Fishing Bear Brook

The best-known fishing at Bear Brook State Park is Archery Pond, a fly-fishing-only trout pond that New Hampshire Fish and Game stocks with brook and rainbow trout and lists as wheelchair accessible. Across the road is a small pond just for children under 12. Spruce Pond, near the campground, holds warmwater fish, and you can also fish Bear Hill Pond and the park's other ponds. Anglers 16 and over need a New Hampshire fishing license, and the park's day-use fee, $4 for adults, applies.

Archery Pond: Fly Fishing Only

Archery Pond sits beside the archery field off Podunk Road. NH Fish and Game calls it a small pond that gets a good supply of brook trout and rainbow trout, and an ideal place to practice casting. It is one of the state's designated trout ponds and one of its fly-fishing-only waters, so spinning gear and bait stay in the car.

Designated trout ponds in New Hampshire open on the fourth Saturday of April. Closing dates, catch limits and other rules vary by pond, so check the current NH Freshwater Fishing Digest before you go.

Both NH State Parks and Fish and Game describe the pond as accessible to people who use wheelchairs, and the official trail map marks accessible parking at the archery field next to it.

The Kids' Pond

Across the road from Archery Pond, NH State Parks keeps a special pond where only children under 12 may fish. It is a good first fishing spot for young kids. In New Hampshire, children under 16 fish free, without a license.

Spruce Pond and Other Waters

NH Fish and Game points warmwater anglers to Spruce Pond, in the Deerfield part of the park near Beaver Pond Campground. It describes the pond as off the beaten path and good for a variety of warmwater species. You reach it on the Spruce Pond trail and road shown on the official trail map.

NH State Parks also notes fishing on Bear Hill Pond, by the cabins, where only non-motorized boats are allowed, and the park's video says there are plenty of other spots besides Archery Pond. The Bear Brook Trail follows a stream where the state mentions the occasional brook trout. Boat rentals at Beaver and Catamount Ponds give you a way onto the water.

Licenses and Free Fishing Days

• Anglers 16 and older need a New Hampshire fishing license. Children under 16 fish free.
• New Hampshire's free fishing days are the first Saturday in June and the third Saturday in January. No license is needed on those days.
• New Hampshire bans certain sizes of lead sinkers and jigs in all fresh water. Use non-lead tackle.
• The park's day-use fee still applies to anglers.

Near the Park

Fish and Game's Capital Region guide also lists the Suncook River at Allenstown Bridge Park, in town, for yellow perch, largemouth and smallmouth bass, bluegill and bullheads, with good shoreline access.

Good For

• Fly anglers who want stocked trout and room to cast.
• Kids catching their first fish.
• Anglers in wheelchairs, at Archery Pond.

Maybe Skip If

• You want to fish with bait or spinners for trout. Archery Pond is fly fishing only; try Spruce Pond for warmwater fish instead.
• You want to fish Bear Hill Pond from a motorboat. Only non-motorized boats are allowed there.