Fishing at Center Pond, Merrimack County, New Hampshire

• Overview

  Center Pond falls in Merrimack County, part of New Hampshire. Around the bank it is pine and birch. This is a pocket water of some 12 acres, and every part of it is reachable from the bank. Our Merrimack County list holds plenty of bigger water. The nearest place of any size is Canterbury, 4.6 miles away. Gilmanton follows at 5.3 miles, then Belmont at 5.5 miles. A county line runs close by, so local bylaws can differ within a short drive.

• Where to Fish on Center Pond

  No depth figure has reached our records, which makes a plummet useful. The arms fish better than the open middle whenever the water is up. Points where the flooded channel swings in are the reliable ones. Species logged across Merrimack County include rainbow trout, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass and brown trout. What holds for the county may not hold for this water. Read Center Pond for ten minutes before the first cast goes out.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Average temperature peaks around 68°F in July and bottoms out near 19°F in January. A hard winter is normal, and the thaw brings a strong few weeks. Expect a solid lid for months and a thaw around early April. From about early April to around mid December, expect open water on the long-run figures. The strongest runs come at either end of the open season. Plan around that when you fish Center Pond.

• Tackle & Baits

  The rules here are undocumented as far as public sources go. Recorded parking is half a mile off, far enough to travel light. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Local rules can differ across the county line, so check where you stand. Close seasons apply to some species and not others. Long Pond at 0.3 miles is the sensible second choice. What applies at Center Pond may have changed since it was mapped.