Fishing at Swains Lake, Strafford County, New Hampshire

• Overview

  Look for Swains Lake in Strafford County, New Hampshire. Height above sea level is 279 feet. It measures some 341 acres, and wind has room to build across it. With 5.9 miles or so of shoreline, boat anglers cover ground the bank cannot. Size puts it in the front rank of our Strafford County list. Some 2.2 miles away sits Barrington, the nearest settlement. The big place round here is Manchester, 25 miles distant. The county edge is within a short distance of the bank.

• Where to Fish on Swains Lake

  We hold no depth figure for this one. Held water runs deepest at the wall and shallows back to the inflow. Levels move with the draw rather than the rain on water like this. County-wide records name rainbow trout, brown trout and largemouth bass. The county list is broader than any single water. The shape of Swains Lake rewards a slow walk along one bank.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Seasonal averages run from 22°F in January up to 70°F in July. Winter closes the water for a while, and the reopening is worth catching. Hard water holds through the cold months, breaking up near early April. On average, early April opens the water and mid December closes it again. Early summer and early autumn carry the open-water season. Plan any trip to Swains Lake around it.

• Tackle & Baits

  Public sources are silent on who controls the bank. There is a ramp at Swains Lake Boat Launch, half a mile out. Parking sits half a mile out, which makes for a walk with tackle. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Read any posted signs at the access point rather than assuming. Access can change hands, so last year's answer may not hold. Mendums Pond, 1.6 miles away, makes the obvious fallback. Signs at Swains Lake carry more weight than any list.