Papermill Pond in Naugatuck Valley Planning Region: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Papermill Pond is one of the Naugatuck Valley Planning Region waters in Connecticut. The sea is 17 miles distant. At roughly 7 acres, the whole thing is within casting reach of a single walk. The town to know is Oxford, 2.9 miles out. Then Southbury, 3.1 miles, and Heritage Village, 4.3 miles. Being near a boundary, it pays to know which side you are fishing.

• Where to Fish on Papermill Pond

  No depth figure appears in our records, so the bank has to tell you. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Species logged across Naugatuck Valley Planning Region include bluegill, white sucker, pumpkinseed, yellow perch and largemouth bass. Some of the species recorded here are protected or tightly regulated, so check what may be targeted before you fish. On Papermill Pond a short move beats a long cast.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Temperature averages peak at 71°F in July and bottom out at 26°F in January. Most months fish reasonably, given the right weather. Some winters give nothing at all, so plan for open water. Autumn steadies things again once the heat lets go. At Papermill Pond the season follows that pattern closely.

• Tackle & Baits

  The rules here are undocumented as far as public sources go. A parking area is marked roughly half a mile out. Southford Falls State Park covers this ground, which means extra rules to check. Largemouth respond to soft plastics tight to cover; go weedless where the growth is heavy. Where a permit is needed, the nearest town usually sells it. Some ground is open by custom rather than by right, so tread carefully. Failing this one, try Towantic Pond, 3 miles away. Confirm access to Papermill Pond locally before you travel.