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Connecticut · Fishing
West Suffield sits in the quiet northwest corner of Hartford County, and its fishing scene is built around three small ponds: Spears Pond, Spencer Pond, and Whites Pond.
3 spotsUpdated dailyFree to access
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West Suffield sits in the quiet northwest corner of Hartford County, and its fishing scene is built around three small ponds: Spears Pond, Spencer Pond, and Whites Pond. These are intimate, low-pressure lake fisheries — the kind of spots where you can show up on a weekday morning and have the water largely to yourself. Expect the species mix typical of Connecticut's warmwater ponds: largemouth bass, yellow perch, and panfish like bluegill and pumpkinseed are common targets, with pickerel showing up in the shallower, weedier sections. None of these are large bodies of water, which makes them well-suited to kayaks, canoes, and small cartop boats rather than trailered rigs. Shore fishing is possible at all three, though bank access varies by spot, so it's worth scouting before you commit to a setup. Connecticut DEEP manages stocking and regulations for waters like these, and a valid Connecticut fishing license is required for anyone 16 and older. If you're coming from out of state, pick up a non-resident license before you arrive — DEEP's online licensing portal makes that straightforward. Spring and early fall are the most productive windows, when water temperatures push fish into shallower, more accessible areas.
All three are warmwater lake fisheries, so largemouth bass, yellow perch, bluegill, pumpkinseed, and chain pickerel are the most likely catches. Bass and pickerel tend to hold near submerged vegetation and woody structure, while perch and panfish often school in open water or along drop-offs.
Shore fishing is possible at all three ponds, but bank access isn't uniformly open or well-cleared at each one. A kayak or canoe gives you a real advantage here — it lets you work the weed edges and coves that shore anglers can't reach, and the ponds are calm enough that a basic paddlecraft handles them fine.
Whites Pond
~2 min drive
A worthwhile stop near CT.
Connecticut River - Holyoke Dam Tailwater
~24 min drive
Easy
Westfield River - Middle Branch
~26 min drive
Moderate
Spencer Pond
~3 min drive
A worthwhile stop near CT.
Spears Pond
~4 min drive
A worthwhile stop near CT.
Sumatra Pond
~10 min drive
A worthwhile stop near CT.
Sumatra Pond
~11 min drive
A worthwhile stop near CT.
Jones Pond
~11 min drive
A worthwhile stop near CT.
Lake Basile
~13 min drive
A worthwhile stop near CT.
Kendrick Place Pond
~15 min drive
A worthwhile stop near CT.
Great Pond
~16 min drive
A worthwhile stop near CT.
Great Pond
~16 min drive
A worthwhile stop near CT.
Late April through early June is strong for bass as they move shallow to spawn, and September into October brings another active feeding window before water temperatures drop. Midsummer can slow down during the heat of the day, though early morning and evening sessions still produce fish.
A medium-light spinning rod in the 6- to 7-foot range covers most situations — it handles bass plastics and jigs while still being fun on panfish. For bass, soft plastics rigged weedless work well around the vegetation you'll find in these ponds. If you're targeting perch or bluegill, a simple bobber-and-worm rig is hard to beat.
Connecticut requires a fishing license for anyone 16 or older. Residents and non-residents can purchase licenses through the Connecticut DEEP online portal before their trip. Regulations on size and bag limits for species like bass and pickerel are set by DEEP and can change season to season, so check the current Connecticut Fishing Guide before you go.
