Candlewood Lake

Photos

Overview

Candlewood Lake is Connecticut's largest lake (5,064 acres per CT DEEP, about 8.4 square miles) and the largest lake in the New York metro area. It's a man-made pumped-storage reservoir, created in 1926–1928 when Connecticut Light & Power flooded a valley with water pumped up from the Housatonic River. Today it's owned by FirstLight Power. It borders Danbury, Brookfield, New Fairfield, New Milford and Sherman, and is a year-round recreation hub, with old roads and foundations still under the water.

Fishing

The Candlewood Lake Authority calls the lake especially well known for smallmouth bass. It's also a strong largemouth, white perch and walleye fishery. CT DEEP lists it as a Trout Management Lake and stocks trout, and Cast The Water's records show a March 2026 trout stocking. Brown and rainbow trout are both present.

Species

Per CT DEEP and the Candlewood Lake Authority: smallmouth and largemouth bass, brown and rainbow trout, white and yellow perch, white catfish, walleye, black crappie, bullheads, sunfish (bluegill, pumpkinseed, redbreast, rock bass) and common carp.

Techniques

Work rocky points, humps and docks for smallmouth with tubes, drop shots and jerkbaits. Trolling or drifting in deeper water can find holdover trout. White perch school in open water.

Seasons

Trout fishing is good in spring and fall; check DEEP's Trout Management Lake rules for the late-winter period. Bass are strong from late spring through fall. Lake levels are drawn down for winter (see safety).

Regulations

Connecticut DEEP freshwater regulations apply: https://portal.ct.gov/deep/fishing/freshwater/freshwater-fishing-regulations. Candlewood is listed by DEEP as a Trout Management Lake with lake-specific trout rules; check the current Freshwater Fishing Guide before you fish.

Licensing

Anglers 16 and older need a Connecticut fishing license from CT DEEP.

Access

CT DEEP's state boat launch is in Squantz Cove, on Old Bogus Road in New Fairfield, just off Route 39 near the Squantz Pond State Park entrance. It's trailered and open year-round, with a concrete ramp and 75 parking spaces (it fills on summer weekends). Lattins Cove and part of Squantz Cove are slow/no-wake. Most other shoreline is private.

Boat ramps & launches

CT DEEP Squantz Cove state launch (New Fairfield). Some town launches are for residents only.

Marinas & rentals

There are several commercial marinas around the lake, in Danbury, Brookfield, New Fairfield and New Milford.

Amenities

Squantz Pond State Park (adjacent) has a beach, picnic areas and trails. Town parks with beaches are generally for residents only.

Activities

Boating, waterskiing and tubing, sailing (including the Danbury Yacht Club), paddling, swimming, and scuba diving to see the flooded pre-1926 landscape.

Ice fishing

Ice forms in some winters, but FirstLight's winter drawdown and pumping can create unstable ice near the shore and coves. Use extreme caution. Never assume ice is safe. Check thickness yourself, avoid pressure ridges, inlets and areas over current, and follow local guidance.

Water facts

Area 5,064 acres (CT DEEP), about 8.4 sq mi; shoreline about 60 mi; typical depth about 40 ft, with spots near 80 ft; normal full elevation about 429 ft. Pumped-storage reservoir on the Rocky River, connected to the Housatonic River. Spans Fairfield and Litchfield counties.

Nearby services

Danbury, Brookfield and New Milford have full services. Bait and tackle shops are close by.

Safety & advisories

Boat speed limits are 45 mph by day and 25 mph at night (from ½ hour after sunset to ½ hour before sunrise). Water levels change with hydro operations and a winter drawdown. Zebra mussels are a serious threat, and launching a boat carrying them is illegal in CT, so clean, drain and dry your gear. Cliff jumping at Chicken Rock causes frequent injuries.

Nearby waters

• Still River (Danbury) · 10.3 km (CT)
• Quaker Lake · 14.3 km (NY)
• Bog Brook Reservoir · 14.5 km (NY)
• Ballard Pond · 15.8 km (NY)
• Lake Stibbs/Gravel Pit Pond · 16.3 km (CT)
• Pootatuck River (Lower) · 16.9 km (CT)

More in Fairfield

• Bunnells Pond (Beardsley Park Pond) (CT)
• Great Hollow Lake at Wolfe Park (CT)
• Huntington Pond (Starret Pond) (CT)
• Mianus River, TMA (CT)
• Mill River (Open-Fairfield) (CT)
• Mill River, TMA (CT)