Pontook Reservoir, New Hampshire: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  Pontook Reservoir lies in Coos County, in New Hampshire. The surface lies 1,155 feet up. Roughly 203 acres: a morning covers one end, an afternoon the other. The shoreline runs about 8.8 miles, so it pays to pick a stretch and stay with it. On our Coos County list it sits near the top for size. For supplies, Milan is 4.8 miles out. Then Berlin, 12 miles, and Groveton, 14 miles. This one is safely inside the county line.

• Where to Fish on Pontook Reservoir

  Our records carry no depth, so judge it from the bank. The old creek line under the surface is the feature worth finding. The arms fish better than the open middle whenever the water is up. Reported across Coos County: rainbow trout, brown trout and rainbow smelt. Some of the species recorded here are protected or tightly regulated, so check what may be targeted before you fish. At Pontook Reservoir the first feature you find is worth twenty minutes.

• Seasonal Patterns

  July is the warm end of the year here, averaging about 65°F, while January sits near 13°F. Hard water is a season in its own right here. Firm cover through the cold months, then open water from mid April. The water is typically free of ice between mid April and early December. Early summer and early autumn carry the open-water season. That is the shape of the year on Pontook Reservoir.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether you may fish here is not something records settle. A slipway is marked about half a mile from here. The car has to stay half a mile away, which shapes how much tackle you bring. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. A phone call first saves an afternoon. A polite question at the farm gate opens more banks than anything else. Failing this one, try Cedar Pond, 3.3 miles away. Nothing on Pontook Reservoir should be assumed from this page alone.