Lily Pond near Sanbornville: Fishing Spots, Seasons and Access

• Overview

  New Hampshire holds Lily Pond, in Strafford County. The coast is 27 miles away. You can fish the entire water from one spot if you pick it well. On size it sits at the modest end of our Strafford County list. The closest town, Sanbornville, is 3.2 miles away. Manchester sits 41 miles out, and it is the nearest city worth the name. Two sets of local rules meet not far from this water.

• Where to Fish on Lily 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. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. Reported across Strafford County: rainbow trout, brown trout, largemouth bass, rainbow smelt and smallmouth bass. Species recorded across the county may be limited to a few waters. At Lily Pond the water rewards a slow, careful approach.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Typical July readings run about 68°F; by January the average is down near 19°F. Seasons are distinct, and each one fishes differently. Once it clears, about early April, the fishing comes on quickly. Averages place the thaw at early April and the freeze at mid December. Look to early summer and the first cool weeks of autumn. That is the shape of the year on Lily Pond.

• Tackle & Baits

  The access position is unclear from public sources. The water borders Middleton Town Forest, so reserve rules are likely to apply. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. Some banks are open only from a marked point. Some water is controlled locally without a sign saying so. Union Meadows, 0.6 miles away, makes the obvious fallback. The position on Lily Pond is worth confirming on the day.