CTFishTalk.com: Spots for Bass - New guy - Near Glastonbury/Manchester - Connecticut Bass Fishing Reports ( CT Bass Fishing Reports ) - A Community Built for Connecticut Fisherman.

robromo1023 · Joined: 27 May 2015 Posts: 5

Hey guys,
New to the forum, to the area, and the fishing!
I used to fish when I was younger - and I've gotten re-interested in it. With some help online - I picked up some average stuff to get me started - Berkley 6'6 M lightning Rod, Shimano Sienna reel, and the guy at Cabela's set me up with the right hooks to use for some Senkos he showed me to use. I picked up 2 packs (4in and 5in) of Green Pumpkin and Watermelon I think - 2 of the most common colors I hear about.

I live in Glastonbury - and don't really know good spots to try.
I live right by J.B. Williams Park (a small little park to hike) and it has a a tiny pond.
I tried that yesterday - but I got nothing. I'm 100% blaming it on me - and not the pond being bad - but it was very small, I only really saw 3-4 tiny Sunnies the whole time I was there - and it was kind of dirty. It seems to not be taken care of, and in some corners there is stuff caught in the water like an overturned picnic table. It also looks kind of oily/greasy. Furthermore, I've never seen so many mosquitoes and gnats at a pond ever.

So I'm trying to find some more places.

Does anyone have some suggestions? Especially anything good for a beginner? I'm guessing I could use something smaller - a giant lake might be overwhelming/I wouldn't know what spot to pick etc.

I am not concerned with catching the biggest fish - I just want to catch some. Would a smaller lake be better for that?

If anyone is familiar with the area - Minnechaug Golf Course - has an Island hole, hole #8, and there is a pond there. Whenever I golf there, I can always see several fish swimming near the island green. Also, I saw 2 guys fishing there last week who said they caught 9 fish in 2 hours. All 1-3 lbs (LMB).

Is fishing allowed there? I tried to contact them on their website but no answer. I asked those guys and they said it was - but I would like some more feedback.

Any other spots in the Manchester Glastonbury area - that are pretty easy for a beginner to stand from shore and fish from?

AVec80X · Joined: 28 Mar 2014 Posts: 199 Location: East of the River

Welcome!

I'm not sure how far you're willing to travel, but Holbrook Pond is 15 minutes up Hebron Ave from you and has a few decent shore fishing spots. Plenty of Sunnys, Bass and Pickerel in there.

http://ct.gov/deep/cwp/view.asp?a=2686&q=383856&deepNav_GID=1620

As for fishing golf courses...typically a big no, no, but I can't speak to that course specifically. The ones I've hit in the past have threatened to call the cops for trespassing.

Good luck out there, have fun!
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robromo1023 · Joined: 27 May 2015 Posts: 5

Thanks! I'll have to google Holbrook to check it out.

Also, thanks for the warning. I saw people fishing at pond (Minnechaug) and they told me fishing was allowed, so maybe they weren't sure exactly. I think it will be best to call the place and see what they say - that will have to wait until I get a definite answer.

I'm sure there must be other places?

Is Eastbury Pond good?

Anything else in Manchester/Hebron/Glastonbury or just the surrounding area? Hopefully less than 20 minutes away. I would like to be able to have time after work to get there reasonably.

Obondie · Joined: 06 Jun 2015 Posts: 5

Valley falls in vernon is nice, Risley Reservoir is good in vernon/manchester, and also walkers reservoir in vernon will be good. These places should keep you busy for awhile! Good luck! Very Happy

Obondie · Joined: 06 Jun 2015 Posts: 5

Oh and don't fish at minnechaug, with them constantly changing management you just never know. Go there to golf not fish! I'm a fan of the 8th hole too!

robromo1023 · Joined: 27 May 2015 Posts: 5

Obondie · Joined: 06 Jun 2015 Posts: 5

You can bring a kayak into Risley and walkers, valley you can't. At valley I've never had an issue with swimmers, it's allowed but there is a plethora of shore fishing spots at all three. Happy fishing!

robromo1023 · Joined: 27 May 2015 Posts: 5

Obondie · Joined: 06 Jun 2015 Posts: 5

I've personally caught more bass out of walkers than any of the three, however I've caught more fish in general out of valley. One time I caught 8 steel head trout out of valley, great fight to them, hope this helps.

chud059 · Joined: 29 Mar 2011 Posts: 413 Location: Manchester

Regarding Valley Falls, my personal experience is this time of year late evenings and early early mornings...otherwise it's kids and swimmers. I usually don't go there after memorial day until school starts up again.

Walkers ok, it's stocked trout, some bass and crappies... lots of weeds though once summer hits, can be tough.

Risley is best for bass and pickerel. Lots of shore to fish from but sometimes there are swimmers... which aren't allowed but anyway.... The end near the big parking lot I've never had any luck..it's usually by the 2 benches on the roadside and the dam... if the water levels are still up around the spillway that's actually a good area if you can get near the hang overs. I've had the most luck from the round cement thing to the spill way... if you use night crawlers.. you'll mostly get pumkinseeds...etc... I've had the most luck with top water and shallow running crank baits... evenings seem to be the best for me.

Tankerhoosen in Vernon has some shore access but it gets pretty weedy this part of the year.

Union Pond in Manchester has some nice bass in it... but far and few in between.. you can fish from the park entrance or from the waterfall area... don't EVER EVER EVER eat the fish out of there. It has a nice wooden sitting area but mostly see people use worms/bobbers there.. (Kids). Has carp in it if that's your thing.

Hockanum river from Vernon to Manchester has spots for fishing...especially by the Exit 60 area...it's a trout TMA and open year round.

My advice would be just to look at a map or browse through the CT anglers guide.

DV · Joined: 05 May 2010 Posts: 229 Location: East Windsor

-Risleys is a good evening/ night spot. Used to be much better but has been many locals illegally keep fish. Top water is killer here

-Valley falls is too busy, good for stocked trout here and t here

-Bolton middle and lower are great from a boat, fish the drop offs

-Snip is okay from shore. plan to move around a lot to find fish

-Do not fish gold courses unless you want to be arrested. Kira and I got escorted of off the water at Globe Hollow by police.

-Union pond sucks. period. Big bass are they but hard to find.

-Travel a little farther to the bigger lakes and you'll do way better.