Ice Fishing Options in Griswold, Connecticut

Ice fishermen near the town of Griswold (in eastern Connecticut in upper New London County) have many great local options, many of them involving northern pike. Ice fishing in Pachaug Pond, Hopeville Pond, or Ashland Pond can yield pike, as they have been stocked into Pachaug for some time now by the state and have filtered down to the other two bodies of water through the Pachaug River system. Glasgo Pond and Aspinook Pond are also able to provide ice fishing action near the town of Griswold, both with a variety of species.

Pachaug Pond is easily the biggest lake in eastern Connecticut, with an area of 841 acres. This lake has been the home to northern pike for a few years now, as the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection introduced this fine game species into a select few lakes across the state. Pachaug Pond holds largemouth bass in great numbers as well, with chain pickerel in no short supply either. Pachaug Pond can be accessed from a public boat ramp that provides plenty of parking off of Route 138 in Griswold, a couple miles off of Exit 85 on Interstate 395. Due to its size, Pachaug can also be fished from Route 165 to the south or from any of the adjoining side roads if you have permission to get on the lake via private property. The ice fishing season on Pachaug does not end on the last day of February as do many other lakes in Connecticut; the lake is open year round.

Hopeville Pond is much smaller than Pachaug Pond at 137 acres; it is north of Pachaug Pond and is part of the Hopeville Pond State Forest. Hopeville has pike, in smaller numbers than Pachaug but they are there nonetheless, as a result of some of the toothy predators making their way down the Pachaug River which connects the two lakes. Hopeville also has bass and pickeral, ample parking for ice fishermen and it closes its season on February 28th. Hopeville Pond is easy to find as it is not far from Exit 86 off 395, on Hopeville Road.

The next stop on the Pachaug River tour is Ashland Pond, 89 acres that is found in the borough of Jewett City. Located right off Route 201 coming out of Jewett City and heading west, Ashland is 87 acres in size and home to pike also. Bass and pickeral live here too, but parking is limited to wherever you can find room enough on the side of the road. Ashland, like Pachaug Pond, stays open year round for fishing.

Glasgo Pond has a spillway that flows into Pachaug Pond, but the pike in Pachaug cannot navigate up it so it has none in it. Glasgo Pond, another year round fishery, is 168 acres, with largemouth and pickeral, crappie and yellow perch available through the ice to the savvy fisherman. Glasgo Pond, further west on Route 201 than Ashland Pond, has a winding dirt road that leads to a parking area and boat ramp. It is off this boat ramp that I fell through the ice in 2003 and almost drowned, so obviously I would advise you to be careful here, as you should be any place you go ice fishing. The narrow channel by the boat ramp opens up into a much larger and broader lake, with Route 165 in easy view to the south.

The final place for ice fisherman to go in Griswold, Connecticut is Aspinook Pond, which is quite the misnomer since it is actually a broad section of the Quinebaug River. The line of demarcation for Aspinook Pond is Butts Bridge in Canterbury, as the river extends from there through Griswold and Lisbon, forming the pond. It is 301 acres, with the ice fishing taking place on the various coves of the river where safe ice forms. Aspinook Pond is home to some excellent crappie fishing in the winter, with bass and yellow perch in the mix. Aspinook Pond, open year round, is off of Butts Bridge Road in Canterbury and Route 12, which runs north and south through Griswold and Lisbon.

Source:
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