Winkley Pond Fishing near Barrington, New Hampshire

• Overview

  Winkley Pond is one of the Strafford County listings for New Hampshire. The bank gives way to rolling bush. It covers about 11 acres, so this is small water you can walk round in under an hour. It is one of the smaller waters we list in Strafford County. Some 3.4 miles away sits Barrington, the nearest settlement. Manchester is the closest city, 27 miles away. Rules can differ a short way off, since the county line is near.

• Where to Fish on Winkley Pond

  Depth here is unknown, so count the lead down before committing. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. Records held for Strafford County cover rainbow trout, brown trout, largemouth bass, rainbow smelt and smallmouth bass. Records at this level tell you what is in the area. Work Winkley Pond in sections rather than trying to cover it.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The warm month here averages 70°F; the cold one sits at 22°F. Winter shuts things down for a spell, then spring reopens them fast. Hard water holds through the cold months, breaking up near late March. Break-up near late March, freeze-up near mid December: that is the shape of an average year. Look to early summer and the first cool weeks of autumn. Keep it in mind when planning a trip to Winkley Pond.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing we hold confirms whether access is permitted. You can park half a mile away and walk in from there. A nature reserve borders this water, which usually brings restrictions. Largemouth respond to soft plastics tight to cover; go weedless where the growth is heavy. Read any posted signs at the access point rather than assuming. Rules for boats are stricter than rules for the bank in many places. The nearest alternative is Bellamy Reservoir, 2.1 miles out. What applies at Winkley Pond may have changed since it was mapped.