Fishing Pearl Lake in Grafton County, New Hampshire

• Overview

  Set in Grafton County, New Hampshire, this is Pearl Lake. This is pine and birch ground. With some 62 acres of water, there is room for a boat but no need of one. There is roughly 1.1 miles of shoreline here, which is a short walk end to end. Littleton at 8.8 miles is the nearest place to stop. Beyond it, Woodsville at 9.1 miles and Deerfield at 13 miles. There is no boundary nearby to worry about.

• Where to Fish on Pearl Lake

  There is no published depth for this one, so start shallow and work out. Inflow corners move water, and moving water gathers fish. A reservoir gives you a hard edge, a shelf, and not much else. Species logged across Grafton County include rainbow trout, brook trout, smallmouth bass, brown trout and largemouth bass. County records show what lives in the area; the local agency holds the water-by-water list. Anyone new to Pearl Lake should walk it once before setting up.

• Seasonal Patterns

  July is the warm end of the year here, averaging about 67°F, while January sits near 15°F. Winter closes the water for a while, and the reopening is worth catching. The open season starts with the thaw, near enough mid April. The water is typically free of ice between mid April and early December. Spring is short and heavy here; autumn is longer and steadier. Plan around that when you fish Pearl Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Public data does not answer the access question here. The water borders Mathews- Simpson - Page, so expect the reserve rules to apply. Bass water: a Texas-rigged worm near cover, a spinnerbait when you need to cover ground. Season dates differ by species, so read the table. Rules for boats are stricter than rules for the bank in many places. If the gate is shut, Hanno Pond at 2.1 miles is the nearest alternative. Where Pearl Lake is concerned, a local answer beats a written one.