Lake Lillinonah
Lake Lillinonah is a Housatonic River impoundment bordered by Brookfield, Bridgewater, Newtown, New Milford, Roxbury, and Southbury. It is the state's deepest man-made lake and is known for strong bass numbers and big carp.
Species
Fishery rating out of 5.
Smallmouth Bass
Rock, gravel and points. Tubes, jerkbaits and drop-shots.
Largemouth Bass
Weeds, docks and wood in the shallows.
Northern Pike
Weed edges and bays. Spoons, spinnerbaits and tip-ups through the ice.
Yellow Perch
Schools on mud and sand flats. Great through the ice.
Bluegill
Weed beds and shallow flats in late spring.
When they bite
Month-by-month activity for each target species.
| J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Smallmouth Bass | ||||||||||||
| Largemouth Bass | ||||||||||||
| Northern Pike | ||||||||||||
| Yellow Perch |
Boat launches
3 launch sites. Fees and hours change, so confirm before you go.
- Pond Brook Boat LaunchPublicCT DEEP launch at 158 Hanover Rd, Newtown; dirt ramp, 60 carsDirections ↗
- Lake Lillinonah Boat Launch (Bridgewater)PublicCT DEEP launch at 199 Main St South, Bridgewater; concrete ramp, 50 carsDirections ↗
- More public accessPublicSee Connecticut DEEP or the lake manager's website for all ramps and feesDirections ↗
Size & creel limits
Special rules for this lake, confirmed from official state regulations. Minimum size and daily limit.
| Species | Min size | Daily limit |
|---|---|---|
| Northern Pike Pike and tiger muskie combined 1 / day (DEEP guide); lake not listed on DEEP lake/pond page, other species statewide | 38 in | 1 / day |
Other species in this lake: look up the limits at Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) ↗
Bait & tackle nearby
Closest shops to the lake and its boat launches. Call ahead for live bait and hours.
- Bounty Hunters Custom Bait & TackleNearby129 S Main St, Newtown, CT(475) 323-2151Directions ↗
- The Bait BoxNearby501 Danbury Rd, New Milford, CT(203) 948-4840Directions ↗
Local tips
- Launch at Pond Brook off Hanover Road or at the Bridgewater ramp.
- Lake Lillinonah Park in Newtown is open only to Newtown residents.
- The lake gave up Connecticut's record carp in 2025, so bring heavy gear if you want to target them.
Angler reports
Water temp, what's biting, and anything else other anglers should know about Lake Lillinonah.
View on interactive map
Zoom and pan on a street, satellite or terrain map. Red pins are boat launches; blue pins are bait shops nearby.