Rainbow Lake, New Hampshire: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  Rockingham County in New Hampshire is where Rainbow Lake sits. The sea is 24 miles distant. Small at around 12 acres: two anglers spread out cover most of it. Start from Derry Village, 2.3 miles down the road. Then Derry, 2.9 miles, and Chester, 4.3 miles. Water in the same corner: Lower Shields Pond 0.4 miles, Scobie Pond lies 1.1 miles on, Beaver Lake 2 miles, Harantis Lake lies 2.2 miles on and Hoods Pond 2.6 miles. Being near a boundary, it pays to know which side you are fishing.

• Where to Fish on Rainbow Lake

  Depth is not on record here, so the bank has to tell you. Read the surface for the wind lane, then fish the edge of it. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. County-wide records name rainbow trout, largemouth bass, brown trout and bluegill. The county figures include rivers and lakes alike. On Rainbow Lake that means starting tight and working out.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Long-run averages give July about 69°F and January about 22°F. Cold locks it up for a good stretch each year. Firm cover through the cold months, then open water from early April. Ice clears near early April and comes back about mid December in a typical year. The weeks after the thaw and the ones before the freeze are the strongest. Rainbow Lake runs to that rhythm year in and year out.

• Tackle & Baits

  We hold no note on access for this one. You will be walking about 0.9 miles from the nearest car park. Bass water: a Texas-rigged worm near cover, a spinnerbait when you need to cover ground. Where access is informal, keep it that way by behaving. Check whether bait restrictions apply before you buy any. The nearest alternative is Lower Shields Pond, 0.4 miles out. None of that is settled for Rainbow Lake in what we hold.