Woods Pond in Hillsborough County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Woods Pond is a Hillsborough County water, in New Hampshire. The setting is rolling bush. The closest town, Mont Vernon, is 1 mile distant. It is 13 miles to Manchester, the nearest city. In the same area: Stearns Pond at 1 mile, Joe English Pond just 2.8 miles, McGregors Pond at 3.4 miles, Bailey Pond just 3.5 miles and Jakes Pond at 3.5 miles. This one is safely inside the county line.

• Where to Fish on Woods Pond

  No depth figure has reached our records, which makes a plummet useful. Standing timber shows when the level drops, and fish sit against it. Draw-down through summer strips the margins, so follow the water out. Records held for Hillsborough County cover rainbow trout, largemouth bass, brown trout, smallmouth bass and bluegill. These are county-wide records, so not all of them will be in this water. Treat Woods Pond as a water to read rather than to cover.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Average temperature peaks around 69°F in July and bottoms out near 21°F in January. Four clear seasons, with a proper winter at one end. Ice-out usually falls in early April, and the weeks after it fish hardest. On average, early April opens the water and mid December closes it again. Reckon on open water from spring through to late autumn, with May and June the strongest. Expect Woods Pond to follow that timing.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether you may fish here is not something records settle. The nearest mapped parking is half a mile away, so the last stretch is on foot. Herlihy Swamp runs up to the bank here, which usually means extra restrictions. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Ask in the nearest town if you are unsure. Signs go up and come down, so check on the day. If the gate is shut, Stearns Pond at 1 mile is the nearest alternative. The position on Woods Pond is worth confirming on the day.