West Side Pond in Northwest Hills Planning Region: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  West Side Pond is one of the Northwest Hills Planning Region listings for Connecticut. It sits at 1,270 feet above sea level. With some 38 acres of water, there is room for a boat but no need of one. It sits higher than most water we list in Connecticut. 6.3 miles away sits West Torrington, the nearest town. For a city, Waterbury is 23 miles off. No boundary runs near, so the county rules hold throughout.

• Where to Fish on West Side Pond

  Depth figures are not published for this one. Points where the flooded channel swings in are the reliable ones. Held water runs deepest at the wall and shallows back to the inflow. Records held for Northwest Hills Planning Region cover bluegill, brown trout, largemouth bass, pumpkinseed and black crappie. Species recorded across the county may be limited to a few waters. The shape of West Side Pond rewards a slow walk along one bank.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The range across the year is 21°F to 68°F. A solid cap is the normal state through winter. The lid usually goes in early April, which opens the strongest weeks of the year. Break-up near early April, freeze-up near mid December: that is the shape of an average year. The first weeks of open water and the last are the ones to plan for. Expect West Side Pond to follow that timing.

• Tackle & Baits

  We have no record of the rules that apply on this bank. A launch point is recorded some half a mile off. A camping area sits within half a mile of here. Bass water: a Texas-rigged worm near cover, a spinnerbait when you need to cover ground. Check whether a boat is allowed before you tow one. Where tickets apply, they are sold in the nearest town rather than on the bank. If the gate is shut, Tyler Lake at 1.2 miles is the nearest alternative. Nothing here settles the position at West Side Pond for certain.