Fishing at Bixby Pond, Merrimack County, New Hampshire

• Overview

  Bixby Pond sits in Merrimack County, out in New Hampshire. The ground round it is lake country bush. About 15 acres of surface, which puts the far bank inside easy sight. Some 0.9 miles away sits Epsom, the nearest settlement. For a city, Manchester is 17 miles off. Nearby alternatives: Odiorne Pond 2.1 miles away, Chestnut Pond roughly 2.2 miles, Northwood Lake 2.9 miles away, Round Pond roughly 2.9 miles and Blake Pond 2.9 miles away. Rules can differ a short way off, since the county line is near.

• Where to Fish on Bixby Pond

  No depth figure has reached our records, which makes a plummet useful. Draw-down through summer strips the margins, so follow the water out. Standing timber shows when the level drops, and fish sit against it. Survey and observation records for Merrimack County include rainbow trout, largemouth bass and smallmouth bass. These are county-wide records, so not all of them will be in this water. Bixby Pond repays a walk before the first cast.

• Seasonal Patterns

  In an average year July sits at 69°F and January at 20°F. Expect a real winter and a strong spring after it. The freeze runs deep into the year, with break-up near early April. Average temperatures cross freezing around early April in spring and again near mid December in autumn. Spring is short and heavy here; autumn is longer and steadier. Plan any trip to Bixby Pond around it.

• Tackle & Baits

  Ownership and access are not documented in what we hold. Mapping puts a reserve boundary across this water; check what it allows. Bass water: a Texas-rigged worm near cover, a spinnerbait when you need to cover ground. Parking is often the real limit rather than the bank itself. Rules for boats are stricter than rules for the bank in many places. The nearest alternative is Odiorne Pond, 2.1 miles out. Confirm access to Bixby Pond locally before you travel.