Little Squam Lake Fishing near Holderness, New Hampshire

• Overview

  Little Squam Lake falls in Grafton County, part of New Hampshire. The setting is rolling bush. Surface area runs to roughly 454 acres, so plan for one area rather than the whole. Some 4.7 miles of bank gives room to move when the wind turns. On our Grafton County list it sits near the top for size. The closest town, Holderness, is 1.1 miles away. Ashland is 2.2 miles and Plymouth 4.9 miles. Local rules may differ a few miles either side of here.

• Where to Fish on Little Squam Lake

  No depth figure appears in our records, so the bank has to tell you. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. Where the bottom changes texture, fish gather; find that line. Records held for Grafton County cover rainbow trout, brook trout, smallmouth bass, brown trout and largemouth bass. The county figures include rivers and lakes alike. Treat Little Squam Lake as a water to read rather than to cover.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Expect July to average close to 67°F, with January the cold end at about 17°F. Cold winters and warm summers give a wide working range. The lid arrives early and lasts until roughly early April. Going by climate averages, expect open water from about early April until roughly early December. Spring is short and heavy here; autumn is longer and steadier. That is the shape of the year on Little Squam Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing we hold confirms whether access is permitted. This is a natural basin, not a dammed one. Public data records a boat ramp half a mile out. A car park lies half a mile away, so the walk in is short. You can camp about half a mile away, going by the mapping. Parking space is the usual limit rather than the bank itself. Keep proof of licence with you rather than in the car. The nearest alternative is Grist Mill Pond, 2.2 miles out. Nothing on Little Squam Lake should be assumed from this page alone.