Highland Lake Fishing Guide, Cheshire County, New Hampshire

• Overview

  You will find Highland Lake in Cheshire County, New Hampshire. Elevation runs to 1,299 feet. Surface area runs to roughly 714 acres, so plan for one area rather than the whole. The shoreline runs about 14 miles, so it pays to pick a stretch and stay with it. It is among the larger waters listed here for Cheshire County. Antrim sits 8.9 miles from here and is the nearest stop. For a city, Manchester is 33 miles off. The boundary is close enough to be worth checking before you fish.

• Where to Fish on Highland Lake

  No chart reached our records; the first cast is your sounding. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. This is a lake, so the margins and the first drop matter most. Open biodiversity records for Cheshire County list rainbow trout, brown trout, smallmouth bass, largemouth bass and rainbow smelt. Records at this level tell you what is in the area. The near bank of Highland Lake is often the one people ignore.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Expect July to average close to 67°F, with January the cold end at about 18°F. A full turn of seasons, with the strongest sport on either side of summer. Look for the thaw near mid April; the fishing lifts straight after. The water is typically free of ice between mid April and early December. June through September is the settled part of the year, with the shoulders busier for fish. The season on Highland Lake rarely departs from it.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing in our records says who may fish here. This is a natural basin, not a dammed one. Expect a half a mile walk in from where the car goes. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Rules for this water may differ from the county norm. Keep proof of licence with you rather than in the car. Trout Pond sits 1.4 miles off and takes the overflow. Check the position at Highland Lake before loading the car.