North Spectacle Pond near Kent: Fishing Spots, Seasons and Access

• Overview

  North Spectacle Pond sits in Northwest Hills Planning Region, out in Connecticut. The surface lies 1,184 feet up. The water covers some 127 acres, so pick a bank rather than trying to cover it all. About 2.3 miles of bank, so nothing stays unexplored for long. On our Northwest Hills Planning Region list it sits near the top for size. The town to know is Kent, 3 miles out. After that come New Preston at 5.2 miles and Dover Plains at 8.1 miles. This one sits near enough to a boundary to be worth checking.

• Where to Fish on North Spectacle Pond

  Our records carry no depth, so judge it from the bank. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. The productive water is a rod length or two out, not a hundred. Species logged across Northwest Hills Planning Region include bluegill, brown trout, largemouth bass, pumpkinseed and black crappie. What holds for the county may not hold for this water. North Spectacle Pond fishes better once you know its edges.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Expect July to average close to 70°F, with January the cold end at about 24°F. Winter closes the water for a while, and the reopening is worth catching. The lid arrives early and lasts until roughly late March. The open-water window runs from around late March to about late December in an average year. Early summer and early autumn carry the open-water season. Keep it in mind when planning a trip to North Spectacle Pond.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether the bank is open is not something our records settle. This is a natural basin, not a dammed one. No car park, ramp or path is recorded within easy reach of the shore. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Read any posted signs at the access point rather than assuming. Barbless rules turn up on managed water more often than not. Failing this one, try Beaman Pond, 0.9 miles away. Where North Spectacle Pond is concerned, a local answer beats a written one.