Position
41°30.7′N 72°43.7′W
Beseck Lake is a small, 116-acre lake in Middlefield, with a mostly private shoreline, with a state launch on its east shore. The Fisherman calls it an often-overlooked spot for good ice fishing in winters cold enough to freeze it well: panfish for jiggers, and largemouth, pickerel and a few northern pike for tip-ups.
When to fish
- Winter, with safe ice: the lake's best-known season, according to The Fisherman.
- Summer: water-skiing is allowed from mid-June to just after Labor Day between 11 a.m. and 6 p.m., so fish early or late on summer days.
Where to fish
- The 15-foot contour: the main basin is fairly flat at about 15 feet. The Fisherman's writer does best where the shallows drop to that depth, and the drop is steepest along the eastern shore, a short walk from the launch.
- The southeast cove by the dam: the deepest water in the lake. Stay well back from the dam on the ice: when water spills over it, the current can leave dangerous thin ice.
How to fish it
Jig small lures for bluegill, black crappie, and yellow and white perch. Spread tip-ups baited with shiners along and just inside the 15-foot line, well apart, to find cruising largemouth, pickerel and pike; the action tends to come in short flurries. The pike here were stocked illegally years ago and run small (The Fisherman's writer has caught them to about 31 inches), but they're a chance to check the species off your list.
Getting there
The state launch is at 223 Baileyville Road on Route 147 in Middlefield, about 1.75 miles south of Route 66, with paved parking for about 20 cars. There's a low speed limit outside the summer water-skiing window; see the Connecticut Boater's Guide and Freshwater Fishing Guide.
From the water
Latest reports
No reports yet
No fishing reports have been published for Beseck Lake yet.
Field guide
What you can catch
Close by