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Connecticut · Fishing
Waterford sits in southeastern Connecticut where tidal inlets and quiet inland ponds give anglers a handful of genuinely different fishing experiences within a few miles of each other.
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View on mapFishing · 4 spots
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Waterford sits in southeastern Connecticut where tidal inlets and quiet inland ponds give anglers a handful of genuinely different fishing experiences within a few miles of each other. The four fishable waters listed here — Brandegee Lake, Jordan Cove, Jordan Mill Pond, and Southern Pond — are all lake or pond environments, which means calm-water techniques apply across the board: light spinning gear, bobber rigs, and slow-moving soft plastics will cover most situations. These are accessible, low-pressure spots suited to anglers who want to wet a line without a long drive or a boat ramp queue. Jordan Cove sits closer to tidal influence than the others, which can affect water temperature and what species move through seasonally. Brandegee Lake and Southern Pond are more classic Connecticut warm-water ponds, where largemouth bass, yellow perch, and pickerel are realistic targets depending on the time of year. Jordan Mill Pond rounds out the list as a smaller impoundment worth checking if the other spots are crowded. None of these waters appear in Connecticut DEEP's Gold Medal or Wild Trout designations, so manage expectations for trout accordingly — stocked fish are possible in season, but these are primarily warm-water fisheries.
Yes. Anyone 16 or older needs a valid Connecticut fishing license to fish any of these waters. Licenses are available through the Connecticut DEEP website or at most local bait and tackle shops. Check the current DEEP regulations booklet for any site-specific rules before you go.
These are warm-water ponds, so largemouth bass, chain pickerel, and yellow perch are your most consistent targets. Bluegill and other sunfish are common and make these spots practical for kids or beginners. Connecticut DEEP does stock some ponds with trout in spring, so it's worth checking the annual stocking list on their website to see if any of these waters are included in a given year.
Jordan Mill Pond
~2 min drive
A worthwhile stop near CT.
Brandegee Lake
~3 min drive
A worthwhile stop near CT.
Jordan Cove
~4 min drive
A worthwhile stop near CT.
Southern Pond
~4 min drive
A worthwhile stop near CT.
Pattagansett Lake
~7 min drive
A worthwhile stop near CT.
Lake Cuheca
~7 min drive
A worthwhile stop near CT.
Havens Pond
~7 min drive
A worthwhile stop near CT.
Brocket Pond
~9 min drive
A worthwhile stop near CT.
Goodwins Pond
~9 min drive
A worthwhile stop near CT.
Buddington Pond
~10 min drive
A worthwhile stop near CT.
Brocket Pond
~10 min drive
A worthwhile stop near CT.
Buddington Pond
~10 min drive
A worthwhile stop near CT.
Jordan Cove has more tidal character than Brandegee Lake, Jordan Mill Pond, or Southern Pond, which means salinity and water temperature can shift with the tides and season. That can bring in species like striped bass or snapper blues at certain times of year, though it also means conditions change more than at a straightforward freshwater pond. It's worth timing a visit around moving water rather than slack tide.
Early morning and the hour before sunset are the most productive windows at all four locations, particularly for bass and pickerel. Midday in summer tends to push fish into deeper or shaded water and slows surface activity considerably. At Jordan Cove, incoming and outgoing tides can override the time-of-day factor, so a tide chart matters more there than at the inland ponds.
A light to medium spinning rod in the 6- to 7-foot range handles everything you'll encounter here. For the freshwater ponds, a 6- to 10-pound monofilament or fluorocarbon line is plenty. Soft plastic worms, small spinnerbaits, and live or artificial nightcrawlers cover bass, pickerel, and panfish. If you're fishing Jordan Cove and targeting anything that might run larger or saltier, bump up to a medium rod with 15-pound braid and a fluorocarbon leader.
