 35 feet, with an average depth of about 14 feet. Points, underwater dropoffs and island cover provide plenty of bass-fishing options. Anglers may also fish around the heavy weed growth in the shallower portions of the pond.
The shoreline is highly developed and the lake is heavily used during the summer months. Bass anglers can avoid the crowds by fishing the pond after dark, when the bass action seems to pick up. If you visit the lake during the day, expect to find rather clear water. Heavy recreational use and clear water sometimes make bass spooky. Light lines and smaller lures give fishermen the edge when fishing Pontoosuc Pond.
Along with the bass, anglers should expect to find a few tiger muskies, northern pike, pickerel, yellow perch, white perch, sunfish and crappies. MassWildlife personnel also stock the pond with trout, but trout anglers largely abandon the pond by late summer. Golden shiners, bullhead fry, common shiners and crayfish are the major forage species in this pond.
Goose Pond
Goose Pond in Lee is another great Berkshire Mountain pond. It covers 225 acres with a deep basin of 46 feet. The average depth is about 18 feet. Because the pond is contained within a mountain range, the water is infertile and very clear, with a transparency of 15 feet or more. Aquatic vegetation is scarce, even in the shallow northern bay.
The pond has a healthy population of largemouth bass. These fish are easy to find in the area adjacent to the dam and in the large northern bay. The forage base is varied between crayfish and assorted minnow species, so the largemouth bass here may be caught on most standard bass lures. Jigs and tube lures have caught on among largemouth bass anglers in recent years.
Also be alert for smallmouth bass which rarely exceed 2 pounds, but the clear water makes this pond an ideal topwater fishery. The scrappy smallmouth bass always seem willing to cooperate during the late summer months. Smelt are one of the smallmouth’s favorite Goose Pond foods. Small poppers and twitch baits fished on light line should keep anglers happily entertained.
RHODE ISLAND
Olney Pond
Rhode Island bass anglers will find Olney Pond worth visiting in late summer. This 120-acre pond probably has more points and dropoffs than most lakes twice its size. Each has the potential of producing both largemouth and smallmouth bass. Olney Pond has a maximum depth of about 15 feet with an average depth of 8 feet. It also has dozens of shallow coves that range from 3 to 9 feet deep. Anglers may launch their boats and never need to run the outboard. Just drop the electric motor and start casting.
Golden shiners and crayfish are the main bass forage in the lake. Sunfish are also abundant and stunted, offering bass some limited forage. Most bass lures work well in Olney Pond. The pond is stocked with trout, attracting plenty of attention in early summer. Bass anglers and other shoreline casters also work the pond heavily. Thus, the fish can be a little edgy when the pressure mounts. Savvy anglers tend to use lighter lines on this pond because of the heavy fishing pressure.
Chapman Pond
Chapman Pond is almost featureless. This 164-acre pond has a maximum depth of 4 feet with an average depth of 3 feet. The shoreline is undeveloped with forest and cedar swamps surrounding the pond. This pond is loaded with sunfish, yellow perch, white perch, crappies and bullheads. Some of the panfish, especially the white perch, are stunted. The pond is stocked with northern pike in an attempt to combat the perch.
Largemouth bass are also plentiful. According to fisheries studies, 12-inch keepers are common. Because of the pond’s weed growth and the sharp teeth of pike and resident pickerel, bass anglers should use heavy lines. [org pub New England Game & Fish Mag, by Frank McKane, Jr.]
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