Fishing French Pond in Grafton County, New Hampshire

• Overview

  French Pond is a Grafton County water, New Hampshire side. The country round it is mixed forest from end to end. The water covers some 33 acres, so pick a bank rather than trying to cover it all. Woodsville sits 4.9 miles from the bank. It is 81 miles to Manchester, the nearest city. It sits near the edge of the county, so check which rules apply.

• Where to Fish on French Pond

  Depth remains unrecorded, so treat the first session as a survey. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. Where the bottom changes texture, fish gather; find that line. Fish documented in Grafton County include rainbow trout, brook trout, smallmouth bass, brown trout and largemouth bass. Species recorded across the county may be limited to a few waters. French Pond repays a walk before the first cast.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Averages here run 67°F at the top of summer and 15°F at the bottom of winter. A full turn of seasons, with the strongest sport on either side of summer. Hard water holds through the cold months, breaking up near mid April. On average, mid April opens the water and early December closes it again. From the thaw to midsummer the fishing improves week by week. Plan any trip to French Pond around it.

• Tackle & Baits

  The paperwork position is blank for this one. Boat access is recorded roughly half a mile away. Largemouth respond to soft plastics tight to cover; go weedless where the growth is heavy. Rules differ from one water to the next round here. Some water is controlled locally without a sign saying so. The nearest alternative is Upper Mountain Lake, 1.3 miles out. Nothing here settles the position at French Pond for certain.