Fishing in Concord
New Hampshire is home to hundreds of lakes, and many of them are unknown to the average fishing enthusiast. Concord, NH, just 1 hour north of Boston, has some fantastic, secluded places to cast off! That could be on rivers, stream and lakes. In fact, New Hampshire is the perfect place for a fishing trip. But remember, you will need a Fishing License.
Here are a few ideas!
The Merrimack River runs 110-miles from the confluence of the Pemigewasset and Winnipesaukee Rivers to the Atlantic Ocean at Newburyport, MA. The Concord region has nine public access points to the Merrimack for boaters, including locations at Franklin High School, Jamie Welch Park in Boscawen and Sewall's Falls Dam in Concord.
For small craft, consider using Concord’s Kiwanis Waterfront Park, which is set right on the banks of the Merrimack River, across from Main Street—right behind the Everett Arena.
The wild and scenic corridor of the Merrimack River cuts through the landscape here, just as it did two hundred years ago. The City’s 136-acre Sewalls Falls Recreation Area offers lots of river access as well as sandy beaches. The northern end has a boat launch ramp. May, June, October and November are top months for fishing Atlantic broodstock salmon. Brook and rainbow trout are stocked in the Merrimack River annually, as well. A map and trail description can be found on the City of Concord’s hiking trails website.
The Suncook River is a 35.7-mile-long river and a tributary of the Merrimack, which flows to the Gulf of Maine. Popular fish species caught in the lovely tree-lined Suncook include rainbow trout, smallmouth bass, and brown trout.
There are fun ways to catch trout in the Springtime in Concord area ponds. Fly fishing, when paired with a little experience, and correct gear and technique, can yield great results . Trolling in a small boat can be rewarding too.
Turkey Pond and Little Turkey Pond are a connected pair of lakes controlled by a single dam at the outlet of Little Turkey Pond. The combined total surface area of the two bodies of water is 332 acres. The Turkey Ponds are a reservoir that flows into the Merrimack, with a variety of fish including bullhead, bream/bluegill, pickerel, white perch, largemouth bass and crappie. The ponds are classified as a warmwater fishery, with other observed species including largemouth bass, chain pickerel, and horned pout.
East Concord Forest Society Conservation Lands are easy to access in East Concord with a trail to the Merrimack River. This property, owned by the City of Concord, and protected by a conservation easement held by the Forest Society, was purchased with funds from the N.H. Land and Community Heritage Investment Program (LCHIP). It offers lots of frontage to the river. You can fish from the shore, or launch a small boat. Just upstream toward Sewall’s Falls you’ll find a river island, and some rapids that hold trout. Just a bit farther upstream, the N.H. Fish and Game Sewall’s Falls Wildlife Management Area offers a good fishing spot too.
