New England’s Best Bass Fishing Spots by State

The warmer months from spring to fall are the perfect time to go bass fishing in New England.

New England is filled with charming lakes that not only provide idyllic vacation retreats but also invite bass fishing enthusiasts from around the world to do what they do best.

Of course, the warmer months from spring to fall are the perfect time to go bass fishing in the northeastern states of Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont. And here is the absolute best spot to do it in each one.

Connecticut: Candlewood Lake

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Location: Fairfield and Litchfield counties (in western Connecticut)

Best time for bass fishing: Spring and summer

Type of bass: Largemouth, smallmouth

Connecticut’s largest lake (at 5,400 acres) also happens to be its best for fishing, being home to multiple fish species. However, the lake is perhaps best known for smallmouth fishing due to the vegetation that provides the ideal habitat for a generous bass population.

Maine: Webber Pond

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Location: Vassalboro (in central Maine)

Best time for bass fishing: Spring and summer

Type of bass: Largemouth, smallmouth

Webber Pond is man-made and is also one of the smaller fishing spots on this list. It’s also important to note that fishing enthusiasts will want to get their fishing done here in spring and summer before the lake’s water level is lowered in October to help with weed control.

Massachusetts: Wachusett Reservoir

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Location: Central Massachusetts

Best time for bass fishing: Spring and summer

Type of bass: Largemouth, smallmouth, white

At 8 pounds, 2 ounces, the record for the largest smallmouth bass ever caught in Massachusetts was set in this reservoir. Adding to its charm, the lake does not allow motorized boats, and people instead look to fishing opportunities along its 37 miles of shoreline.

New Hampshire: Lake Winnipesaukee

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Location: Belknap and Carroll counties (in central New Hampshire)

Best time for bass fishing: Spring through fall

Type of bass: Largemouth, smallmouth

While bass fishing is most popular at Lake Winnipesaukee in spring and summer, the 44,000-acre lake is also known as a popular place for ice fishing when it freezes over in the winter. The bass fishing tournaments held here each year are known to produce sizable catches.

Rhode Island: Watchaug Pond

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Location: Washington County (in southern Rhode Island)

Best time for bass fishing: Spring through fall

Type of bass: Largemouth, smallmouth

Here’s another charming New England lake that’s popular for both fishing from boats and along the shoreline. The 570-acre pond is particularly popular due to its location at the end of Burlingame State Park.

Vermont: Lake Champlain

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Location: Grand Isle County (in northwestern Vermont)

Best time for bass fishing: Spring

Type of bass: Largemouth, smallmouth, rock

While most of this 271,000-acre lake resides in Vermont, it’s also partly located in New York and Quebec, Canada. Its massive size and diverse habitat make it quite the bass fishing paradise.

For more about bass fishing in America, check out “Best Bass Fishing Spot in Every U.S. State.”