Fishing at Tucker Pond, Merrimack County, New Hampshire

• Overview

  Set in Merrimack County, New Hampshire, this is Tucker Pond. Elevation runs to 679 feet. It runs to roughly 55 acres — big enough to hold fish away from the bank, small enough to learn. The full circuit measures close to 1.1 miles on foot. The closest town, Webster, is 4.3 miles away. The nearest city of size is Manchester, 29 miles away. It lies deep inside the county rather than near an edge.

• Where to Fish on Tucker Pond

  Our records hold no depth for this water. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. This is a lake, so the margins and the first drop matter most. Survey and observation records for Merrimack County include rainbow trout, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, brown trout and rainbow smelt. What holds for the county may not hold for this water. Tucker Pond gives up its fish to patience rather than distance.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The range across the year is 19°F to 68°F. Four clear seasons, with a proper winter at one end. Expect a solid lid for months and a thaw around early April. Averages place the thaw at early April and the freeze at mid December. Just after the ice goes and just before it returns, the fishing lifts. Time your trip to Tucker Pond by conditions rather than dates.

• Tackle & Baits

  The rules here are undocumented as far as public sources go. No dam controls it, and the level follows the season. There is no mapped parking or launch close by, which usually means walking in. Bass water: a Texas-rigged worm near cover, a spinnerbait when you need to cover ground. State or provincial rules still apply whatever the bank status. A polite question at the farm gate opens more banks than anything else. Failing this one, try Duck Pond, 1.2 miles away. Check the current arrangement for Tucker Pond.