Fishing at Stinson Lake, Grafton County, New Hampshire

• Overview

  Stinson Lake is a Grafton County water, in New Hampshire. Country round the bank runs to rolling bush. About 342 acres, so local knowledge or a boat saves a lot of walking. Some 3.4 miles of bank gives room to move when the wind turns. It is among the larger waters listed here for Grafton County. Start from Rumney, 4.3 miles down the road. After that come Thornton at 6.4 miles and Plymouth at 9.4 miles. The nearest boundary is a fair way off.

• Where to Fish on Stinson Lake

  Depth is not on record here, so the bank has to tell you. Standing timber shows when the level drops, and fish sit against it. Built water gives depth close in, which suits a bank angler. Fish documented in Grafton County include rainbow trout, brook trout and smallmouth bass. Records at this level tell you what is in the area. Stinson Lake gives up its fish to patience rather than distance.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Climate records put July near 65°F and January near 16°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. Average temperatures cross freezing around mid April in spring and again near early December in autumn. Look to early summer and the first cool weeks of autumn. Stinson Lake runs to its own calendar within the local pattern.

• Tackle & Baits

  No public source sets out the position on this bank. A ramp is mapped within half a mile. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. Some banks are open only from a marked point. Some water is controlled locally without a sign saying so. The nearest alternative is Ellsworth Pond, 2.5 miles out. Treat Stinson Lake as unsettled until someone local tells you otherwise.