Melendy Pond Fishing in Hillsborough County, New Hampshire

• Overview

  The Hillsborough County end of New Hampshire holds Melendy Pond. Lake country bush runs right down to the water. It covers about 18 acres, so this is small water you can walk round in under an hour. The closest town, Brookline, is 3.2 miles away. Further out sit Milford (3.7 miles) and Hollis (4.3 miles). Rules can differ a short way off, since the county line is near.

• Where to Fish on Melendy Pond

  Depth is unknown to us, and the shoreline is the better guide. Read the surface for the wind lane, then fish the edge of it. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. County-wide records name rainbow trout, largemouth bass, brown trout, smallmouth bass and bluegill. It is the county picture; the agency list is water-specific. Read Melendy Pond for ten minutes before the first cast goes out.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Expect July to average close to 70°F, with January the cold end at about 22°F. Fishing here follows the temperature more than the calendar. Count on hard cover from midwinter, and open water from early April. From about early April to around late December, expect open water on the long-run figures. Right after break-up, and again as the nights sharpen, is when to go. It sets the rhythm of the year at Melendy Pond.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing we hold confirms whether access is permitted. The nearest car park is half a mile from the water. The water borders Melendy-Morrill Woods, so expect the reserve rules to apply. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. Check whether a boat is allowed before you tow one. Some ground is open by custom rather than by right, so tread carefully. For a change of water, Rocky Pond is 2 miles distant. Nothing on Melendy Pond should be assumed from this page alone.