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Connecticut · Fishing
Durham, Connecticut is not a fishing destination you'll see on magazine covers, but that's part of the appeal.
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Durham, Connecticut is not a fishing destination you'll see on magazine covers, but that's part of the appeal. The town has three accessible stillwater spots — Carey Lowe Dam, Spectacle Meadow Dam, and Stepanski Pond — all of which offer lake fishing without the crowds you'd find at larger Connecticut reservoirs. These are quiet, practical places to fish: the kind where you can show up on a weekday morning, find a decent bank spot, and not have to fight for it. The dam impoundments at Carey Lowe and Spectacle Meadow tend to hold fish near structure, so working the edges of the dam face or any visible inflow is usually a better starting point than open water. Stepanski Pond is the smallest of the three and fishes well for anglers who prefer a more contained, walk-around-the-shoreline approach. Connecticut DEEP manages stocking across many of the state's public waters, so checking their online stocking reports before your trip will tell you whether any of these spots have seen recent activity. None of these waters are designated gold medal or wild trout fisheries, but they're solid options for a half-day outing, especially for anglers who want low-pressure water close to home.
Yes. Any angler 16 or older needs a valid Connecticut fishing license to fish any of these waters. Licenses can be purchased through the Connecticut DEEP website or at authorized license agents. Check DEEP's site for current fees and any required stamps depending on what species you're targeting.
These are typical Connecticut lake-fishing waters, so you're likely looking at largemouth bass, bluegill, yellow perch, and possibly stocked trout depending on the season and whether DEEP has stocked the water recently. Check the Connecticut DEEP stocking report online before your trip to see if any of these three spots have had recent trout stocking.
Millers Pond
~3 min drive
A worthwhile stop near CT.
Spectacle Meadow Dam
~3 min drive
A worthwhile stop near CT.
Stannard Pond
~4 min drive
A worthwhile stop near CT.
Whitney Pond
~4 min drive
A worthwhile stop near CT.
Stepanski Pond
~4 min drive
A worthwhile stop near CT.
Tetram Pond
~6 min drive
A worthwhile stop near CT.
Carey Lowe Dam
~6 min drive
A worthwhile stop near CT.
Laurel Brook Reservoir
~7 min drive
A worthwhile stop near CT.
Ice Pond
~8 min drive
A worthwhile stop near CT.
Pistapaug Pond
~8 min drive
A worthwhile stop near CT.
Zoar Pond
~9 min drive
A worthwhile stop near CT.
Fricks Pond
~10 min drive
A worthwhile stop near CT.
Early morning and the hour or two before sunset are consistently the most productive windows for bass and panfish in Connecticut stillwaters. During warmer months, midday fishing slows down significantly as fish move deeper to find cooler water. If you're targeting stocked trout in spring, morning is especially worth prioritizing.
A light to medium spinning setup covers most situations at all three locations. For bass, soft plastics, small crankbaits, and weedless rigs work well along structure and shoreline cover. For panfish and perch, small jigs or live bait like worms are reliable. If you're chasing stocked trout, PowerBait or small spinners are standard choices on Connecticut impoundments.
All three are fishable from the bank, which is part of what makes them practical for a quick trip. Stepanski Pond in particular lends itself to walking the shoreline. At the dam impoundments, the area near the dam structure and any accessible inflows are your best bank positions. A kayak or small canoe would open up more water, but it's not necessary to have a productive outing.
