Fishing at Mud Pond, Merrimack County, New Hampshire

• Overview

  Out in Merrimack County, New Hampshire, sits Mud Pond. This is lake country bush ground. It covers about 12 acres, so this is small water you can walk round in under an hour. It is a small entry by Merrimack County standards. Henniker sits 2.9 miles from the bank. Beyond it, Weare at 4.9 miles and Contoocook at 5.2 miles. The boundary is near enough that local access rules are worth double-checking.

• Where to Fish on Mud Pond

  Nothing in our records gives a depth for this one. This is a lake, so the margins and the first drop matter most. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. Fish documented in Merrimack County include rainbow trout, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass and brown trout. Take it as the county picture rather than a promise for this water. On Mud Pond the obvious spot is not always the productive one.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Expect July to average close to 68°F, with January the cold end at about 20°F. Winter shuts the surface down for months. Ice-out usually falls in early April, and the weeks after it fish hardest. On the long-run averages the water opens up around early April and starts locking again about mid December. The open run goes from the thaw to the freeze, and April through October covers most of it. The season on Mud Pond follows the weather closely.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether the bank is open is not something our records settle. The slipway at River Road Boat Launch is half a mile away. You will be walking about half a mile from the nearest car park. Bass water: a Texas-rigged worm near cover, a spinnerbait when you need to cover ground. Parking is often the real limit rather than the bank itself. Some ground is open by custom rather than by right, so tread carefully. For a change of water, Keyser Pond is 1.4 miles distant. Check the position on Mud Pond before loading the car.