Fishing Stonehouse Pond in Strafford County, New Hampshire

• Overview

  Strafford County in New Hampshire is where Stonehouse Pond sits. The coast is 19 miles away. At roughly 13 acres, the whole thing is within casting reach of a single walk. The closest town, Northwood, is 2.8 miles distant. After that come Barrington at 3 miles and Nottingham at 5.9 miles. A border sits close enough to be relevant to the paperwork.

• Where to Fish on Stonehouse Pond

  No published figure covers depth, so learn it as you fish. Points where the flooded channel swings in are the reliable ones. The old creek line under the surface is the feature worth finding. Reported across Strafford County: rainbow trout, brown trout, largemouth bass and rainbow smelt. What holds for the county may not hold for this water. Take Stonehouse Pond a stretch at a time.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Climate normals give 69°F for July and 21°F for January. Winter puts a hard lid on this one. Count on hard cover from midwinter, and open water from early April. In an average year the thaw lands around early April and the freeze near mid December. The shoulder weeks of the open season are the productive ones. It sets the rhythm of the year at Stonehouse Pond.

• Tackle & Baits

  The paperwork position is blank for this one. There is a slipway on the shore, 170 yards from the water we list. Parking is close: a car park sits half a mile from the bank. The water borders Stonehouse Pond Wildlife Management Area, so expect the reserve rules to apply. Rules differ from one water to the next round here. A polite question at the farm gate opens more banks than anything else. Round Ponds at 1.3 miles is the sensible second choice. Nothing on Stonehouse Pond should be assumed from this page alone.