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Connecticut · Fishing
Newtown, Connecticut has a quiet but solid freshwater fishing scene built around a handful of small ponds scattered across town.
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Newtown, Connecticut has a quiet but solid freshwater fishing scene built around a handful of small ponds scattered across town. Joes Pond, Old Hawleyville Road Pond, Farrells Pond, and Hattertown Pond are the main spots, and all four are lake or pond fisheries rather than moving water, so you're working structure, weed edges, and drop-offs rather than reading current. These are the kinds of places where a kayak or canoe gives you a real advantage, but bank fishing is workable at most of them if you know where to position yourself. Expect warm-water species typical of southern Connecticut ponds — largemouth bass and panfish are the bread and butter here, with pickerel showing up in the weedier sections. None of the listed waters carry a gold-medal or wild-trout designation, so this isn't a destination trout fishery, but for a half-day outing close to home it's genuinely productive water if you time it right and fish the right structure. Newtown is also a short drive from the Housatonic River corridor if you want to expand your options, though that's outside the scope of these four ponds. For anyone local or passing through Fairfield County, these spots are worth knowing.
Largemouth bass and panfish — bluegill, pumpkinseed, and yellow perch — are the most consistent catches across Joes Pond, Farrells Pond, Hattertown Pond, and Old Hawleyville Road Pond. Chain pickerel are also present, particularly in areas with heavier aquatic vegetation. None of these waters are designated trout fisheries, so don't plan a trip around trout unless you've confirmed a recent stocking with the Connecticut DEEP.
Yes. Anyone 16 or older needs a valid Connecticut fishing license to fish any of these waters. You can purchase one online through the Connecticut DEEP website or at licensed vendors. Check the current DEEP regulations for any pond-specific rules before you go, as size and bag limits can vary by water body.
Farrells Pond
~3 min drive
A worthwhile stop near CT.
Joes Pond
~3 min drive
A worthwhile stop near CT.
Hattertown Pond
~4 min drive
A worthwhile stop near CT.
Curtis Pond
~5 min drive
A worthwhile stop near CT.
Warner Pond
~5 min drive
A worthwhile stop near CT.
Gelding Hill Road Pond
~6 min drive
A worthwhile stop near CT.
Old Hawleyville Road Pond
~8 min drive
A worthwhile stop near CT.
Lake Zoar
~9 min drive
A worthwhile stop near CT.
Chestnut Ridge Reservoir
~9 min drive
A worthwhile stop near CT.
Old Clarks Pond
~11 min drive
A worthwhile stop near CT.
Whose Pond
~11 min drive
A worthwhile stop near CT.
Rogers Park Pond
~13 min drive
A worthwhile stop near CT.
Early morning and the hour before sunset are consistently the most productive windows, especially for bass, which move shallow to feed during low-light periods. Spring and early summer are the peak season overall — bass are in pre-spawn and spawn patterns in May and June, which makes them more aggressive and easier to locate near shoreline structure. Late summer can slow down as water temperatures rise and fish go deeper.
Small, non-motorized watercraft are generally well-suited to these ponds given their size, but access points and launch conditions vary by location. Scout each pond ahead of time using satellite imagery or a site visit to confirm where you can get a boat in the water. Motorized boats are typically restricted or impractical on small Connecticut ponds like these.
A medium-light to medium spinning rod in the 6- to 7-foot range covers most situations across all four ponds. For bass, soft plastics rigged weedless work well around vegetation, and a small spinnerbait or crankbait covers open water efficiently. If you're targeting panfish, a light rod with a small jig or live bait under a bobber is hard to beat. Bring polarized sunglasses — spotting structure and fish movement in these smaller ponds makes a real difference.
