Upper Bolton Lake near Rockville: Fishing Spots, Seasons and Access

• Overview

  Upper Bolton Lake lies in Capitol Planning Region, in Connecticut. Tidal water begins 31 miles from here. Roughly 117 acres: a morning covers one end, an afternoon the other. It ranks high for size among our Capitol Planning Region listings. Start from Rockville, 4.2 miles down the road. Hartford is the closest city, 14 miles away. The nearest edge is a long way off, so local rules apply throughout.

• Where to Fish on Upper Bolton Lake

  No chart reached our records; the first cast is your sounding. Held water runs deepest at the wall and shallows back to the inflow. Inflow corners move water, and moving water gathers fish. Survey and observation records for Capitol Planning Region include bluegill, pumpkinseed and yellow perch. It is the county picture; the agency list is water-specific. Fish Upper Bolton Lake where the bottom changes rather than where it looks deep.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Between January at about 25°F and July at about 71°F, the water has a wide range to work through. The middle months are generous; the ends are demanding. The lid arrives early and lasts until roughly late March. Average temperatures cross freezing around late March in spring and again near late December in autumn. The weeks after the thaw and the ones before the freeze are the strongest. It sets the rhythm of the year at Upper Bolton Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  The paperwork position is blank for this one. There is a launch about half a mile from the bank. A carry of half a mile from the nearest parking is the price of fishing here. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Rules differ from one water to the next round here. Barbless rules turn up on managed water more often than not. For a change of water, Bolton Lake is 0.5 miles distant. Confirm access to Upper Bolton Lake locally before you travel.