Fishing Candlewood Lake: The Complete Guide to CT's Largest Lake
Candlewood Lake sits in the northwest corner of Connecticut, spanning five towns and stretching 11 miles in length. It was created as a hydroelectric reservoir in the late 1920s and has since become one of the state's premier recreational fisheries. With 5,420 acres of water, significant depth variation, extensive dock structure, and excellent access, Candlewood offers something for every freshwater angler — including the rare opportunity to catch walleye in Connecticut.
Candlewood Lake Overview and Access
Candlewood Lake spans New Fairfield, Brookfield, New Milford, Sherman, and Danbury in Litchfield County. Maximum depth is around 85 feet; average depth is 26 feet. The lake was created by Connecticut Light and Power (now Eversource) by damming the Rocky River — the original valley was flooded, leaving submerged timber and structure that creates excellent habitat for bass and other species.
Public boat launches: Squantz Pond State Park in New Fairfield (free launch, limited parking), New Milford Recreation Department launch on Route 7, Danbury city launch. Several marinas provide transient boat access for a fee.
Shore fishing: Squantz Pond State Park has the most accessible shore fishing. The town of Sherman and New Fairfield have some public shore access. Many of the best areas are on private property with no public access — a boat significantly expands your options.
Largemouth Bass Fishing on Candlewood
Largemouth bass are the most sought-after species on Candlewood. The lake has a healthy population with average fish running 2-4 pounds and larger fish (5-7+ pounds) appearing in favorable conditions.
Spring (April-June): Pre-spawn fish move from deep winter holding areas (20-40 feet) to spawning flats (4-10 feet). Target protected coves, dock areas, and the shallow ends of points. Spawning occurs in late May through early June in CT. Texas rigged Senkos, spinnerbaits, and lipless crankbaits are effective pre-spawn.
Summer (July-August): Bass move to structure — submerged points, rock piles, and deeper dock areas (15-25 feet). Downsize presentations; drop shot and Ned rig outperform power baits in the heat. Early morning and evening topwater fishing produces on the lake's many calm coves.
Fall (September-October): One of the best seasons. Bass feed aggressively as water cools. Swimbaits, chatterbaits, and reaction baits produce well as fish chase baitfish into shallow areas.
Smallmouth Bass on Candlewood
Candlewood has a solid smallmouth population that is somewhat underrated compared to the largemouth fishery. Smallmouth hold on the lake's rockier structure — points and shorelines with cobble and boulders, and the dam area near New Milford.
Technique: Drop shot and tube jigs are the classic smallmouth presentations on Candlewood. Work rocky points at 10-20 feet with a 4-inch tube in brown or green pumpkin. Smallmouth in Candlewood tend to be slightly smaller on average than the river populations (Housatonic smallmouth) but are present in good numbers.
Spring smallmouth: Similar to largemouth timing but smallmouth typically spawn slightly deeper and prefer rocky substrate. Mid-May through early June is peak shallow fishing for pre-spawn small-mouth in the rocky sections.
Walleye — Candlewood's Special Attraction
Candlewood is one of very few Connecticut lakes with a walleye population, making it unique in the state. CT DEEP has stocked walleye in Candlewood for decades, and the population is self-sustaining. Average fish run 16-22 inches with larger specimens to 28+ inches occasionally caught.
Walleye behavior: Walleye are light-sensitive and feed most actively at dawn, dusk, and at night. They hold on transition areas — the edges between rocky points and soft bottom, the edges of vegetation beds, and suspended over deeper structure.
Techniques: Jigging with 1/4-3/8 oz jig heads and 3-4 inch paddle tail swimbaits works well along the bottom at 15-25 feet. Trolling with stick baits and minnow plugs at 15-20 feet during the low-light periods is how most Candlewood walleye are caught by experienced anglers. Live nightcrawlers on a bottom rig also produce.
Note: walleye regulations in CT are specific — check current DEEP regulations for size and season before keeping any fish.
Trout Fishing on Candlewood
CT DEEP stocks trout in Candlewood Lake in spring, and the lake's depth provides the cold, oxygenated water that trout need to survive through summer. Rainbow trout are the primary stocked species.
Spring stocking: Fish near the access points and boat launches immediately after stocking. Trout spread out over the following days but tend to stay in the upper water column (5-15 feet) when water temperatures are comfortable (45-60 degrees F).
Summer trout: Candlewood's depth keeps some areas cold enough for holdover trout. Troll small spoons and minnow plugs at the thermocline depth (usually 20-30 feet in summer) to intercept trout that have moved deep to find their temperature comfort zone.
Fly fishing on Candlewood: Feasible from a boat in spring during low-light periods, but not the classic scenario for fly fishing. A Wooly Bugger stripped through shallow coves in early morning will pick up trout and bass.
Other Species and Year-Round Opportunities
Yellow perch: Available year-round, particularly in spring (spawning) and ice fishing season. Schools of perch hold along structure at 10-25 feet. Small jigs, minnows under bobbers, and nightcrawlers catch perch consistently. Good eating — a pan of perch fillets is one of the best rewards in panfishing.
Chain pickerel: Abundant in Candlewood's weedy shallows and protected coves. Catch on weedless presentations, in-line spinners, and anything that moves through vegetation. No minimum size in CT — all pickerel are legal to keep.
Ice fishing: Candlewood does freeze some winters, though full ice coverage is not guaranteed every year in the changing CT climate. During solid ice conditions, perch, pickerel, and trout are targeted. Check local ice conditions carefully before venturing out — Candlewood's depth means pockets of thin ice can exist even when the shallows are solid.
From Candlewood to Bantam to Lake Lillinonah — we cover Connecticut's best fishing waters. Subscribe to Hooked Fisherman for seasonal fishing reports and access information.
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