Mascot Pond in Coos County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Mascot Pond sits within Coos County in New Hampshire. This is rolling bush ground. Surface area runs to about 10 acres — small enough to read in one session. The town to know is Gorham, 0.9 miles out. Sherbrooke sits 78 miles out, and it is the nearest city worth the name. It sits well inside the county, so one set of rules covers it.

• Where to Fish on Mascot Pond

  There is no published depth for this one, so start shallow and work out. The productive water is a rod length or two out, not a hundred. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. Across Coos County, recorded fish include rainbow trout, brown trout and rainbow smelt. At least one recorded species is protected in parts of its range; read the local rules before targeting anything. At Mascot Pond light and wind decide more than tackle does.

• Seasonal Patterns

  July runs about 66°F on average, January about 15°F. Cold locks it up for a good stretch each year. Break-up comes around mid April, and the run that follows is short and strong. Break-up near mid April, freeze-up near early December: that is the shape of an average year. From the thaw to midsummer the fishing improves week by week. It sets the rhythm of the year at Mascot Pond.

• Tackle & Baits

  We hold no note on access for this one. You will be walking about half a mile from the nearest car park. Part of this sits inside or beside Mascot Mine Natural Area, so read the notices. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. Ask in the nearest town if you are unsure. Fishing rules and camping rules are set separately here. The nearest alternative is Page Pond, 4.3 miles out. Check the position at Mascot Pond before loading the car.