Five Ice Fishing Lakes Near Willimantic, Connecticut

There are five ice fishing destinations within 20 minutes of the city of Willimantic, which sits in the mid-eastern part of the state of Connecticut. Coventry Lake, Hall's Pond, Bishop Swamp, Mansfield Hollow Lake, and Pine Acres Lake are all just a stone's throw from Willimantic, all state owned waters that are goods for ice fishing. Ice fishing near Willimantic, Connecticut offers action from species such as bass, pickerel, yellow perch, walleye, and northern pike once the waters have frozen over.

Coventry Lake, also known as Wangumbaug Lake, is some 373 acres in area, located in the center of Coventry off of Route 31. Coventry Lake is a bass management lake, meaning that any of this species taken from the waters there must be a certain size to be legal, with strict creel limits enforced. Walleye are also stocked in Coventry Lake, which sees the ice fishing season end there on the final day of February. Trout and pickerel inhabit this lake as well; it takes maybe 15 minutes to get to Coventry Lake from the center of Willimantic if you take your time.

Hall's Pond is the northernmost of these ice fishing spots, lying at the southern end of the town of Eastford, about fifteen minutes from Willimantic. Hall's Pond contains some good sized largemouth bass that can be taken through the ice, in addition to a hefty supply of chain pickerel. This 82 acre lake is another of Connecticut's bass management lakes, but the ice fishing season doesn't end when March arrives, extending as long as there is safe ice to fish on. Hall's Pond can be reached from Willimantic by heading due east on Route 6 to the junction of Route 198. Proceed on 198 north throughout the town of Chaplin until you spy a left onto Hall's Pond Road right before the Eastford line. There is limited parking for Hall's Pond available off a dirt road close by the water.

Bishop Swamp in Andover is just 53 acres, and not very deep but it is a hotbed for bass and pickerel action when ice fishing. It is west of Willimantic off of Route 6 on Jurovaty Road; indeed, another name for Bishop Swamp is Jurovaty Pond. Bishop Swamp has a small parking area next to the lake and remains open through ice-out. It is lightly fished for the most part, with no development on its shores, a rarity for any lake in New England nowadays.

Mansfield Hollow Lake is two minutes from Willimantic off of Route 6 on the northern border of the town of Windham. The locals either swear by or at Mansfield Hollow Lake, as it is often red hot or ice cold. Pike are stocked in its depths by the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection, and they are the main target for ice fishing enthusiasts that travel to its 460 acres to try their luck. It also goes by the name of Naubesatuck Lake, closes when February ends, and is a bass management lake. Slot limits are imposed on the bass here, meaning you can keep them if they are not between 12 and 16 inches, but only 2 bigger than 16 inches can go home for your supper.

Pine Acres Lake is a shallow and long pond that spans 190 acres of the town of Hampton, 20 minutes east of Willimantic on Route 6. It is part of the James L.Goodwin State Forest and was created by the damming of Cedar Swamp Brook in 1933. Pine Acres Lake is no deeper than 7 feet anywhere in it and has loads of rotten trees and stumps in it. The largemouth bass here hare plentiful, along with yellow perch. Pine Acres stays open for ice fishing until the ice has been sent packing by the oncoming spring sun.

There are 5 ice fishing destinations within 20 minutes of the city of Willimantic, which sits in the mid-eastern part of the state of Connecticut. Coventry Lake, Hall's Pond, Bishop Swamp, Mansfield Hollow Lake, and Pine Acres Lake are all just a stone's throw from Willimantic, all state owned waters that are goods for ice fishing. Ice fishing near Willimantic, Connecticut offers action from species such as bass, pickerel, yellow perch, walleye, and northern pike once the waters have frozen over.

Coventry Lake, also known as Wangumbaug Lake, is some 373 acres in area, located in the center of Coventry off of Route 31. Coventry Lake is a bass management lake, meaning that any of this species taken from the waters there must be a certain size to be legal, with strict creel limits enforced. Walleye are also stocked in Coventry Lake, which sees the ice fishing season end there on the final day of February. Trout and pickerel inhabit this lake as well; it takes maybe 15 minutes to get to Coventry Lake from the center of Willimantic if you take your time.

Hall's Pond is the northernmost of these ice fishing spots, lying at the southern end of the town of Eastford, about fifteen minutes from Willimantic. Hall's Pond contains some good sized largemouth bass that can be taken through the ice, in addition to a hefty supply of chain pickerel. This 82 acre lake is another of Connecticut's bass management lakes, but the ice fishing season doesn't end when March arrives, extending as long as there is safe ice to fish on. Hall's Pond can be reached from Willimantic by heading due east on Route 6 to the junction of Route 198. Proceed on 198 north throughout the town of Chaplin until you spy a left onto Hall's Pond Road right before the Eastford line. There is limited parking for Hall's Pond available off a dirt road close by the water.

Bishop Swamp in Andover is just 53 acres, and not very deep but it is a hotbed for bass and pickerel action when ice fishing. It is west of Willimantic off of Route 6 on Jurovaty Road; indeed, another name for Bishop Swamp is Jurovaty Pond. Bishop Swamp has a small parking area next to the lake and remains open through ice-out. It is lightly fished for the most part, with no development on its shores, a rarity for any lake in New England nowadays.

Mansfield Hollow Lake is two minutes from Willimantic off of Route 6 on the northern border of the town of Windham. The locals either swear by or at Mansfield Hollow Lake, as it is often red hot or ice cold. Pike are stocked in its depths by the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection, and they are the main target for ice fishing enthusiasts that travel to its 460 acres to try their luck. It also goes by the name of Naubesatuck Lake, closes when February ends, and is a bass management lake. Slot limits are imposed on the bass here, meaning you can keep them if they are not between 12 and 16 inches, but only 2 bigger than 16 inches can go home for your supper.

Pine Acres Lake is a shallow and long pond that spans 190 acres of the town of Hampton, 20 minutes east of Willimantic on Route 6. It is part of the James L.Goodwin State Forest and was created by the damming of Cedar Swamp Brook in 1933. Pine Acres Lake is no deeper than 7 feet anywhere in it and has loads of rotten trees and stumps in it. The largemouth bass here hare plentiful, along with yellow perch. Pine Acres stays open for ice fishing until the ice has been sent packing by the oncoming spring sun.

Source:

www.ct.gov/dep