There are endless opportunities when it comes to ice fishing in New England. It is a cold region of the northern United States that includes six states. The six states are Rhode Island, New Hampshire, Maine, Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont.
Ice fishing is a popular activity among residents and visitors. If you’re looking for things to do while visiting the New England states, why not visit one of these eight best ice fishing lakes in New England?
East Grand Lake
East Grand Lake is located in the US state of Maine and the Canadian province of New Brunswick.
East Grand Lake is located in Maine and the Canadian province of New Brunswick. It is a beautiful place that offers visitors many things to do. At East Grand Lake, visitors can extend their stay in a cabin or cottage. Not only is the location stunning and peaceful, but it is a favorite spot for anglers. You can fish during any season, no matter how cold it is.
East Grand Lake is a crystal clear, pristine lake surrounded by tall mountains and beautiful forests. It is an ideal place for salmon and bass fishing. While ice fishing, you can also fish for lake trout, brook trout, walleye, long suckers, and American eels. Ice fishing on East Grand Lake is most successful during dawn and dusk.
Moosehead Lake
At over 75,000 acres, Maine’s Moosehead Lake is a premier ice fishing destination.
Moosehead Lake is located in central Maine. It has more than 75,000 acres and is a prime destination for ice fishermen. The best time to use Moosehead Lake for ice fishing is after January 1st. It is also a deep lake with a maximum depth of 246 feet. It is about 40 kilometers long and 10 miles wide. Moosehead Lake hits record lows. For example, in January, the average record low is 2.6 degrees Fahrenheit.
While fishing Moosehead Lake, you can find brook trout, landlocked salmon, and lake trout. The official season for ice fishing on Moosehead Lake is January 1st through April 30th. Some people use fishing poles, while others stab the fish with spears.
Lake Champlain
In Vermont, Lake Champlain offers a variety of species for anglers.
Lake Champlain has a longer ice fishing season than some other lakes on this list. For example, the official ice fishing season starts in early December. Lake Champlain is a perfect fishing spot no matter the season. Snow and ice don’t stop anglers from traveling to Lake Champlain in Vermont. It also touches New York and the Canadian province of Quebec.
There is a wide variety of fish species that you can find in the lake. For example, anglers fishing Lake Champlain can catch largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, channel catfish, yellow perch, common carp, and pike.
Lake Seymour
Although Lake Seymour is not the most visited ice fishing spot, anglers visit every year.
Next on our list, we have Lake Seymour in Vermont. It’s not the most popular ice fishing lake in the state, but it’s still visited by anglers every year. Lake Seymour is 1,750 acres and has 10 miles of shoreline. It is a calm lake with many opportunities to catch fish species such as sunfish, pike, pike and perch. Although most of the shoreline is privately owned, you can still find public shoreline for shore fishing.
Silver Spring Lake
Rainbow trout are just one of the fish species that Silver Spring Lake offers its anglers.
One of the best ice fishing lakes in New England is Silver Spring Lake in Rhode Island. It is well stocked with trout for ice fishing. At Silver Spring Lake, anglers can fish for rainbow trout and brook trout. The lake is beautiful, surrounded by serene nature. Besides being beautiful, the local government encourages ice fishing. However, even though the lake is best known for ice fishing, always check the ice conditions before planning a trip.
Bare Hill Pond
In Harvard, Massachusetts, Bare Hill Pond offers visitors year-round offerings.
Bare Hill Pond in Massachusetts is not only a popular destination in the summer, but also in the cold winter months. Ice fishing is very popular, but caution should be exercised when fishing. The lake is also used by ice skaters and snowmobiles. When you don’t want to ice fish, you can also take a nice walk around the pond and pick blueberries and other wild berries. Bird watching is also a regular activity at Bare Hill Pond.
Lake Mattawa
For anglers looking to catch a variety of trout and bass species, Lake Mattawa in Orange, Massachusetts is a good spot.
Lake Mattawa is in Orange, Massachusetts. It is a 118 acre clear pond with multiple underground springs. It is a great lake for ice fishing in the winter months. Lake Mattawa is a favorite for many anglers looking to catch brown trout, smallmouth bass and rainbow trout. These fish grow large because the water is spring fed and has a healthy smelt population.
Candlewood Lake
Candlewood Lake, a reservoir in Fairfield and Litchfield counties in Connecticut, offers summer and winter fishing.
Candlewood Lake is a man-made lake located in Fairfield and Litchfield counties in Connecticut. It is the largest lake in the state and 60 miles from New York City. Candlewood Lake is a popular spot for summer and winter fishing. When the weather is warm and suitable, visitors can swim, relax and enjoy the outdoor facilities. Candlewood Lake has plenty of bass and trout. Walleye also live in Candlewood Lake, but are not as easy to catch in the winter.