Candlewood Lake
Candlewood Lake is Connecticut's largest lake, bordered by Danbury, Brookfield, New Fairfield, New Milford, and Sherman. It is best known for smallmouth bass and is also a state trout management lake.
Species
Fishery rating out of 5.
Smallmouth Bass
Rocky points and drop-offs are the classic smallmouth spots here.
Largemouth Bass
Weeds, docks and wood in the shallows.
Brown Trout
Trout rules here are a 1-fish limit and 16-inch minimum for much of the year.
Yellow Perch
Schools on mud and sand flats. Great through the ice.
White Perch
Schools roam open water. Small jigs, spoons and worms.
When they bite
Month-by-month activity for each target species.
| J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Smallmouth Bass | ||||||||||||
| Largemouth Bass | ||||||||||||
| Brown Trout | ||||||||||||
| Yellow Perch |
Boat launches
4 launch sites. Fees and hours change, so confirm before you go.
- Squantz Cove State Boat LaunchPublicCT DEEP launch on Rt 39, New Fairfield; about 100 carsDirections ↗
- Lattins Cove State Boat LaunchPublicCT DEEP launch at 8 Forty Acre Mountain Rd, DanburyDirections ↗
- Dikes Point Recreation AreaPublicFirstLight car-top launch for kayaks and canoes, New Milford; reservation neededDirections ↗
- More public accessPublicSee Connecticut DEEP or the lake manager's website for all ramps and feesDirections ↗
Size & creel limits
Special rules for this lake, confirmed from official state regulations. Minimum size and daily limit.
| Species | Min size | Daily limit |
|---|---|---|
| Trout Trout Management Lake: DEEP lake listing says 'From March 1 - 6:00 a.m. 2nd Saturday of April; daily creel 1, 16 in min'; other species statewide; boating speed rules | 16 in | 1 / day |
Other species in this lake: look up the limits at Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) ↗
Bait & tackle nearby
Closest shops to the lake and its boat launches. Call ahead for live bait and hours.
- Candlewood Bait & TackleNearby36 Tamarack Ave, Danbury, CT(203) 743-2221Directions ↗
- The Bait BoxNearby501 Danbury Rd, New Milford, CT(203) 948-4840Directions ↗
Local tips
- Target smallmouth on rocky points and shoals with tubes or drop-shot rigs.
- Check the trout management lake rules before keeping a trout.
- Clean and drain your boat, since officers stop boats carrying invasive species.
Angler reports
Water temp, what's biting, and anything else other anglers should know about Candlewood Lake.
View on interactive map
Zoom and pan on a street, satellite or terrain map. Red pins are boat launches; blue pins are bait shops nearby.