My ex-wife had the kids for the first time in awhile last night, so I took the opportunity to run over to Spring Pond for an hour or two and see if I could connect with some fish. We’ve had a fairly warm week in Connecticut, with yesterday in the mid-70’s, so I hoped that I’d find some activity.
It was my first trip to Spring Pond in 2023, and I wasn’t sure exactly what to expect. Usually around this time of year, there’s a decent chance the pond is flooded and the northern portion inaccessible unless you have waders. That wasn’t the case yesterday, and honestly I’d doubt it becomes the situation ever this year given what a mild winter we had.
What’s New?
Having been going to this pond for years, there usually isn’t any big change aside from the parking lot and the presence or lack of a dastardly “goose blocker” placed right here canoes launch by well-meaning town officials who forgot birds have wings. This year, however, was different.
Apparently, a school in Avon is going to use Spring Pond for their Crew practice or meets this year. There’s a large boat trailer stacked up, and a brand new floating dock on the northern shore. This should provide some decent cover and shade for fish as the year goes on, though it’ll likely be a magnet for anglers as well, so get there early.
They’ve also placed a handy porta-potty near the dock, which is great as we’ll no longer have to judge just how long it was since we last saw a runner before finding a tree.
Progress.
Another look at the dock.
My Catch
I arrived just in time for a light drizzle to come, which might be the reason I didn’t see a single other angler out there. I only had an hour or so before dark, so I didn’t bother poking around the southern shore and made my way straight north, not stopping until I got to the spawning bay and cut.
There were many signs of life in the northwest bay as the water was perfectly calm when I arrived and every breach by a carp would scatter smaller fish. You’ll note that in the northern hemisphere, the northwest bay is what will warm first in the spring and here in Spring Pond, this is aided by it also being a spawning bay near a cut.
This was the largest of 8 fish caught last night.
I managed to catch 8 largemouth bass, all keepers but none especially large. The biggest one, pictured above, might have been pushing about 2lbs if I’d guess. All were caught on a random brown football head jig with a green zoom super chunk trailer on short little casts around known structure and cover. Having fished here for years, I’m very comfortable with my knowledge of where the drop offs and hidden ambush points are, and the fish were where I expected.
This was the only lure I brought, and the only lure I needed.
A Good First Trip
It was nice to get out there finally. The divorce has been tough on me and I’m glad I got a chance to go out and fish. The weather was lovely, I had the place to myself, and the fish cooperated. I’ll never complain about that trio!
A nice calm evening for fishing on Spring Pond in Avon, CT.
Those of you who have followed my blog know that Spring Lake/Pond at Fisher Meadows in Avon, CT is one of my favorite places to fish in Connecticut. There are multiple greats places to fish it right from shore, and I’ve caught my largest largemouth bass in Connecticut here. In an effort to help others, I’ve decided to break down how I go fishing at Spring Pond at Fisher Meadows in Avon, Connecticut.
What Makes Spring Pond Such a Great Connecticut Fishing Spot?
Spring Pond featured prominently in my post about the best spots in Connecticut to take kids fishing, and for good reason. I have long found it to be one of the best producers of giant largemouth bass in Connecticut. While it has never been a particular “numbers” fishing hole for me, every species of fish I’ve caught or observed there gets BIG. Further, it is a small enough pond that it can be adequately explored on foot, especially if you have a good pair of waders.
I have caught fish at Spring Pond throughout the year and it has an especially great season around April, when most of its largemouth are heavy and in pre-spawn, and in the fall, when you can catch some absolute monsters on buzzbaits.
Further, there is a pretty active “bucket brigade” at Spring Pond that actually seems to have the benefit of culling many of the smaller fish, allowing the larger ones to grow massive.
The Best Fishing Spots at Spring Pond, Avon CT
I’ve taken the liberty of drawing on a Google Earth Pro map below to show you my favorite spots to fish on Spring Pond at Fisher Meadow. I will break down each point in detail, going south to north as that is the most likely way you’ll find yourself fishing. Note that access to points 4, 5, and 6 can be limited by floodwaters at certain times of the year.
Spring Pond at Fisher Meadow in Avon, CT offers a number of great fishing spots.
Area 1: The South Eastern Corner & Shore
I’ve found the southeastern corner and shoreline of Spring Pond to be the most consistent fishing spot throughout the year. While there are plenty of good spots, many of them are very condition-specific. This isn’t. The western shore is very shallow, but the eastern shoreline is deeper and can be worked with a jerkbait or jig year round. At times, you’ll find fish absolutely stacked here. Other times, you’ll be able to pick a few off as you move north.
The woods are sparse enough that once you’re in them, for the most part, you can move along freely and make multiple casts at different areas. It’s a rocky shoreline that drops off fairly soon (maybe 3-5 yards out) and if you’re quiet, you’ll find fish get close to the shore. Depending on which hand you cast with, either approach it from the north or the south to ensure you’re making strong forearm casts and covering a lot of water.
The eastern shore of Spring Pond holds large fish year round. I caught this one on a jig in November.
Area 2: The Island Channel
Another popular fishing spot at Spring Pond is the island channel on the western shore. On a windy day this area produces current which can hold fish. While it’s not my favorite spot, I do make a point of stopping there and often catch fish. In fact, Tristan caught his first bass ever there.
Tristan’s first fish was caught in the island channel at Spring Pond on an unseasonably warm February day.
The channel itself drops off a few yards from shore and you’ll often find bass staging within it. If you have some good waders, or a canoe, you should also check out the shoreline both south and north from this area. There’s a lot of fallen timber to the north, and the south has 3 large submerged rocks that are hidden under the trees and hold fish, if you can get to them.
Any time the water is being driven by the wind, I like to try and present lures in this area, imitating prety that’s being driven by the wind.
Area 3: Deepwater Point
As you walk along the eastern edge of Spring Pond, you’ll eventually come to a place with a few picnic tables. Just beyond these are a few paths that allow access to a deep water point. This is a favorite location for carp anglers, who hang out on the bank and watch for a bruiser to swim through.
The southern end of this point is also a good spot for bass. I’ve had good luck fishing along the shoreline here. You’ll note that year to year there are often some large logs or sticks that stick up here. The only challenge is trying to cast to them without snagging a tree, as it can be awkward.
Finally, I’d add that if you have a boat, there is a weed line that forms a bit southwest of this point. Try fishing offshore here with jerkbaits for some giant perch and other fun.
Area 4: The Northeast Corner
The northeast corner can be fished from shore, though you may need to brave a bit of poison ivy to get there. There’s an alluring half-submerged tree right in the corner that can hold fish, but you’ll find them scattered in this area in general. I’ve found this to be a good spot to catch crappie.
Crappie caught at Spring Pond, Avon, CT.
This area is basically a little bay. When the water is high enough to hold fish, you’ll find them stacked along the southern and eastern edges of it. However, when the water levels are low, much of this is very shallow.
I’ve also observed huge carp cruising the shoreline just south of here. This is extremely shallow water though – a large flat that doesn’t drop off for some time.
Area 5: The Northern Shore
The northern shore of Spring Pond is wide open ground. This makes it ideal for fishing with kids, as there is plenty of space. The only problem is there isn’t always plenty of fish. It can be challenging to catch them here for a few reasons. First, this is a very popular spot that gets fished a lot. Secondly, the best cover for the fish is hard to reach without careful casting. There are almost always fish hanging out along the east (towards the northeast corner), but it takes a precise cast to catch them and not a tree. Likewise, you can usually find some fish along the western shore, but you need good muck boots. Note that there are a few submerged rocks along the west that can hold a good fish.
Another plus for this area are the little frogs. I have no idea what species they are (maybe wood frogs? Perhaps spring peepers?) but my son loves catching them when the fish aren’t biting. Once, we were able to get about two dozen all in this little area. When I write about fishing with kids, I talk about distracting them when the fish aren’t biting. This spot has that going for it.
Largemouth bass caught along the northern shore of Spring Pond, Avon, CT.
Area 6: The Cut and Spawning Bay
It took me years to write about this area before because I was afraid of spoiling the secret. The news seems to have gotten out somehow, given there’s almost always someone there. This can be one of the best spots to fish at Spring Pond at Fisher Meadow, but it is very condition-specific.
The northwest corner of Spring Pond is a spawning bay for largemouth bass, chain pickerel, and carp. Just adjacent to it is a small, rocky cut that is a glorified stream for much of the year. However, at certain points, enough water gets into this area that fish (and BIG ones) absolutely STACK.
Water can either flow in OR out of this culvert, depending on what is going on. When it is LEAVING Spring Pond, the area right before the culvert, which can only be fished from foot, can hold tremendous fish. They stack up on the other side of rocks waiting to ambush anything being swept along.
This entire area, frankly, is fantastic for fishing. If the water is deep enough, the northern side of the culvert (the stream itself) can hold dozens and dozens of panfish. I took a few hours off of work one year and took Tristan there and we just slayed them. It’s definitely a spot worth checking out.
A largemouth bass caught near the culvert at Fisher Meadows, Avon, CT.
When Can You Go Fishing at Spring Pond?
Spring Pond at Fisher Meadows is open for fishing year round, but there is no ice fishing allowed per town ordinance. If you’re planning a trip, you should be aware of a few things unique to this fishing spot:
First, be aware that Spring Pond is next to extremely active athletic fields. While I’ve never had a problem parking, if I were trying to launch a rowboat on a Saturday morning, I’d get there very early so I could park near the few openings that can accommodate this.
Around April or so each year, Spring Pond tends to flood heavily. It is connected to the Farmington River by a stream in the north, and there is also a culvert that dumps water into the southern corner of the pond. When it floods, it is impossible to access much of the western and northern shores without waders.
During the height of summer, the shallow, western shore of the pond can dry up. This can make launching a small boat difficult unless you’re willing to carry it a bit.
Does Fisher Meadow Have a Boat Launch?
There is no boat launch at Spring Pond, but there are a few places along the shore where you can safely launch a kayak, canoe, or small rowboat. If your boat is particularly heavy, however, you’re definitely going to want another person helping, as it’s hard to get right next to the water for much of the year.
In the map above, I placed two yellow circles where you can launch a small boat easily. The western shore has several places where you can back up quite close to the water, though I wouldn’t risk dunking a trailer in most times of the year.
What Types of Fish Are in Spring Pond at Fisher Meadows?
I have personally caught or observed the following species of fish at Spring Pond in Avon, Connecticut:
Largemouth Bass
Chain Pickerel
Common Carp
Crappie / Calico Bass
Yellow Perch
Bluegill
Pumpkinseed
Fallfish
American Eel
There may well be other species of fish at Fisher Meadows, but I have yet to catch them. However, I can attest that all of the species I have caught get HUGE in this pond. In the years when I was able to fully commit to it (read: before fatherhood) I would often pull a few largemouth bass approaching 6lb per year, but I’ve also seen huge pickerel and massive carp. Here are a few of my better catches over the years:
Helpful Links Regarding Spring Pond, Avon CT
Check out the following links for more information on this great fishing hole.
The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station has an interesting page with details of aquatic invasive species in Spring Pond.
CTFishTalk.com has a number of people who frequently fish Spring Pond and offer fishing reports. Check it out and see if you can find a report from around the same time of year for some good hints on what to expect.
I hope this article was helpful. Spring Pond at Fisher Meadow is one of my favorite places in Connecticut to fish, so if you see me there, be sure to say hello!
After several days of trying, I’ve finally pulled it off. My first open water (or any water for that matter) fish of 2021! We’ve had ice out here since the 11th and I’ve gone a few times to Spring Pond and the Farmington Reservoir trying to catch a fish.
I’ve been going a bit nuts trying to get the first fish of the year. This COVID thing is really starting to get to me and I needed the smell of victory on a fishing lure or two. Unfortunately, it’s much harder to fish these days than when I was younger. Years ago, I’d simply get out early and stay out late until I managed to coax something — anything — to bite. That’s not possible with small children and having only so much time to work with.
Early Failures…
My first attempt was back on the 11th, again at Spring Pond. I brought out my trusty St. Croix Legend Elite 6’6″ spinning rod with a clown Rapala Shadow Rap and worked the only water I could find (which wasn’t much). You wouldn’t believe me, but I did manage to get a small bass to hit it right in that lane you can see in the photo below. Unfortunately, it threw the hook about 4′ from shore, crushing me! So much for an early fishing report from Spring Pond – I need at least something to write about.
I may have been a bit keen, but I nearly caught one, I swear!
After that heart break I went back a few times but didn’t have much time to work with. You really need to work jerkbaits slow this time of year to be successful. That’s twice as hard to do that when you know you only have 45 minutes to an hour to fish.
I also tried my luck at the Farmington Reservoir off of Route 6 a few times but had no luck there, either. That place is always tough. Frankly, so is Spring Pond, but Spring Pond at least has huge fish that could reward you. The best I’ve ever pulled from the Reservoir went about 3-4lbs. Anyway, I tossed my share of jerkbaits, jigs, and lipless cranks. No matter what I tried, nothing bit since that one that spit the hook on the 11th.
Today’s Spring Pond Fishing “Action.”
I’m not really sure most would call one fish “action” but I beat the skunk and that’s all that matters. I set out to Spring Pond after finding high temperatures for most of the week (easily in the upper 50’s if not greater). The hope was that would thaw out the place a bit more and perhaps make the fish more active.
I parked in the south lot and started working my way with a #10 X-Rap in Yellow Perch color counterclockwise around the pond. Not so much of a hit anywhere. I did notice that the pipe in the southwest corner was gushing in water and the water rose a bit. This’ll probably set things up nicely in a few days near some of the “hidden gems” you’d know about if you ever fished it at low levels. Spring Pond can have some furious action once the water is about 6-10″ higher than it is right now.
I didn’t have a thermometer for the water temps, but at least it wasn’t immediately freezing my line guides as I brought it up. In any event, the one fish of the day – and a glorious little bugger at that – was caught in the extreme northeast corner by casting out far (not near the laydown) and working the x-rap back in. The bass (all of 10″ or so) hit the x-rap about halfway back. It wanted to jump but I managed to keep it down and get it to shore. It was a little dinker but I’ll take it!
The first fish of 2021!
Other Signs of Life
Carp where already breaching all over the northwest spawning flat, which is a promising sign of things to come. Further, multiple turtles were observed in the southeast. The pond is starting to come alive and good fishing should be had in just a few more days to weeks of stable weather. Hopefully I’ll have more Spring Pond fishing reports for you soon.
I need to wait a bit before I take my kids fishing (taking them this early would all but guaranteed violate my “get a fish in the livewell/bucket” rule), but I hope to get them out soon. My son especially has been chomping at the bit, and it’s time for my daughter to catch one too. As I’ve mentioned before, Spring Pond is a great place to take kids fishing. I just need them to have a bit better chance of catching something!
Anyway, the skunk is gone. Here’s to a great 2021 fishing season, everyone!
