Fairview Reservoir near Norwich: Fishing Spots, Seasons and Access

• Overview

  Fairview Reservoir falls in Southeastern Connecticut Planning Region, part of Connecticut. The water sits 262 feet up. It runs to roughly 67 acres — big enough to hold fish away from the bank, small enough to learn. With about 2.1 miles of edge, you can try several depths in one session. You are 3.2 miles from Norwich. It is 34 miles to Hartford, the nearest city. The county line is nowhere near, so one local authority covers the water.

• Where to Fish on Fairview Reservoir

  There is no published depth for this one, so start shallow and work out. Standing timber shows when the level drops, and fish sit against it. Rip-rap along the wall holds fish that the open bank never does. Southeastern Connecticut Planning Region records list bluegill, black crappie, striped bass, largemouth bass and chain pickerel among the fish reported. Some of the species recorded here are protected or tightly regulated, so check what may be targeted before you fish. At Fairview Reservoir the water rewards a slow, careful approach.

• Seasonal Patterns

  July runs about 71°F on average, January about 27°F. The swings are modest, so patterns change slowly. In a normal year the cover is thin and short-lived. June to September is hot work, so the first and last hours are what count. The season on Fairview Reservoir follows the weather closely.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing we hold confirms whether access is permitted. Stewart Drive Open Space runs up to the bank here, which usually means extra restrictions. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Gates get locked out of season on water like this. Some stretches are reserved and marked as such on the ground. The nearest alternative is Taftville Reservoir, 0.6 miles out. Confirm before you fish Fairview Reservoir.