Iona Lake Fishing in Carroll County, New Hampshire

• Overview

  Look for Iona Lake in the Carroll County part of New Hampshire. It sits at 669 feet above sea level. It measures about 68 acres, which is a comfortable size for bank fishing. Around 1.3 miles of margin, front to back. The nearest town is Conway, 4.3 miles away. The big place round here is Manchester, 68 miles distant. The nearest boundary is well away, so one set of rules covers the water.

• Where to Fish on Iona Lake

  Our records carry no depth, so judge it from the bank. This is a lake, so the margins and the first drop matter most. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. Open biodiversity records for Carroll County list rainbow trout, brown trout, smallmouth bass, rainbow smelt and Atlantic salmon. Several of these carry legal protection or closed seasons; the rulebook comes before the rod. Work Iona Lake in sections rather than trying to cover it.

• Seasonal Patterns

  July runs about 67°F on average, January about 18°F. Cold locks it up for a good stretch each year. The freeze runs deep into the year, with break-up near early April. Break-up near early April, freeze-up near early December: that is the shape of an average year. The open run goes from the thaw to the freeze, and April through October covers most of it. On Iona Lake the same rules apply, with local timing.

• Tackle & Baits

  The access position is unclear from public sources. No dam controls it, and the level follows the season. Parking within half a mile means no long carry with tackle. A pier or jetty stands half a mile away, which helps on a crowded bank. Mapping shows a campsite some half a mile from the water. Sort the permit out before you load the car. Keep proof of licence with you rather than in the car. Whitton Pond at 1 mile is the sensible second choice. Treat Iona Lake as unsettled until someone local tells you otherwise.