Goodwins Pond near Niantic: Fishing Spots, Seasons and Access

• Overview

  Goodwins Pond is one of the Lower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region listings for Connecticut. Open valley runs right down to the water. At roughly 18 acres, the whole thing is within casting reach of a single walk. It lies lower than most water we list in Connecticut. For supplies, Niantic is 3.9 miles out. It is 35 miles to New Haven, the nearest city. Being near a boundary, it pays to know which side you are fishing.

• Where to Fish on Goodwins Pond

  We hold no depth figure for this one. Draw-down through summer strips the margins, so follow the water out. A reservoir gives you a hard edge, a shelf, and not much else. County-wide records name bluegill, bowfin, white perch, alewife and American eel. Protected fish appear in the records for this area, so treat the list as information, not an invitation. Goodwins Pond gives up more to patience than to distance.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Temperature averages peak at 71°F in July and bottom out at 28°F in January. Conditions shift steadily rather than sharply. In a normal year the cover is thin and short-lived. April and May are the settled weeks, with October close behind. Plan any trip to Goodwins Pond around it.

• Tackle & Baits

  Public sources are silent on who controls the bank. Bobrow Property runs up to the bank here, which usually means extra restrictions. For the catfish, fish bottom baits into the deeper holes and let them sit. Sort the permit out before you load the car. Where parking is tight, arriving early solves most problems. For a change of water, Black Hall Pond is 1.9 miles distant. What applies at Goodwins Pond may have changed since it was mapped.