Lake · Danbury, Fairfield, Connecticut
Candlewood Lake
Current Lake Rating
Point-in-time lake rating — separate from the trip recommendation below.
Fair
This condition rating is estimated because current on-water monitoring is not available.
Estimated Conditions
Estimated from available current readings, weather, seasonal patterns, destination characteristics, and historical conditions. Some important on-water measurements may be unavailable.
Rating confidence: Low
Should I Go?
Consider
Fishing guidance for this destination based on available lake conditions, weather, and seasonal context. It is not a boating, swimming, ice, or access-safety rating.
Recommendation confidence: Low
Why
- Current water-level and water-temperature observations are not available.
- StrikeTracks is showing a provisional Estimated Conditions rating from accepted secondary evidence.
- Available atmospheric evidence is favorable for provisional Estimated fishing suitability; the public rating is capped by the accepted Estimated evidence path and confidence policy.
Current Readings
Live monitoring not available.
Better Nearby Options
Checking nearby StrikeTracks waters…
Weather Near Lake
Current Weather
Clear
Temperature
62°F
Feels like
61°F
Wind
6 mph NW
Wind gust
12 mph
Current precipitation
0.00 in
Updated
Sep 5, 2026, 3:45 AM
Recent Rainfall
Estimated precipitation near this lake
Last 6 hours
0.00 in
Last 24 hours
0.38 in
Last 48 hours
0.39 in
Some recent rainfall may begin influencing lake level or shoreline conditions.
Next 24 Hours
Sat 4 AM
Clear
Temp 62°F
Chance 0%
Precip 0.00 in
Wind 6 mph
Sat 8 AM
Clear
Temp 65°F
Chance 0%
Precip 0.00 in
Wind 6 mph
Sat 12 PM
Clear
Temp 72°F
Chance 1%
Precip 0.00 in
Wind 7 mph
Sat 4 PM
Clear
Temp 74°F
Chance 5%
Precip 0.00 in
Wind 7 mph
Sat 8 PM
Partly cloudy
Temp 68°F
Chance 8%
Precip 0.00 in
Wind 1 mph
Sun 12 AM
Overcast
Temp 65°F
Chance 5%
Precip 0.00 in
Wind 2 mph
Four-Day Forecast
Sat, Sep 5
Overcast
High 74°F / Low 62°F
Chance 20%
Precip 0.00 in
Max gust 19 mph
Sun, Sep 6
Rain
High 69°F / Low 56°F
Chance 14%
Precip 0.28 in
Max gust 23 mph
Mon, Sep 7
Overcast
High 77°F / Low 52°F
Chance 0%
Precip 0.00 in
Max gust 18 mph
Tue, Sep 8
Overcast
High 80°F / Low 57°F
Chance 0%
Precip 0.00 in
Max gust 11 mph
Weather and rainfall are estimated for this lake's coordinates. Local conditions can vary, especially in mountainous terrain and during isolated storms.
Recent rainfall can influence lake level and access, but the timing and magnitude depend on watershed size, soil conditions, and reservoir operations where applicable.
Weather data: Open-Meteo
Fishery Profile
Documented species you may encounter at Candlewood Lake.
Species images are AI-generated illustrations for visual reference and may simplify natural variation. Fishery records are based on the cited agency sources. About fish illustrations
Fishery overview
Large western Connecticut warmwater lake with CT DEEP Trout Management Lake trout specials. Largemouth and smallmouth bass are the primary recommendation targets; trout are present under TML rules. No live USGS lake elevation or temperature station is assigned.
Target species
Largemouth Bass
Micropterus nigricans
- Expectation
- Primary
- Population
- Established
- Native status
- introduced
- Confidence
- High confidence
CT DEEP Candlewood Lake species list includes largemouth bass among primary warmwater gamefish.
Source: Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection
Smallmouth Bass
Micropterus dolomieu
- Expectation
- Primary
- Population
- Established
- Native status
- introduced
- Confidence
- High confidence
CT DEEP Candlewood Lake species list includes smallmouth bass among primary warmwater gamefish.
Source: Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection
Brown Bullhead
Ameiurus nebulosus
- Expectation
- Common
- Population
- Established
- Native status
- native
- Confidence
- Medium confidence
CT DEEP Candlewood Lake species list includes brown bullhead.
Source: Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection
White Perch
Morone americana
- Expectation
- Common
- Population
- Established
- Native status
- introduced
- Confidence
- Medium confidence
CT DEEP Candlewood Lake species list includes white perch.
Source: Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection
Yellow Perch
Perca flavescens
- Expectation
- Common
- Population
- Established
- Native status
- native
- Confidence
- High confidence
CT DEEP Candlewood Lake species list includes yellow perch.
Source: Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection
Brown Trout
Salmo trutta
- Expectation
- Present
- Population
- Stocked
- Native status
- introduced
- Confidence
- Medium confidence
CT DEEP Trout Management Lake rules on Candlewood include trout among managed species; kept present so bass remain primary.
Source: Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection
Rainbow Trout
Oncorhynchus mykiss
- Expectation
- Present
- Population
- Stocked
- Native status
- introduced
- Confidence
- High confidence
CT DEEP lists Candlewood as a Trout Management Lake; trout kept present so warmwater bass remain the recommendation focus.
Source: Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection
Fishery characteristics
- Composition
- Mixed wild and stocked
Large reservoir-like lake with extensive shoreline development and warmwater structure plus seasonal trout management. Summer surface warming concentrates trout deeper when present.
Best seasons
- Spring
- Summer
- Fall
Common techniques
- Boat fishing
- Shore fishing
- Spinning
Access and Public Fishing Rights
CT DEEP operates public launches including Lattins Cove and Squantz Cove. Catalog coordinates are a lake-center reference, not a verified launch or parking pin. Use official DEEP launch pages for directions.
Stocking information
CT DEEP Trout Management Lake rules apply; confirm any current stockings on the official CT DEEP trout stocking map.
- Stocked
Brown Trout
Stocked · Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection
- Stocked
Rainbow Trout
Stocked · Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection
Official sources
Regulations can change. Candlewood Trout Management Lake trout specials differ from statewide trout limits; verify the official CT DEEP lake and pond regulations before fishing.
Hatch Match
General fly suggestions
- Woolly-bugger-style streamerConservative overlap streamer family. Not an insect Hatch claim.
- Parachute-style dryOne general surface family appropriate to mixed fisheries — not a Hatch report.
- Pheasant-tail-style nymphOne general subsurface family. Not destination entomology.
These are general fishing suggestions, not a report of insects currently hatching at this destination.
Location and Access
Cataloged lake location
Danbury, Fairfield, Connecticut
The map marker represents the cataloged waterbody or monitoring location and may not indicate legal parking or public access. Confirm access through the official information before visiting.
Lake Details
Town
Danbury
County
Fairfield
Management Category
Warmwater lake
Regulation Scope
Candlewood Lake
Regulation Summary
Connecticut lake and pond regulations apply; Candlewood is a Trout Management Lake with seasonal trout length/creel specials in addition to statewide warmwater rules. Confirm current seasons and limits on the official CT DEEP Freshwater Fishing Guide.
Surface Area
5064 acres
Target Species
Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Yellow Perch, White Perch, Brown Bullhead, Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout
Public Access
Public
Boat Launch
Available
Shore Fishing
Available
Description
Large western Connecticut lake (Danbury, New Fairfield, Sherman, New Milford, Brookfield). CT DEEP lake regulations list largemouth and smallmouth bass, yellow perch, white perch, catfish, sunfish, and trout under Trout Management Lake rules. Coordinates are a catalog lake-center reference point, not a verified boat-launch pin. No USGS lake/reservoir continuous station is assigned; nearby river gauges are not used as lake-level substitutes.
