Connor Reservoir Fishing in Hampden County, Massachusetts

• Overview

  Connor Reservoir sits within Hampden County in Massachusetts. The bank is 325 feet above sea level. About 17 acres of surface, which puts the far bank inside easy sight. Start from Chicopee, 2.9 miles down the road. North Chicopee is 3.2 miles away, with Holyoke at 3.3 miles. The county line runs close by, so rules can change within a short drive.

• Where to Fish on Connor Reservoir

  Depth here is unknown, so count the lead down before committing. A reservoir gives you a hard edge, a shelf, and not much else. Look for where the old bank line still shows under the surface. Reported across Hampden County: bluegill, white sucker, pumpkinseed, brook trout and tessellated darter. These are county-wide records, so not all of them will be in this water. Treat Connor Reservoir as a water to read rather than to cover.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The range across the year is 24°F to 72°F. Cold winters and warm summers give a wide working range. The lid usually goes in late March, which opens the strongest weeks of the year. Ice usually gives way near late March, and forms again about late December. June through September is the settled part of the year, with the shoulders busier for fish. Time your trip to Connor Reservoir by conditions rather than dates.

• Tackle & Baits

  There is no clear statement anywhere on who can fish it. Parking is mapped about half a mile from the bank. Part of this sits inside or beside Bear Hole Watershed, so read the notices. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Rules for this water may differ from the county norm. Rules for boats are stricter than rules for the bank in many places. For a change of water, Ashley Pond is 0.3 miles distant. For Connor Reservoir in particular, ask before you travel.