I’ve fished in Connecticut my entire life and learned a good fishing spot or two, but not all are created equal when taking your kids. In this article I’ll help parents understand where to fish with their kids in Connecticut. If you’re looking for some advice on where to find family friendly fishing in the Nutmeg State, read on!
Rather than give you an overview of every lake in Connecticut, I’ve decided to stick to places I’ve actually visited and fished. I figure that this will give you better information, and give me a reason to go check out some new spots!
I plan on making this page a work in progress as I continue to ply my way across the state with my two children and discover new fishing holes, so make sure you bookmark this and return to it often! Edit 3/28/21 – I just found one!
As this is a longer article, here’s some handy navigation to get you started.
Great Places to Take Your Kids Fishing in Connecticut
Now that we’ve talked a bit about what makes a good fishing spot for kids, I’m going to break down some ideal places to take your kids fishing in Connecticut.
When possible, I will discuss the following:
- Size: How large the lake or pond is. I won’t always have this data, but will provide it when I can.
- Fish Species: The different fish you can find in the lake. Bear in mind that you’re going to want to see “sunfish” and “yellow perch” if you’re going fishing with little kids.
- Facilities: If I know what facilities are available, including restrooms and picnic tables, if I’ll tell you.
- Parking: I’ll give some thoughts on the parking lot so you know if you need to get there early. It can be stressful trying to navigate a trailer around a crowded lot.
- Boat Ramp: Can you bring a trailered boat or only one you can carry in?
- Shore Access: I discuss if there are a number of good fishing spots from shore or not.
- Special Restrictions: Some places don’t allow outboard motors or ice fishing. When I know this information, I’ll share it, but you should always consult the most up-to-date Connecticut Fishing Guide you can to make sure you’re compliant with the law.
- Distractions: I’ll talk about what you can do with your kids if they get bored of fishing.
After laying out these basics, I’ll also make sure to give you my personal thoughts on the location, and offer any other insight that I can.
Family Friendly Fishing Spots in Hartford County
I’ve spent many years fishing in Hartford County both before and after I had children, so I’ve learned a few good spots to take kids fishing. Here are a few of my favorite places to take my family fishing in Hartford County.
Paderewski Park (Plainville, CT)
- Size: Not available, but I’d estimate around 10-15 acres.
- Fish Species: Largemouth bass, Sunfish.
- Facilities: There are restrooms with working plumbing in a building by the splash pad. There’s also shaded picnic spots.
- Parking: There are two parking lots. One is right next to the pond and can accommodate 10-15 vehicles. It would be tough to fit a trailer.
- Boat Ramp: No. Getting a canoe or row boat into this pond would be challenging for one person.
- Shore Access: Good. There are several spots around the pond where you have plenty of room to fish.
- Special Restrictions: Gas motors are prohibited.
- Distractions: Tons. There are multiple sports fields, a great playscape with swings, and a splash pad in the summer.
Overview
If you’re looking for a family friendly fishing spot in Connecticut, look no further than Paderewski Park in Plainville. Its combination of ample shore access, numerous fish, and tons of distractions make it THE place to go fishing with your kids.
Paderewski Park is a square fishing pond with shore access on all sides, though the north and eastern sides would have you fishing in site of people’s back yards, which is awkward. I usually take my son fishing along the southern bank as there are several wide open areas for him to cast a line.
Most of the fish in this pond are stunted as there seems to be too many sunfish for their own good. You’ll find that many fish you catch are 3″ or so in length. This won’t be too exciting for older children, but little ones love it.
As a plus, there is an awesome splash pad and very nice playground for the kids to enjoy after they tire of fishing. This area also has several shaded picnic benches so you can relax in peace while your children play.
If you live near Plainville, Connecticut, I think you’d have a hard time finding a better spot to go fishing with your kids.
Fisher Meadows Pond / Spring Pond (Avon, CT)
- Size: 41 acres
- Fish Species: Largemouth bass, Crappie, Yellow Perch, Sunfish, Common Carp, American Eel, Chain Pickerel (rare).
- Facilities: A few porta-potties and some picnic tables.
- Parking: Very large lot; unlikely to be filled unless there is a soccer game going on.
- Boat Ramp: There is no boat ramp available, but there are several places where you can carry in a canoe or row boat.
- Shore Access: Plentiful. There are many spots along the walking trail where you can easily fish with kids.
- Special Restrictions: Gas motors are prohibited.. Ice fishing is prohibited by town ordinance.
- Distractions: There is a well-kept hiking trail around the pond and several soccer fields to kick around a ball if your kids get bored.
Overview
Spring Pond was my absolute favorite place to fish in in Connecticut before I had my kids and still produces some of my earliest fishing reports of the year. I knew all the best fishing spots and would go there at least three times a week. Now that i have kids, I still go to Spring Pond, but I have to scale back where I wet my line.
While Spring Pond has plentiful shore access, many of its best fishing spots require you to go into the woods. For example, the southeast shoreline holds many fish, but you have to walk through the woods to access it. This makes it a poor choice to take your kids fishing.
You’ll still want to invest time in this pond because it has some of the largest bass in Connecticut. When I was younger and could go often, I would routinely catch my biggest bass of the year from this pond. I’m still hoping to help my kids tie into one of them, but it might be a few years at the rate we’re going.
One disadvantage about Spring Pond is that it is difficult to launch a boat. There is no ramp to speak of, and only a few clearings in the woods near the parking lot. None of these are capable of acting as a ramp, though you can get pretty close to the water on a few. You’ll need to drag your boat the last bit of the way. Since my Gheenoe LT10 weighs 150lb, this is no small task. Getting it in is fairly easy. Getting it out is another story!
The Farm at Carter Hill (Marlborough, CT)
- Size: I’d guess about .25 acres
- Fish Species: Largemouth bass, Sunfish.
- Facilities: There is an expansive compound with multiple buildings, bathrooms, dining, dancing, etc.
- Parking: Very large lot but pick your spots as they have large events at times
- Boat Ramp: No. This is a private pond.
- Shore Access: Plentiful. The entire pond is accessible/fishable with kids.
- Special Restrictions: This is private property – you need to be a guest/patron of the establishment, but there’s so much to do, that’s not an issue.
- Distractions: There are goats and ducks to feed, a 1/2 scale F-4U Corsair to marvel at, gift shop, ice cream, food, the list goes on.
Overview
While this isn’t a public place and you need to be a patron to fish there, The Farm at Carter Hill offers so much to do with your family that this isn’t an issue. It’s a wide open compound with outdoor everything. There’s a large number of goats, sheep, and ducks waddling around the place with food available to feed them. There are events like classic car shows, dances, or outdoor movie nights from time to time. Finally, there’s a gorgeous bed and breakfast that makes for a wonderful retreat, especially if you’re wary of going too far in the time of COVID-19.
The Farm at Carter Hill has a small but stocked fishing pond with bass in the 8 – 12″ range. Nothing huge but absolutely perfect for the little ones. We did catch some pretty good-sized bluegill when we went. The important thing was how accessible they were. Now, let me preface this by saying one thing: we went in late March – I don’t know what the weed cover is going to look like in a few more weeks. All I can tell you is the fish are there!
If you do check this place out, remember that it is private property. Come mingle first, buy some food, pet the goats, and meet the owners before politely asking if you can fish. When you do, make sure you carry out everything you brought in. In other words, be on your best behavior so you don’t ruin things for anyone!
For reservations or event information, reach out directly to The Farm at Carter Hill.
Batterson Park Pond (New Britain, CT)
- Size: 140 acres.
- Fish Species: Largemouth bass, Crappie, White Perch, Yellow Perch, Sunfish, Channel Catfish, Common Carp, Walleye (which are stocked each year by the state).
- Facilities: None in the public sections.
- Parking: There is a decently large lot. The back row works for backing trailers. You don’t want to go during busy times as many people fish from shore and the spots can get filled.
- Boat Ramp: There is a ramp that works for fishing boats but there is no dock, so you need to drag your boat onto shore while you park your car. There is a submerged line of large rocks on both sides of the ramp.
- Shore Access: Moderate. Much of this lake requires a boat to access. The shore access is larger on the Farmington side, but it is rarely mowed.
- Special Restrictions: Gas motors are prohibited.
- Distractions: Not really. Swans and ducks frequent the place but aside from looking at them, there isn’t much to do when you’re not fishing.
Overview
I have very mixed thoughts about Batterson Park Pond. On the one hand, its one of the few spots that Connecticut DEEP stocks with walleye, so any given fishing trip might let your kids catch a pretty unique (and tasty) fish. There are also some pretty big bass in the lake, and a healthy population of sunfish.
Having said that, the fishing at Batterson Park can be really tough. I’ve had plenty of days before I had kids where I would get completely skunked, even if on a boat, and if you read the reports at some local forums, this seems fairly common. Much of the surroundings are also in complete disrepair, though there’s recent political support for Batterson Park to be Maintained, finally.
Batterson also gets extremely windy at times with very few places to tuck in. Since it is an electric-only lake, it can be challenging to get back to the boat launch if the conditions go sour.
Where to Fish at Batterson Park Pond
If fishing from shore, you have two options. The New Britain side can be reached from the boat launch and parking lot while the Farmington side has a few parking spots along Batterson Park Road. Unfortunately, the Farmington side is rarely mowed so it can be challenging to walk across.
The New Britain side is deeper and has less weeds, but you’re limited in how far you can walk as much of it is private property. The Farmington side has many fishing spots, but they aren’t the best ones in Connecticut to take kids to because they tend to be enclosed by trees. The one exception is the northeast shore which is lined with rip rap.
If you’re fishing from a boat with an electric trolling motor, you might as well make a day of it and just power fish the entire perimeter of the pond. At 140 acres, it is small enough to do this in a couple of hours. Don’t forget to check out the sunken island near the middle as it holds fish, but be careful around it as it’s not always marked and is jagged enough to snag you.
The Farmington River at Tunxis Mead (Farmington, CT)
- Size: N/A
- Fish Species: Largemouth bass, Sunfish, Channel Catfish, Trout.
- Facilities: There are bathrooms, but they are far away from the fishing spots. There are some shaded picnic tables along a trail that follows the river.
- Parking: Tunxis Meade has a ton of parking, and the spots nearest the river aren’t usually taken.
- Boat Ramp: There is not public boat ramp or docks.
- Shore Access: Limited. There are some good openings where you can fish but much of the banks are wooded and difficult places to fish with children.
- Special Restrictions: As this is a river, different fishing regulations will apply than in lakes and ponds. Make sure you check out your fishing guide to understand them.
- Distractions: Yes. Tunxis Meade has a playground, several fields for numerous sports, a skate park, and great trails for hiking or biking. There is plenty to do when the little ones need a distraction.
Overview
There are several places that you can fish along this river, and one of the better spots to take your kids to is Tunxis Mead in Farmington, Connecticut. I like taking my kids here because there are some spots that hold a lot of fish, and if they get bored there’s plenty of other activities nearby. It’s also just beautiful.
When you drive in you’re going to wonder what I’m talking about as there isn’t any water in sight. Tunxis Mead is one of the main sports fields for the town of Farmington and this is all you’re going to see at first. However, if you walk past the fields there are several trails leading into the woods that take you to the river. Follow these until you come across a good spot that has room for your kids to cast. If it doesn’t work out, carry on and find another.
Tunxis Mead is a very family friendly spot to go fishing in Connecticut. It’s in a safe town, has plenty of shade, has good facilities, and plenty of other things to do. If one of your kids doesn’t like fishing, there are great bike trails for him or her to go on with your spouse while you take the little angler out. When everyone is done, there is often a shop filled with treats for whatever sporting events are going on at the time. You can’t beat it.
The Farmington Reservoir (Farmington, CT)
- Size: Not available, but I’d estimate around 20 acres.
- Fish Species: Largemouth bass, Crappie, Sunfish, Bullhead.
- Facilities: There are no restrooms or outhouses. There are a few park benches to sit, but that is it.
- Parking: There is only space for a handful of vehicles and no room for a trailer.
- Boat Ramp: No, and there isn’t a very handy way to carry one in, though it is possible with two people.
- Shore Access: Moderate. While you could walk around most of the perimeter, there’s only a small section fit for children.
- Special Restrictions: Gas motors are prohibited.
- Distractions: Aside from an open field, no. There are limited things to do here besides fishing.
Overview
I’d argue that the Farmington Reservoir is one of the better places ot take your kids fishing in Connecticut. You just need to make sure you get there before it gets completely choked out with weeds.
You access this reservoir by taking Route 6 towards Bristol and turning right on Reservoir Road (directly across from Pinnacle Mountain and a bit past Will Warren’s Den).
While I haven’t caught many giants here, I have found the fishing to be excellent and it’s a place I can trust to catch a couple fish with my children during a lunch break. It’s very open to the water and makes for a great place to teach kids how to cast.
If you go often enough in the spring, eventually you’ll stumble across the crappie spawn. This brings in hundreds of crappie close to the rip rap and within casting distance. You can catch your fill.
My friend takes his children ice fishing here routinely and swears by it. He catches many bass near the western cove.
The only isssue with this place is that there is no access for boats. If you want to take a canoe in, you can, but you’ll need to carry it a long way.
Lower Pond at A.W. Stanley Park (New Britain, CT)
- Size: Not available, but I’d estimate around 5-6 acres.
- Fish Species: Largemouth bass, Sunfish, Yellow Perch, Common Carp, American Eel.
- Facilities: There are restrooms, but not near the fishing spot.
- Parking: There is only space for a handful of vehicles and no room for a trailer.
- Boat Ramp: No.
- Shore Access: Very limited. There are only a few spots where you can easily fish.
- Special Restrictions: All boats are prohibited.
- Distractions: Several sports fields, a basketball court, a picnic area with grill, and a swimming pool. Note, I’m unsure if the pool is just for New Britain residents or not. Get in touch with their Parks and Rec department for more information.
Overview
My sister-in-law taught me about this Connecticut fishing spot, as she takes my kid there from time to time. You’d never know about it unless you grew up in the area, as she did. To reach it, you need to go into A.W. Stanley Park and and follow the loop road back towards the baseball field.
While there is very limited shoreline access, the fishing spots you can reach with your kids are stacked with hundreds of fish during late spring and early summer. There’s a little spillway that seems to attract many of them and you can literally see schools of fifty yellow perch or more. The pond also has a good population of largemouth bass and some monster common carp swimming around.
There are a couple of downsides. As mentioned above, there aren’t many places along the shoreline that you can fish. Unfortunately, as the year progresses, more and more of the lake gets clogged with weeds, which makes it challenging to fish even the few spots available. Thus, I wouldn’t risk a long journey here with your kids unless you scout it out first.
Silver Lake (Berlin, CT)
- Size: 146 acres.
- Fish Species: Chain Pickerel, Largemouth bass, Crappie, Sunfish, Brown Bullhead, Channel Catfish.
- Facilities: I’ve seen porta potties there some years, but not every year.
- Parking: There are two parking lots. One is right next to the pond and can accommodate 10-15 vehicles. It would be tough to fit a trailer.
- Boat Ramp: No. Getting a canoe or row boat into this pond would be challenging for one person.
- Shore Access: Small. There are very few spots were you can fish from shore and even less where you’d want to bring your kids.
- Special Restrictions: 8 mph except between June 15 and the first Sunday after Labor Day. During that time, speeds in excess of 8 mph and water-skiing are allowed. I wouldn’t recommend it though as the lake is shallow and weedy!
- Distractions: Very few. There is a trail you can walk a bit but that is about it.
Overview
Silver Lake is one of the few fishing spots in central Connecticut where you can fish with your kids for part of the day, and pull them on tubes for the rest. There just aren’t that many places nearby that allow outboards.
Silver Lake is stocked with channel catfish and they are numerous enough at this point that you have a good chance of catching one on any given trip. While we have yet to tie into a giant, my son hasd caught a few pushing 3-4lbs which put up a good fight on his light youth tackle.
There is a decent boat ramp with a good amount of parking, though it isn’t going to hold more than a dozen or so boats (if that) so make sure you get there early.
We’ve had our best luck in the southern end of the lake. There are several spawning flats and also some marshes that hold a number of catfish. Another good option is the extreme northern end which is sheltered somewhat from the wind. Drop shots work well.
Good Fishing Spots for Kids in Litchfield County
Bantam Lake
- Size: 947 acres.
- Fish Species: Northern Pike, Chain Pickerel, Smallmouth Bass, Largemouth Bass, White Perch, Yellow Perch, Sunfish, Crappie, Brown Bullhead.
- Facilities: There are a few porta potties at the boat launch.
- Parking: There is parking for 20 vehicles with trailers, but this fills up very quickly on weekends.
- Boat Ramp: Yes. There is a 2.5 lane boat ramp with the half-ramp reserved for carry-in boats such as canoes and kayaks. There is a floating dock with room for one vessel.
- Shore Access: Limited. Very little of this lake is accessible from shore as most of the land is private property. With that said, there is a good stretch along Route 209 that people fish and it is in range of large bass and pike. You just need to walk a ways to get to it.
- Special Restrictions: Motorboats restricted 11 p.m. to 5 a.m. This is a Trophy Northern Pike lake, so special restrictions will apply.
- Distractions: None on land. While there are some private campgrounds nearby, there is nothing for a kid to do at the boat launch. However, this is one of the few lakes in Connecticut where it is practical to water ski or pull a tube.
Overview
Bantam Lake is one of the few places in Connecticut where you can easily and safely go water-skiing or pull a float tube. Many other locations (like Silver Lake in Berlin) are just too small to do this safely, even if they allow it. This alone makes it one of the more family friendly fishing spots in Connecticut, as water sports are available for everyone.
Bantam also has a good population of chain pickerel and northern pike, especially in North Bay. Chain pickerel make good targets for children, as they are an upgrade in size from sunfish and are fairly easy to catch. While pike are more challenging to hook, when they do, they make long runs to your children’s delight.
There are numerous docks on Bantam’s eastern shoreline that hold a number of panfish which makes it pretty easy to get a fish in the live well early to keep your little ones entertained. These docks service lake homes that are often for rent, though you need to book them very early in the year as they fill up quick.
There is some limited shore access in the southwest corner that you can reach by walking along Route 209. This is near good habitat for largemouth bass and northern pike so you have a decent chance of catching a good-sized fish with your kids even if you don’t have a boat. Just keep working your way up the shoreline until you find a spot that works well.
Make Sure You Get There Early!
The one downside of Bantam is that it has limited parking spots available to the public and fills up exceptionally quick on weekends. Many weekends feature fishing tournaments which don’t help. I wouldn’t even consider going to Bantam on a weekend, and only go there when I have a day off from work. If you are going on a weekend, make sure you check the Connecticut DEEP website for a list of approve fishing tournaments so you can avoid going when it is likely packed. You’ll also want to pick an overcast day where not as many people are likely boating.
Kid Friendly Fishing in New Haven County
So far, my fishing adventures in New Haven County have been limited to Meriden. Be sure to drop me a line if you have other locations you’d recommend, or like me to explore!
Hanover Pond (Meriden, CT)
- Size: 70 acres.
- Fish Species: Largemouth bass, Sunfish, Common Carp.
- Facilities: I haven’t noticed any. It is next to a park with baseball fields, so I imagine there must be at least porta potties.
- Parking: limited – I’d estimate 15-20 spaces.
- Boat Ramp: Yes. There is a one lane boat ramp near the baseball fields.
- Shore Access: Good. There numerous areas you can fish from shore all along this area.
- Special Restrictions: Steerage speed only.
- Distractions: There are several sport fields that you’re kids can play on if they get bored. Hubbard Park and Castle Craig are a short drive away as well.
Overview
Hanover Park Pond is a fairly good place to fish with kids in Connecticut. It has good shore access and is an easy place to launch a canoe or rowboat. If your kids get bored, there are plenty of fields to play sports on, and there’s a good walking trail around much of the park as well. These traits make it a family friendly fishing spot in my mind.
With that said, the fishing isn’t fantastic. I’m calling it “family friendly” because it’s easy to fish – not because your kid is likely to catch a trophy. While I’ve caught some big bass there, I’ve caught them with techniques that aren’t great for using around children. When I take my son, I’m usually going for panfish instead, and I haven’t found this lake to be overrun with them.
I’ve had the best luck fishing on the opposite side of the lake, away from the boat ramp. There is a little parking lot here off of Oregon Road, and you can follow the Quinnipiac Trail to some good fishing spots. Many of these are accessible with children, but they aren’t as wide open as they are on the other side by Habershon Field. The problem near the ball fields is that the water is extremely shallow and clogs with weeds easily.
One thing you may notice while fishing Hanover Park Pond are the monster carp that live there. Hooking one would give your kids their first fish story, as it’s unlikely you’re bringing one in on a child’s fishing rod! If you do, send me a picture! I’d love to see it!
Black Pond (Meriden, CT)
- Size: 76 acres.
- Fish Species: Trout, Largemouth Bass, Chain Pickerel, Brown Bullhead, Crappie, Sunfish, Channel Catfish.
- Facilities: None.
- Parking: limited – I’d estimate 10-15 spaces. It would be very challenging to park a trailer here given the layout. I doubt more than 1-2 could fit.
- Boat Ramp: Yes.
- Shore Access: Poor. There are few places that can be reached on foot with kids.
- Special Restrictions: Gas motors are prohibited.
- Distractions: None. There is very little to do here except fish.
Overview
If you read the Connecticut Fishing Guide and see Black Pond you’ll note that it is both a Bass Management Lake and Catfish Lake which would make you think it would be a great spot to take your kids fishing. I disagree. While my son and I did manage to catch many fish when we went there, we were limited to fishing right around the boat launch as there weren’t very many places he could access.
If I was fishing by myself, I could have probably reached more areas, but that just wasn’t practical with a four-year-old in tow. The terrain is rough, steep, and wooded. This is a poor combination with little ones.
Another concern is the boat launch. While there is one, the parking lot next to it is small and has very limited room for trailers. I doubt more than two could fit, and it would be very tough to bring my 19′ boat here. Again, if I was fishing by myself, this might be a different story as I could get there early enough to ensure I’d have a spot. That rarely happens with kids, so the more likely scenario would be we’d get all the way there and find we had nowhere to park.
For these reasons, Black Pond isn’t the most family friendly fishing spot in Connecticut if you have small children. It would, however, be a good place to take more adventurous middle schoolers.
Family Friendly Fishing Spots In Tolland County
I’m just starting to explore Tolland County. It is a bit of a hike for me but is a pretty part of Connecticut and easy enough to access from the highway. I have a cousin who lives in Coventry and I’ve noticed several good fishing spots on the way to his house, but have yet to fish them. The main reason I haven’t fished many places in Tolland County is because Mansfield Hollow Reservoir is just so good. Let me explain why it’s a great family friendly fishing spot in Connecticut.
Mansfield Hollow (Mansfield, CT)
- Size: 460 acres.
- Fish Species: Northern Pike, Chain Pickerel, Largemouth Bass, Trout, Yellow Perch, Sunfish, Crappie
- Facilities: A few porta potties.
- Parking: 50 parking spaces
- Boat Ramp: Yes. There is a 2 lane boat ramp in very good condition. There is no dock, but there is a sandy bottom next to the boat ramp on both sides to pull your boat up to.
- Shore Access: Good. There are walking trails along the perimeter and good places to fish with kids from shore.
- Special Restrictions: 8 mph speed limit. No swimming is allowed.
- Distractions: None on land. While there are some private campgrounds nearby, there is nothing for a kid to do at the boat launch. However, this is one of the few lakes in Connecticut where it is practical to water ski or pull a tube.
My Experience Fishing Mansfield Hollow With My Kids
If I was contemplating where to take a kid fishing in Connecticut for the first time, I’d seriously consider going to Mansfield Hollow. It can be a little bit slow early in the year, but once you get to about June, the fishing can be fantastic.
What I like best about this place is how close the shore access is to good fishing. This makes it a very kid-friendly place for a Connecticut family that wanted to go fishing. Just north of the boat launch you’ll find a bridge that has two culverts underneath of it. These are big enough for boats to pass through and create current. This activates fish and draws them in. On the right days, you can catch a ton of sunfish.
There are trails around the lake that you can walk and many places open up enough to get kids some room to cast. Most of these shorelines are reasonably good fishing for panfish.
If you have a boat with a trolling motor, the northern portion of the lake (meaning, the side you launched your boat on) has large grass flats that are great for trolling for pickerel and northern pike. This is a good technique to do on a lunch break so you can focus on getting some nutrients into your kids while the boat does all the work with fishing. If you’re interested more in this technique, I’ve written an article about it that you can read here.
and they can easily be fished from shore.
Other Counties
Connecticut has eight counties and I’ve only written about fishing in four. That’s not to say the others are bad, I just haven’t had much experience there yet. A primary goal I had when starting FishingFather.com was to ensure that the information here would be trustworthy and authentic. That means I need to either spend some time at these waterways, or at least research them well enough that I’m comfortable giving you my word.
Again, I’d encourage you to bookmark this page and come back to it often as I intend to update it over time. If there is a particular body of water you’d like me to visit or even help you research, please email me and let me know. I’ll do the best I can to help you!
Want to Head Out of State?
If you’re interested in fishing adventures that aren’t too far from Connecticut, I’d highly recommend booking a fishing charter with Captain Mick Maynard and taking a trip north to Lake Champlain. It’s about 4-5 hours away, depending where you live in Connecticut, but is well worth it. Here’s a Lake Champlain fishing report to show you what you’re missing!
For those who are even more adventurous, Alaska is the mecca of fishing adventures, and Sportsman’s Cove Lodge is among the most family-friendly Alaska fishing lodges out there. I can’t wait to take my kids there, and you shouldn’t either!
Need Some Help Getting Started?
If you’ve gotten this far, you obviously agree that it’s a good idea to go fishing with your kids, but that doesn’t mean you know how! While Connecticut boasts many great places to go fishing with kids, it’s all for naught if you don’t know what you’re doing. Luckily, this website has a number of articles that are designed to help parents learn the basics of fishing, so they can take their families out and have a great time.
Some articles I would suggest starting with include:
- First and foremost, read preparing for a fishing trip with kids. Learn what type of rod to buy, what tackle to bring along, and how to scout for a good location.
- An overview on some the basic skills you need to take your kids fishing before you get out there on the water.
- A discussion on what should be your primary goal: how to make fishing fun for kids.
- A helpful post on why you can’t catch fish and what to do about it. It stands to reason that if you know about these ahead of time, you’re more likely to be successful out on the water.
- An in-depth article that discusses 4 kid friendly fishing lures and 2 to avoid.
- A post with multiple tips to make fishing with kids stress-free.
- My advice for the best kids fishing rods. Give this a read and buy the right thing the first time.
In addition to these articles, I also wrote an entire book the subject of fishing with kids. It’s filled with tons of information that will help you get started. Consider giving it a read – I think you’ll like it!
Finally, you can contact me directly at johnpaxton@fishingfather.com as I’d be more than happy to give you personalized advice about taking your kids fishing in Connecticut. It’s important to me that your children have a good time, so please feel free to reach out.
Thanks,
John Paxton
