Great Hill Pond near Lake Pocotopaug: Fishing Spots, Seasons and Access

• Overview

  Great Hill Pond is a Lower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region water, Connecticut side. The sea is 17 miles distant. Around 74 acres of surface means several distinct areas to work. With about 1.3 miles of edge, you can try several depths in one session. Lake Pocotopaug at 3.2 miles is the nearest place to stop. Further out sit East Hampton (3.2 miles) and Portland (4 miles). Two sets of local rules meet not far from this water.

• Where to Fish on Great Hill Pond

  We hold no depth figure for this one. Held water runs deepest at the wall and shallows back to the inflow. Points where the flooded channel swings in are the reliable ones. Public occurrence data for Lower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region names bluegill, bowfin, white perch and alewife. Protected fish appear in the records for this area, so treat the list as information, not an invitation. On Great Hill Pond the quiet end is the one worth the extra effort.

• Seasonal Patterns

  On the long-term average, July reads 72°F and January reads 27°F. The swings are modest, so patterns change slowly. Hard water here is never dependable, so check for yourself before stepping out. February into May fishes hardest as the water warms. That shapes the year on Great Hill Pond.

• Tackle & Baits

  No public source sets out the position on this bank. Parking sits half a mile out, which makes for a walk with tackle. Reserve land runs up to the bank here, so read the notices. For the catfish, fish bottom baits into the deeper holes and let them sit. Look for a notice board at the entrance. Barbless rules turn up on managed water more often than not. The nearest alternative is Supples Pond, 1.2 miles out. Ask locally about Great Hill Pond if anything is unclear.