Mud Pond Fishing near Grafton, New Hampshire

• Overview

  The Grafton County end of New Hampshire holds Mud Pond. This is rolling bush country. At 4 acres it is the sort of place you fish for an evening rather than a day. It is one of the smaller waters we list in Grafton County. Grafton at 1.1 miles is the nearest place to stop. The big place round here is Manchester, 47 miles distant. The county edge is within a short distance of the bank.

• Where to Fish on Mud Pond

  No published figure covers depth, so learn it as you fish. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. Bays and points beat straight shoreline every time on water like this. Survey and observation records for Grafton County include rainbow trout, brook trout and smallmouth bass. County records show the wider picture rather than this one place. Mud Pond responds to conditions more than to tactics.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Average temperature peaks around 67°F in July and bottoms out near 17°F in January. Winter closes the water for a while, and the reopening is worth catching. The open season starts with the thaw, near enough mid April. Ice usually gives way near mid April, and forms again about early December. Right after break-up, and again as the nights sharpen, is when to go. That is the shape of the year on Mud Pond.

• Tackle & Baits

  We have no record of the rules that apply on this bank. Expect a half a mile walk in from where the car goes. Bass water: a Texas-rigged worm near cover, a spinnerbait when you need to cover ground. Gates get locked out of season on water like this. Check whether bait restrictions apply before you buy any. The nearest alternative is Whitney Pond, 1.1 miles out. Treat Mud Pond as unsettled until someone local tells you otherwise.