Fishing Carter Pond in Sullivan County, New Hampshire

• Overview

  Sullivan County, New Hampshire, is where Carter Pond sits. Around the bank it is pine and birch. At 3 acres it is the sort of place you fish for an evening rather than a day. It is a small entry by Sullivan County standards. 6 miles away sits Hillsborough, the nearest town. Henniker is 7.6 miles away, with Deering at 9.9 miles. You are close to a county edge here; who manages the access can change within a short drive.

• Where to Fish on Carter Pond

  We hold no survey for this water; read the slope of the shoreline instead. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. Reported across Sullivan County: rainbow trout, smallmouth bass, Arctic charr and largemouth bass. The county list is broader than any single water. Carter Pond responds to conditions more than to tactics.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Temperature averages peak at 68°F in July and bottom out at 20°F in January. A full turn of seasons, with the strongest sport on either side of summer. Once it clears, about early April, the fishing comes on quickly. Climate figures give an open season running early April to mid December. The open run goes from the thaw to the freeze, and April through October covers most of it. That shapes the year on Carter Pond.

• Tackle & Baits

  There is no clear statement anywhere on who can fish it. Nothing in the way of made access shows up nearby: no ramp, no car park, no path. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Rules differ from one water to the next round here. Check whether bait restrictions apply before you buy any. If the gate is shut, Contention Pond at 1.1 miles is the nearest alternative. What applies at Carter Pond may have changed since it was mapped.