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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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!
Thanks,
John Paxton
