Orange Pond Fishing near Grafton, New Hampshire

• Overview

  The Grafton County entry here is Orange Pond, in New Hampshire. The land about it is mixed forest. About 24 acres of surface, which puts the far bank inside easy sight. Nearest place of any size is Grafton, 4.5 miles away. Beyond it, Alexandria at 8 miles and Danbury at 8.1 miles. It sits near the edge of the county, so check which rules apply.

• Where to Fish on Orange Pond

  Depth figures are not published for this one. Weed, then depth: that is the order to fish a water of this kind. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. County-wide records name rainbow trout, brook trout, smallmouth bass and brown trout. Records at this level tell you what is in the area. Orange Pond gives up more to patience than to distance.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The warmest month averages 66°F, the coldest about 17°F. Cold locks it up for a good stretch each year. The lid usually goes in mid April, which opens the strongest weeks of the year. From about mid April to around early December, expect open water on the long-run figures. Spring is short and heavy here; autumn is longer and steadier. At Orange Pond the season follows that pattern closely.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether you may fish here is not something records settle. No car park, ramp or path is recorded within easy reach of the shore. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Rules differ from one water to the next round here. Barbless rules turn up on managed water more often than not. Should this one be busy, Tewksbury Pond is 1.3 miles off. Check the position at Orange Pond before loading the car.