John Stone Pond Fishing near South Woodstock, Connecticut

• Overview

  The Northeastern Connecticut Planning Region entry here is John Stone Pond, in Connecticut. Around the bank it is rolling bush. This is a pocket water of some 8 acres, and every part of it is reachable from the bank. Start from South Woodstock, 2.2 miles down the road. After that come North Grosvenor Dale at 3 miles and Quinebaug at 3.7 miles. The county line runs close by, so rules can change within a short drive.

• Where to Fish on John Stone Pond

  Depth remains unrecorded, so treat the first session as a survey. Built water gives depth close in, which suits a bank angler. Points where the flooded channel swings in are the reliable ones. Records held for Northeastern Connecticut Planning Region cover bluegill, smallmouth bass, yellow bullhead, largemouth bass and chain pickerel. The county list is broader than any single water. The shape of John Stone Pond rewards a slow walk along one bank.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Climate normals give 70°F for July and 24°F for January. Winter puts a hard lid on this one. Once it clears, about late March, the fishing comes on quickly. Expect the water usable from around late March until roughly late December. The weeks after the thaw and the ones before the freeze are the strongest. Anyone fishing John Stone Pond regularly works to that calendar.

• Tackle & Baits

  The access position is unclear from public sources. The closest car park is half a mile away, so pack accordingly. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. Read any posted signs at the access point rather than assuming. Where parking is tight, arriving early solves most problems. The nearest alternative is Sampson Pond, 0.6 miles out. For John Stone Pond, the notice at the access point is the final word.