MANSFIELD HOLLOW NORTHERN'S
by Dick Alley
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| Upper end of lake to left of launch area. This section is shallow and weedy. |
It was way back in 1992 that the Ct State DEP introduced northern pike into Mansfield Hollow Lake, only a couple of miles from UCONN's main campus. The Connecticut River has always
provided some pike fishing, and Bantam Lake is the site of an
extremely successful pike program. Pike weighing as much as 29 pounds, measuring up to 45 inches in length have been captured there.In recent years, northern pike have been stocked in even more lakes including Winchester Lake, Bantam Lake, Pachaug Pond and the Connecticut River.
Northern pike must measure at least 26 inches to be legal, and the limit is 2 fish per day. They compete with carp and catfish for biggest fresh water fish to be found in Connecticut waters.
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| Fingerling pike like these are stocked every year |
While some pike were caught in that first season,by the winter of 1994-1995 significant numbers of large pike were being taken at Mansfield Hollow.
In the year 2000, we moved from Westport to Manchester CT. I sold my Boston Whaler and purchased instead an 11-foot baby bass boat, ideal for fishing the small lakes and ponds scattered across northern Connecticut. My good friend and fishing buddy Bob Byers had also moved from his home in Rhode Island to the nearby community of Stafford Springs, so we teamed up to explore new fishing ares. Mansfield Hollow was one of the first on our list.
Mansfield Hollow reservoir contains more than 435 acres of fishable waters. A boat launch and large parking lot provides room for cars and trailers. It is a popular spot for canoes and kayaks as well as motor bats. There is a posted speed limit of 6 mph and no water skiing allowed.
Fish species highlight northern pike (especially in winter) along with bass, pickerel, perch, panfish, crappie and bullheads. The lake is fed by the Natchaug, Fenton and Mount Hope Rivers. All are stocked with trout. It is primarily a shallow lake and weeds become a problem for fishermen in mid-summer. This is also perfect cover for big northern's.
Bob and I decided to troll large swimming lures on our first trip to the Hollow. Large Rebel, Rapala and Yozuri minnow imitations were among first picks. Five minutes out of the launch area just past the small island, I had my first hit, a pickerel measuring 18 inches. We skirted the outside edges, making a complete circle around the lake. At various spots, we saw action and a couple were respectable pike, approaching 5 to 7 pounds. These are hard-fighting fish, have very sharp teeth and should be handled with care. While the flavor is OK, they are very bony and for me at least a fun fish to be returned to the water.
The nice part about a lake like Mansfield Hollow is the large variety of fish. Tired of trolling? Try casting big plugs or even smaller ones and you might catch a nice bass or a big holdover trout relocated from one of the rivers. On one trip, I watched a fisherman wading the shoreline, casting small poppers to spawning bluegills with a light fly rod. Every cast brought a hit. I doubt he cared one bit about the northern pike roaming the lake, at least not on that day.
Mansfield Hollow is located a few miles from UCONN, but water skiing is prohibited. It has a nice launch ramp and large parking area for boats and trailers. It is primarily a fishing lake but is also enjoyed by kayakers, canoeists and other small boat enthusiasts.
In the year 2000, we moved from Westport to Manchester CT. I sold my Boston Whaler and purchased instead an 11-foot baby bass boat, ideal for fishing the small lakes and ponds scattered across northern Connecticut. My good friend and fishing buddy Bob Byers had also moved from his home in Rhode Island to the nearby community of Stafford Springs, so we teamed up to explore new fishing ares. Mansfield Hollow was one of the first on our list.
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| One of a few pike we caught that day. Swimming lures did the trick |
Fish species highlight northern pike (especially in winter) along with bass, pickerel, perch, panfish, crappie and bullheads. The lake is fed by the Natchaug, Fenton and Mount Hope Rivers. All are stocked with trout. It is primarily a shallow lake and weeds become a problem for fishermen in mid-summer. This is also perfect cover for big northern's.
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| Through the tunnel to the even bigger lake, deeper water and fewer weeds |
The nice part about a lake like Mansfield Hollow is the large variety of fish. Tired of trolling? Try casting big plugs or even smaller ones and you might catch a nice bass or a big holdover trout relocated from one of the rivers. On one trip, I watched a fisherman wading the shoreline, casting small poppers to spawning bluegills with a light fly rod. Every cast brought a hit. I doubt he cared one bit about the northern pike roaming the lake, at least not on that day.
Mansfield Hollow is located a few miles from UCONN, but water skiing is prohibited. It has a nice launch ramp and large parking area for boats and trailers. It is primarily a fishing lake but is also enjoyed by kayakers, canoeists and other small boat enthusiasts.
Anglers who prefer fresh water fishing or those who simply want to give it a try will do well to include Mansfield Hollow on their to-do list.
dwa
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