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Connecticut · Fishing
Lyme, Connecticut sits in the quiet hill-country of the lower Connecticut River valley, and its fishing is almost entirely pond-based — five stillwater spots that reward anglers who prefer a canoe or a pair of waders over a boat ramp and a crowd.
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Lyme, Connecticut sits in the quiet hill-country of the lower Connecticut River valley, and its fishing is almost entirely pond-based — five stillwater spots that reward anglers who prefer a canoe or a pair of waders over a boat ramp and a crowd. Uncas Pond, Norwich Pond, Ed Bills Pond, Cedar Lake, and Blackwells Pond make up the fishable waters here, each a small, glacially carved lake typical of eastern Connecticut. Expect warmwater species common to this part of New England — largemouth bass, chain pickerel, yellow perch, and bluegill show up consistently across ponds like these in Lyme and the surrounding towns. None of the waters in this list carry a gold-medal or wild-trout designation, so if a dedicated trout trip is your goal, you'll want to look elsewhere in the state. What Lyme does offer is low-pressure fishing in a genuinely rural setting, with minimal boat traffic and the kind of shoreline access that makes a half-day outing feel worthwhile without a lot of logistics. Spring and early fall are the most productive windows, when water temperatures in shallow ponds push fish into predictable feeding patterns close to structure.
Largemouth bass, chain pickerel, yellow perch, and panfish like bluegill and pumpkinseed are the bread-and-butter species in Connecticut stillwaters of this type. None of the five ponds listed here are designated trout waters, so don't plan a trip around salmonids unless you confirm stocking activity directly with the Connecticut DEEP before you go.
Yes. Any angler 16 or older needs a valid Connecticut fishing license, available through the CT DEEP website or at licensed agents in the area. Check the current DEEP regulations booklet for any pond-specific rules, such as slot limits or gear restrictions, before your trip.
Blackwells Pond
~1 min drive
A worthwhile stop near CT.
Norwich Pond
~2 min drive
A worthwhile stop near CT.
Cedar Lake
~2 min drive
A worthwhile stop near CT.
Uncas Pond
~3 min drive
A worthwhile stop near CT.
Ed Bills Pond
~4 min drive
A worthwhile stop near CT.
Rogers Lake
~5 min drive
A worthwhile stop near CT.
Upper Millpond
~7 min drive
A worthwhile stop near CT.
Goodwins Pond
~7 min drive
A worthwhile stop near CT.
Hedlund Pond
~7 min drive
A worthwhile stop near CT.
Pattagansett Lake
~8 min drive
A worthwhile stop near CT.
Lyons Meadow Pond
~9 min drive
A worthwhile stop near CT.
Beckwith Pond
~9 min drive
A worthwhile stop near CT.
Early morning and the last two hours before sunset are consistently the most productive windows on shallow warmwater ponds like these, particularly for bass and pickerel. Midday fishing in summer slows down as surface temperatures rise, though perch and panfish stay active longer into the day than larger predators do.
A medium-light spinning rod in the 6- to 7-foot range handles most situations across these ponds. Soft plastics, small spinnerbaits, and inline spinners cover bass and pickerel, while a simple bobber-and-worm rig is hard to beat for perch and panfish. A kayak or canoe opens up a lot more water on ponds where bank access is limited by vegetation.
Yes, pond fishing in Lyme is well-suited to beginners and younger anglers. Panfish are abundant and forgiving to catch, the water is calm, and you don't need specialized gear or experience to have a productive outing. Just confirm public access points for whichever pond you're targeting before you show up, since parking and shoreline access vary.
