Bantam Lake
lake in Connecticut
Smaller than Candlewood but with excellent shoreline access and structure for fly anglers seeking bass and panfish.
Conditions right now
No USGS gauge is linked to this water yet, so we can't chart flows.
What's working on Bantam Lake
- 01Bluegill are likely transitioning to deeper water and weed lines as temperatures drop.
- 02Subsurface patterns imitating leeches, baitfish, and aquatic invertebrates will be most effective.
- 03Midge and scud activity remains a consistent food source for bluegill in cooler water.
- 04Opportunistic feeding on Blue-Winged Olive mayflies might occur on warmer, overcast days.
Past reports week by week
13 weeksWhat to tie on
Picked from reports, hatches and the season. Tap a fly for the recipe and where else it works.
Woolly Bugger (Olive)
A highly versatile streamer, imitating leeches and baitfish which are consistent food sources for bluegill in the fall, especially in lake environments.
Hare's Ear Nymph
An essential and versatile mayfly nymph imitation, effective year-round for bluegill foraging on aquatic insects.
Buy at AmazonFlashback Pheasant Tail Nymph
An excellent general searching nymph that mimics various active mayfly nymphs, a consistent food source for bluegill throughout the fall.
Pine Squirrel Leech (Olive)
Small leech patterns effectively mimic sluggish baitfish and annelids in colder fall waters, enticing strikes from larger, lethargic bluegill.
Crappie Jig Fly
Excellent for fall panfish, including bluegill, as it effectively mimics minnows and invertebrates around structure.
Buy at AmazonScud
Freshwater shrimp (scuds) are a consistent year-round food source in lakes with aquatic vegetation, making them effective for foraging bluegill in fall.
Chironomid Pupa (Black)
Midges are a primary and consistent food source year-round in lake environments, and this pattern effectively mimics the abundant midge pupae actively fed upon subsurface.
Blue-Winged Olive Comparadun (BWO)
Blue-Winged Olives can have active hatches in the fall, offering opportunistic bluegill a chance to feed on emergers and adults on overcast days.
Where to fish and who to ask
Bantam Lake State Park / Morris Access
Primary public access and boat launch with nearby weedlines and rock points.
Litchfield / North Shore Points
Clear-water points and shallow flats known for sight-fishing smallmouth on the fly.
Fly shops within 40 miles
Fly Fishing Connecticut
Housatonic River Guide - Bert Ouellette
Housatonic River Outfitters
Housatonic River Outfitters, Inc.
Get Bantam Lake reports by email
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Connecticut season by season
What changes on the water through the year, with the flies for each season.
Quick answers
Common questions about Bantam Lake.
What flies work best on Bantam Lake?
Our top scored fly patterns for Bantam Lake right now are Woolly Bugger (Olive) (80% confidence), Hare's Ear Nymph (80% confidence), Gurgler (Bass) (80% confidence). These picks are scored from recent fishing reports, hatch data, and seasonal patterns.
What fish species are in Bantam Lake?
Bantam Lake holds Bluegill. See the species links on this page for fly recommendations and seasonal behavior for each.
Is Bantam Lake fishing well right now?
We publish a fresh bite report for Bantam Lake each week based on recent on-the-water intel. The current report — with conditions, hatches, and what's producing — is on this page.