Forest Pond in Merrimack County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Set in Merrimack County, Forest Pond is a New Hampshire water. Elevation runs to 1,010 feet. Supplies mean a trip to Canterbury, 3.2 miles off. Northfield is 3.8 miles away, with Tilton at 4.3 miles. Nearby alternatives: Morrill Pond roughly 1.9 miles, Sondogardy Pond a touch under 2.7 miles, Crane Neck Pond roughly 3.3 miles, Knowles Pond a touch under 3.3 miles and Long Pond roughly 3.8 miles. You are close to a county edge here; who manages the access can change within a short drive.

• Where to Fish on Forest Pond

  Depth is unknown to us, and the shoreline is the better guide. This is a lake, so the margins and the first drop matter most. Read the surface for the wind lane, then fish the edge of it. Fish documented in Merrimack County include rainbow trout, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass and brown trout. The list covers the county rather than this water alone, so treat it as a guide. Forest Pond gives up its fish to patience rather than distance.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Averages here run 68°F at the top of summer and 19°F at the bottom of winter. Cold winters and warm summers give a wide working range. The lid usually goes in early April, which opens the strongest weeks of the year. Ice usually gives way near early April, and forms again about mid December. June through September is the settled part of the year, with the shoulders busier for fish. On Forest Pond the same rules apply, with local timing.

• Tackle & Baits

  We have no record of the rules that apply on this bank. Public mapping records no formal access here, so plan for a walk and soft ground. 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. Night access is frequently treated as a separate matter. For a change of water, Morrill Pond is 1.9 miles distant. For Forest Pond in particular, ask before you travel.