Pout Pond Fishing near Belmont, New Hampshire

• Overview

  Out in Belknap County, New Hampshire, sits Pout Pond. The land about it is rolling bush. At roughly 13 acres, the whole thing is within casting reach of a single walk. It is a small entry by Belknap County standards. Belmont is the closest town at 0.8 miles. Then Gilmanton, 3.9 miles, and Tilton, 5 miles. Rules can differ a short way off, since the county line is near.

• Where to Fish on Pout Pond

  We hold no survey for this water; read the slope of the shoreline instead. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Read the surface for the wind lane, then fish the edge of it. Across Belknap County, recorded fish include rainbow trout, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, brown trout and yellow perch. County data is a starting point rather than a guarantee. Take Pout Pond a stretch at a time.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Seasonal averages run from 18°F in January up to 68°F in July. Expect a real winter and a strong spring after it. The lid usually goes in early April, which opens the strongest weeks of the year. The open-water window runs from around early April to about mid December in an average year. The open run goes from the thaw to the freeze, and April through October covers most of it. Plan around that when you fish Pout Pond.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether the bank is open is not something our records settle. The closest car park is half a mile away, so pack accordingly. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. Where the road in crosses private land, ask first. Access can change hands, so last year's answer may not hold. Failing this one, try Clough Pond, 1.7 miles away. Where Pout Pond is concerned, a local answer beats a written one.