Am wondering if it is legal or there are any special regs. for fishing small ponds within a state forest. These are small unnamed ponds. Thanks

Im sure Encon will clarify but I think as long as it isnt trout waters it is ok. I fish a few small ponds year round on state land. some of the best fishing I have ever had.

read this very carefully.... i was fooled into thinking what Skip has stated meant something else, but i was incorrect and upon further review i figured out where i went wrong.

the rule is, and by all means please correct me if i am wrong: all named waters not specifically stated to be OPEN are closed under statewide regulations. this excerpt sheds a bit more light, taken from the anglers guide 2012.

Use this two-step process to determine regulations
on a specific waterbody:
1. Check the table on page 12 for the general statewide
regulations. (fish species/size/creel limit)
2. Refer to the specific waterbody in the alphabetical
listings of Lakes & Ponds (pages 24–33)
or Rivers & Streams (pages 36–44) for special
site-specific regulations. If no site-specific
regulations are listed for a waterbody, statewide
regulations apply for seasons, methods,
and/or limits.
Unless otherwise indicated in the Lakes & Ponds
and Rivers & Streams listings:
• Lakes and ponds are open year-round.
• Rivers & streams are open from 6:00 a.m. on
the 3rd Saturday in April through the last day
of February (Closed to all fishing from March
1st to 6:00 a.m. on the 3rd Saturday in April

i was fooled in an vaugely unspecified stretch of the housatonic river early last season... and for the previous 6 seasons, annually. a chance encounter with a friendly but somewhat puzzled officer showed me the error of my reasoning this past spring. he was kind enough not to write me a citation, but more so i was straight forward with the man, and explained my confusion. he agreed and mentioned a number of anglers were confused like myself.

the odd part was that i was never in any doubt i was even remotely in the wrong, until we both pulled out anglers guides (which i keep with me just to be safe on things like this!!!), and he showed me the above clause.

not to tip my hand, but if you only knew the river, you'd realize it was well worth the headache, Captain

allow me to guide you anytime... just ask...

Thanks for all the responses