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New Hampshire · Fishing
Northfield sits in central New Hampshire's Lakes Region fringe, and while it won't compete with the Winnipesaukee crowds, it offers a quieter kind of lake fishing that regulars tend to keep to themselves.
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Northfield sits in central New Hampshire's Lakes Region fringe, and while it won't compete with the Winnipesaukee crowds, it offers a quieter kind of lake fishing that regulars tend to keep to themselves. The two fishable waters in town are Sondogardy Pond and Knowles Pond, both small enough to cover in a half-day but productive enough to justify the drive. Sondogardy Pond is a compact lake that fishes well for warmwater species typical of central NH ponds, while Knowles Pond draws repeat visits from locals who know its layout. Neither water requires a boat — shore access is workable at both — but a kayak or canoe opens up the quieter coves where fish tend to hold. New Hampshire Fish and Game manages stocking schedules across the state's ponds, so checking their online stocking report before your trip is worth the two minutes it takes. Northfield is not a destination fishing town, but that's part of the appeal: no crowds, no launch fees, and a pace that suits anglers who'd rather spend time on the water than looking for parking.
Both are typical central New Hampshire warmwater ponds, so largemouth bass, yellow perch, and pickerel are the most likely catches. New Hampshire Fish and Game does stock select ponds in the region with trout in spring, so check the NH Fish and Game stocking database before your trip to see whether either water received a recent stocking.
Yes. Anyone 16 or older needs a valid New Hampshire freshwater fishing license. Licenses are available online through NH Fish and Game, at most local bait shops, and at many sporting goods retailers. Non-resident licenses are available in multi-day and full-season options depending on how long you plan to stay.
Knowles Pond
~2 min drive
A worthwhile stop near NH.
Winnipesaukee River - Franklin
~8 min drive
Easy
Knowles Pond
~3 min drive
A worthwhile stop near NH.
Merrimack River - Concord Access
~25 min drive
Easy
Sondogardy Pond
~5 min drive
A worthwhile stop near NH.
Contoocook River - Hopkinton
~25 min drive
Easy
Silver Lake
~6 min drive
A worthwhile stop near NH.
Winnisquam Lake
~8 min drive
A worthwhile stop near NH.
Crane Neck Pond
~9 min drive
A worthwhile stop near NH.
Shaker Ponds
~9 min drive
A worthwhile stop near NH.
Spender Pond
~10 min drive
A worthwhile stop near NH.
Kimball Pond
~10 min drive
A worthwhile stop near NH.
Early morning and the hour before sunset are consistently the most productive windows on small NH ponds, especially for bass and pickerel that move into shallower water to feed. Midday in summer tends to push fish deeper and into shaded structure, so if you're fishing mid-afternoon, focus on any submerged cover or drop-offs you can find.
Shore fishing is viable at both Sondogardy Pond and Knowles Pond, and neither water is large enough to make a boat strictly necessary. That said, a kayak or canoe lets you reach coves and weed edges that shore anglers can't easily access, which makes a real difference for bass fishing in warmer months.
A medium-light spinning rod in the 6- to 7-foot range handles most situations on small NH ponds. For bass and pickerel, soft plastics, small spinnerbaits, and surface lures in low-light hours all work. If trout have been recently stocked, a simple slip-bobber rig with a worm or small inline spinner near the surface is a reliable starting point.
