Fishing at Beardsley Pond, Northwest Hills Planning Region, Connecticut

• Overview

  Beardsley Pond is one of the Northwest Hills Planning Region waters in Connecticut. The ground around here is rolling bush. At about 43 acres, a day is enough to walk the shoreline properly. About 0.9 miles of bank, so nothing stays unexplored for long. By elevation it is in the upper part of our Connecticut listings. Canaan is the closest town at 11 miles. Beyond it, Kent at 12 miles and Pine Plains at 12 miles. Rules can differ a short way off, since the county line is near.

• Where to Fish on Beardsley Pond

  Without a survey to go on, judge depth from how the bank falls away. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. Bays and points beat straight shoreline every time on water like this. Across Northwest Hills Planning Region, recorded fish include bluegill, brown trout, largemouth bass and pumpkinseed. County records show the wider picture rather than this one place. Fish Beardsley Pond where the bottom changes rather than where it looks deep.

• Seasonal Patterns

  In an average year July sits at 70°F and January at 22°F. Winter shuts the surface down for months. The freeze runs deep into the year, with break-up near late March. On average, late March opens the water and mid December closes it again. Fish feed hardest at the start and the close of the open season. Keep it in mind when planning a trip to Beardsley Pond.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether the bank is open is not something our records settle. No dam controls it, and the level follows the season. The car has to stay half a mile away, which shapes how much tackle you bring. Beardsley Pond takes in this water; protected-area rules will apply. Take the rules with you rather than trusting memory. Access can change hands, so last year's answer may not hold. If the gate is shut, Mudge Pond at 1.4 miles is the nearest alternative. Check the position on Beardsley Pond before loading the car.