Lonely Lake Fishing Guide, Carroll County, New Hampshire

• Overview

  Look for Lonely Lake in Carroll County, New Hampshire. The surface lies 627 feet up. At 7 acres it is the sort of place you fish for an evening rather than a day. It is a small entry by Carroll County standards. Tamworth sits 3.9 miles from here and is the nearest stop. Madison is 5.1 miles and Conway 7.8 miles. No boundary runs near, so the county rules hold throughout.

• Where to Fish on Lonely Lake

  Depth here is unknown, so count the lead down before committing. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. Weed, then depth: that is the order to fish a water of this kind. Carroll County records list rainbow trout, brown trout and smallmouth bass among the fish reported. Some of the species recorded here are protected or tightly regulated, so check what may be targeted before you fish. Lonely Lake repays a walk before the first cast.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Typical July readings run about 68°F; by January the average is down near 18°F. The year splits cleanly: hard water, then open water. The open season starts with the thaw, near enough early April. Break-up sits around early April on average, with the water closing again about mid December. The first weeks of open water and the last are the ones to plan for. It sets the rhythm of the year at Lonely Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  No access rule appears in what we hold. There is a launch about half a mile from the bank. The water borders Frank Bolles Nature Reserve, so expect the reserve rules to apply. Largemouth respond to soft plastics tight to cover; go weedless where the growth is heavy. Look for a notice board at the entrance. Barbless rules turn up on managed water more often than not. If the gate is shut, Chocorua Lake at 1.1 miles is the nearest alternative. Treat Lonely Lake as unsettled until someone local tells you otherwise.