Here Are 12 Connecticut Towns Which Hold State Freshwater Fishing Records

Drought-like conditions the past few months put a damper on summer and fall fishing in Connecticut, but this past week's rainfall and milder-than-normal temperatures have injected some new life into many of the state's 180 public lakes and ponds, as well as its thousands of miles of rivers and streams.

Freshwater fishing season runs through the end of February, leaving anglers nearly three full months to enjoy their vocation until a brief hiatus in March.

The Department of Energy and Environmental Protection has a considerable amount of fishing information on its web site. Among the facts and figures is a listing of the records for various freshwater fish caught in the state.

Here are 12 of those records, ranging from 1918 to 2015 and representing waters in all parts of Connecticut. The listings indicate type of fish, weight in pounds and ounces, location caught, angler and year.

• American Eel, 10-3, Shetucket River, Norwich, Charles Lobacz, 1993
• American Shad, 9-4, Connecticut River, Windsor, Edward Cypus, 1981
• Brown Bullhead, 4-15, Prospect Pond, Southington, Robert Richey, 1990
• Brown Trout (Sea-run), 10-8, Saugatuck River, Westport, Ronald Merly, 2006
• Calico Bass, 4-0, Pataganset Lake, East Lyme, James Boss, 1974
• Common Carp, 43-12, Connecticut River, Hartford, Michael Hudak, 2012
• Fallfish, 2-4, Farmington River, Simsbury, Chad Tessmann, 2012
• Lake Trout, 29-13, Wononscopmuc Lake, Salisbury, Dr. Thompson, 1918
• Northern Pike, 29-0, Lake Lillinonah, Brookfield, Joseph Nett, 1980
• Rainbow Trout, 14-10, Mansfield Hollow Reservoir, Mansfield, Michael Ludlow, 1998
• Smallmouth Bass, 7-12, Shenipsit Lake, Tolland, Joseph Mankauskas, Jr., 1980
• Walleye, 15-4, Beach Pond, Voluntown, Vincent Deledda, 2015

For the complete list, click here.

Photo credit: David Jensen

Video credit: ResDogFishing via YouTube