CONCORD, N.H. – Fishing in New Hampshire’s designated trout ponds and
fly-fishing-only ponds opens this year on April 28, 2012 (the fourth
Saturday in April), offering anglers the chance to experience exciting
fishing in some of the Granite State’s most scenic surroundings. These ponds
are managed specifically for trout, and fishing is allowed through October
"These trout ponds are often the best waters in a given area for a variety
of reasons," said New Hampshire Fish and Game Department Fisheries Biologist
Don Miller. "Excellent habitat, low species competition and the fact that
these ponds are closed to ice-fishing allow these waters to be managed for
the trout fishing enthusiast." Ponds managed for trout may be stocked with
one or more species, including brook, rainbow and/or brown trout, with age
classes ranging from “yearlings” (8-12 inches), 2-year olds (12-15 inches),
and 3+ year olds (measured in pounds!).
"Trout are prized by anglers because they can be a challenge to catch, and
fishing for them is one of the traditional rites of spring," Miller
said. "Whether your passion is a multi-colored brook trout, a leaping
rainbow or the determined fight of a brown, there’s a New Hampshire trout
pond within reasonable driving distance for you."
Hot Hole Pond and Clough Pond in Loudon, French Pond in Henniker, Mount
William Pond in Weare, Dublin Lake in Dublin, Lucas Pond (tiger trout) in
Northwood, and Barbadoes Pond in Madbury are a few of the generously stocked
early season hotspots where opening day trout are taken. It gets no better
than this for taking the youngsters along with a simple garden hackle under
a bobber, or floating PowerBait fished just off the bottom.
Due to the mild winter we have experienced, this year may find some of our
northern ponds ice-free. There are many popular ponds located from the Lakes
Region north to Pittsburg. They include Echo Lake in Franconia, Russell Pond
in Woodstock, Conner Pond and Duncan Lake in Ossipee, White Lake in
Tamworth, Perch Pond in Campton, Saltmarsh Pond in Gilford, Spectacle Pond
in Groton, Back Lake in Pittsburg, Fish Pond in Columbia and Little Diamond
Pond in Stewartstown.
For those looking for a true wilderness experience, check out one of the
approximately 50 remote trout ponds Fish and Game annually stocks with
fingerling brook trout via helicopter (listed at
http://www.fishnh.com/Fishing/trout_remote.htm). Flat Mountain Pond in
Sandwich, Cole Pond in Enfield (fly fishing only), Butterfield Pond in
Wilmot, Peaked Hill Pond in Thornton, Black Pond and Lonesome Lake in
Lincoln are just a sampling of these delightful ponds, where fingerling
brook trout often grow to 8-10 inches by their second growing season, and
it’s not unusual to pull in brookies 15 inches or longer. Trophy,
remote-pond brook trout three or more years old, some in excess of 17-18
inches, are available to the anglers who wish to fish in the “backcountry.”
Archery Pond in Allenstown (with a wheelchair-accessible casting platform)
and Stonehouse Pond in Barrington are two popular fly-fishing-only ponds
that will be ice-free and well stocked for the opener. If you travel over to
Antrim and fish Willard Pond (produced the state record tiger trout caught
in 2011), you will be treated to forested, undeveloped shorelines and the
"triple treat" of fly-fishing: brook, rainbow and tiger trout.
Further north, some excellent fly-fishing-only ponds include Upper Hall Pond
in Sandwich, Sky Pond in New Hampton and Profile Lake in Franconia (check
the fish digest for special regulations) on these waters. In addition, White
Pond in Ossipee and Coon Brook Bog in Pittsburg offer excellent
opportunities to “match the hatch” throughout spring and early summer.
For a list of trout ponds and fly-fishing-only ponds in New Hampshire, as
well as a description of special rules that apply to certain ponds, consult
the 2012 New Hampshire Freshwater Fishing Digest, available online at
http://www.fishnh.com/pubs/fishing.html or from any Fish and Game license
agent when you buy your license.