Fishing Great Pond in Capitol Planning Region, Connecticut

• Overview

  Set in Capitol Planning Region, Connecticut, this is Great Pond. The surface lies 285 feet up. It measures about 35 acres, which is a comfortable size for bank fishing. Size puts it in the front rank of our Capitol Planning Region list. Supplies mean a trip to Simsbury Center, 1.7 miles off. The nearest city of size is Hartford, 12 miles away. You are close to a county edge here; who manages the access can change within a short drive.

• Where to Fish on Great Pond

  There is no recorded depth, so work from what you can see. Read the surface for the wind lane, then fish the edge of it. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Reported across Capitol Planning Region: bluegill, pumpkinseed and yellow perch. Those are county-wide records, so not every one of them will be in this water. Work Great Pond in sections rather than trying to cover it.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The warm month here averages 72°F; the cold one sits at 25°F. Most months fish reasonably, given the right weather. Hard water here is never dependable, so check for yourself before stepping out. November and March are the quiet, comfortable months to be out. At Great Pond the season follows that pattern closely.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether the bank is open is not something our records settle. Parking is mapped about half a mile from the bank. A toilet block sits half a mile away. Bass water: a Texas-rigged worm near cover, a spinnerbait when you need to cover ground. Look for a notice board at the entrance. Rules for boats are stricter than rules for the bank in many places. Tuller Reservoir at 1.6 miles is the sensible second choice. Signs at Great Pond carry more weight than any list.