Downing Pond Fishing near New Durham, New Hampshire

• Overview

  Downing Pond is set in Strafford County, New Hampshire. The sea is 31 miles distant. It measures about 54 acres, which is a comfortable size for bank fishing. A shoreline of some 1.0 miles keeps the choices simple. Supplies mean a trip to New Durham, 0.4 miles off. Manchester is the closest city, 34 miles away. The boundary is close enough to be worth checking before you fish.

• Where to Fish on Downing Pond

  There is no published depth for this one, so start shallow and work out. Points where the flooded channel swings in are the reliable ones. The arms fish better than the open middle whenever the water is up. Fish documented in Strafford County include rainbow trout, brown trout and largemouth bass. What holds for the county may not hold for this water. Downing Pond responds to conditions more than to tactics.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Averages here run 68°F at the top of summer and 19°F at the bottom of winter. Four clear seasons, with a proper winter at one end. Look for the thaw near early April; the fishing lifts straight after. Expect the water usable from around early April until roughly mid December. Reckon on open water from spring through to late autumn, with May and June the strongest. That shapes the year on Downing Pond.

• Tackle & Baits

  Access is not recorded for this water. The nearest recorded ramp is Merrymeeting Marsh Boat Ramp, half a mile out. You will be walking about half a mile from the nearest car park. Largemouth respond to soft plastics tight to cover; go weedless where the growth is heavy. State or provincial rules still apply whatever the bank status. Access can change hands, so last year's answer may not hold. Failing this one, try Club Pond, 1 mile away. Ask locally about Downing Pond if anything is unclear.