Fishing Leonard Pond in Northwest Hills Planning Region, Connecticut

• Overview

  Leonard Pond sits in Northwest Hills Planning Region, out in Connecticut. The sea is 37 miles distant. The water covers some 25 acres, so pick a bank rather than trying to cover it all. About 1.4 miles of bank, so nothing stays unexplored for long. Head to Kent, 1.3 miles away, for anything you forgot. Dover Plains lies 5.8 miles off, New Preston another 6.7 miles. It sits near the edge of the county, so check which rules apply.

• Where to Fish on Leonard Pond

  Depth is unmeasured here, so let the shoreline guide you. Weed, then depth: that is the order to fish a water of this kind. Bays and points beat straight shoreline every time on water like this. Records held for Northwest Hills Planning Region cover bluegill, brown trout, largemouth bass, pumpkinseed and black crappie. It is the county picture; the agency list is water-specific. Work Leonard Pond in sections rather than trying to cover it.

• Seasonal Patterns

  July runs about 70°F on average, January about 24°F. Winter puts a hard lid on this one. The lid usually goes in late March, which opens the strongest weeks of the year. From about late March to around late December, expect open water on the long-run figures. September and October fish steadily right up to the freeze. Expect Leonard Pond to follow that timing.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing we hold confirms whether access is permitted. No dam controls it, and the level follows the season. The closest car park is half a mile away, so pack accordingly. Emery Park runs up to the bank here, which usually means extra restrictions. A landowner's word beats anything printed elsewhere. Signs go up and come down, so check on the day. Hatch Pond at 1.5 miles is the sensible second choice. For Leonard Pond in particular, ask before you travel.