Pickerel Lake, Connecticut: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  The Lower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region entry here is Pickerel Lake, in Connecticut. The surface lies 433 feet up. Roughly 80 acres: a morning covers one end, an afternoon the other. A shoreline of some 2.2 miles keeps the choices simple. 2.4 miles away sits Moodus, the nearest town. Further out sit East Hampton (5.3 miles) and Colchester (5.5 miles). The line between counties passes nearby, which can change who manages the water.

• Where to Fish on Pickerel Lake

  Depth is not on record here, so the bank has to tell you. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. Fish documented in Lower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region include bluegill, bowfin, white perch and alewife. Some of the species recorded here are protected or tightly regulated, so check what may be targeted before you fish. Read Pickerel Lake for ten minutes before the first cast goes out.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Typical July readings run about 71°F; by January the average is down near 27°F. Conditions shift steadily rather than sharply. It should never be assumed safe, whatever the month says. Autumn steadies things again once the heat lets go. On Pickerel Lake the same rules apply, with local timing.

• Tackle & Baits

  Who may fish here is not settled in anything we hold. No dam controls it, and the level follows the season. There is a ramp at Pickerel Lake Boat Launch, half a mile out. The water borders Pickerel Lake, so expect the reserve rules to apply. Parking space is the usual limit rather than the bank itself. Fishing rules and camping rules are set separately here. For a change of water, Number Two Pond is 1.1 miles distant. Confirm access to Pickerel Lake locally before you travel.