Success Pond
Fly fishing in New Hampshire · Intermediate · Best seasons: Summer, Fall
Target Species
Brook Trout
About This Water
Coos County pond with brook trout. Remote logging road access.
Fishing Recommendations
Success Pond, located in the remote northeastern corner of New Hampshire near the Maine border (Success Township), is a legendary destination for fly anglers seeking "wild" Northern Heritage Brook Trout. It is one of the crown jewels of the North Country, offering a quintessential "deep woods" pond fishing experience.
🎣 Location Overview
Success Pond is a relatively large, high-elevation water body (approximately 290 acres) characterized by its crystal-clear water, rocky shorelines, and significant depth in certain pockets. Unlike many shallow silt-bottomed ponds, Success has a diverse bottom structure that supports a robust ecosystem.
What makes it special is the Heritage Timberlands setting. It feels remote, rugged, and untouched. Anglers love it because it offers a chance to catch native-strain Brook Trout that are often larger than those found in the high-mountain streams of the White Mountains. The scenery—dominated by views of the Mahoosuc Range—is spectacular, and the sense of solitude is palpable.
🐟 Target Species & Behavior
The primary draw here is the Eastern Brook Trout.
- Behavior: These are "wild" fish, meaning they are wary and highly attuned to their environment. During the summer, they are light-sensitive and temperature-dependent. They hold deep in the cooler thermoclines during the heat of the day and move into the shallows near the shoreline and spring seeps to feed during low-light transitions.
- Feeding Habits: They are opportunistic but can be selective during specific hatches. Their diet consists of Hexagenia (Green Drakes), caddisflies, damselflies, and a significant amount of forage fish (sculpins and dace) as they grow larger. In the fall, they become highly aggressive as they prepare for the spawn.
📅 Best Times to Fish
Summer (Late June – August)
- Window: Focus on the "Hex Hatch" (late June/early July). This is the best time for trophy fish to rise.
- Time of Day: Early morning (dawn to 9:00 AM) and late evening (dusk). Mid-day fishing in summer is often unproductive unless you are fishing very deep with sinking lines.
Fall (September – October 15th)
- Window: This is prime time. As water temperatures drop, Brookies move into the shallows and near the mouths of inlet streams.
- Time of Day: You can fish all day. The fish are more active in the afternoon as the sun warms the water slightly.
- Conditions: Overcast, "fishy" days are best. The Brook Trout will be in their vibrant spawning colors, making for incredible photography.
🪰 Recommended Flies & Techniques
Top Fly Patterns
- Dries:
- Hexagenia Limbata (Size 6-8): Essential for summer evenings.
- Elk Hair Caddis (Size 14-16): Tan or Olive.
- Royal Wulff / Humpy: Great attractor patterns for choppy water.
- Nymphs/Wets:
- Hare’s Ear Nymph (Size 12-14): A classic for a reason.
- Damselfly Nymph (Size 10-12): Fish these with a twitchy retrieve near weed beds.
- Soft Hackles: Partridge and Orange or Green.
- Streamers (The "Big Fish" Choice):
- Black or Olive Woolly Bugger (Size 6-10).
- Muddler Minnow: To mimic sculpins.
- Grey Ghost: A traditional Maine/NH pattern that works wonders here.
Techniques
- The "Slow Strip": When fishing streamers, use a very slow, erratic strip. Brookies often follow a fly for a long distance before committing.
- Deep Water Searching: In the summer, use a Type 3 or Type 5 sinking line to get nymphs or small streamers down 15–20 feet.
- Dry-Dropper: A high-visibility dry fly with a small pheasant tail nymph dropped 2 feet below is deadly along the rocky shorelines.
💡 Pro Tips & Local Knowledge
- The "Success Pond Road" Factor: The road to the pond is an active logging road. It is unpaved, often washboarded, and can be brutal on small cars. Bring a spare tire and yield to logging trucks—they have the right of way and they do not stop.
- Look for the "Cold Holes": If you have a fish finder or a weighted thermometer, look for areas where the water temperature drops suddenly. These are likely underwater springs. In July and August, Brookies will stack up in these spots like cordwood.
- Canoe/Kayak is Mandatory: While there are some spots to fish from shore near the boat launch, you need a watercraft to reach the productive reefs and the eastern shoreline where the fish hide.
- The "Drag" Trick: In the fall, if you see a Brookie following your streamer but not hitting, speed up your retrieve suddenly. This often triggers a territorial strike.
⚠️ Important Information
Access
Access is via Success Pond Road, which can be entered from Berlin, NH, or from the Maine side. It is a long, dusty drive (approx. 10-15 miles depending on your entry point).
Regulations
- NH Fish & Game: Success Pond is managed under specific North Country rules. Always check the current NH Open Water & Ice Fishing Digest.
- Status: Generally, it is open to bait, but many conservation-minded anglers stick to Fly Fishing Only or single-hook artificials to protect the wild trout population.
- Season: The season typically runs from April (ice out) through October 15th.
Special Considerations
- Black Flies/Mosquitoes: In June and July, they are legendary. Bring "Woodman’s" or high-DEET repellent and a head net.
- Cell Service: Virtually non-existent. Download your maps for offline use before leaving Berlin.
- Leave No Trace: This is private timberland made available to the public. Keep it pristine so access remains open.
Bug Hatches & Matching Flies
| Hatch | Type | Peak months | Time of day | Hook sizes | Matching flies |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Midges Chironomidae | midge | May, June, September | All Day | #18-24 | Zebra Midge #18-22, Griffith's Gnat #20-24, Chironocone #18-20 |
| Hendrickson Ephemerella subvaria | mayfly | May | Afternoon | #12-14 | Red Quill #12-14, Hendrickson Nymph #12-14, Snowshoe Emerger #14 |
| Grannom Caddis Brachycentrus | caddis | May | Morning/Evening | #14-16 | Elk Hair Caddis (Olive) #14-16, Deep Sparkle Pupa #14-16, LaFontaine's Emergent Pupa #14-16 |
| Eastern Green Drake Ephemera guttulata | mayfly | June | Evening | #8-12 | Green Drake Paradox #10-12, Coffin Fly #8-10, Drake Nymph #10-12 |
| Hex Hexagenia limbata | mayfly | June, July | Dusk/Night | #6-10 | Hexagenia Dry #6-8, Hexagenia Wiggle Nymph #6-10, Spinners #6-8 |
| Light Cahill Stenacron interpunctatum | mayfly | June, July, August | Evening | #12-16 | Light Cahill #12-16, Gold Ribbed Hare's Ear #14-16 |
| Spotted Sedge Hydropsyche | caddis | July, August | Evening | #14-18 | Caddis Variant #14-18, Iris Caddis #16-18 |
| Terrestrials Formicidae / Coleoptera | terrestrial | July, August, September | Mid-day | #12-18 | Black Foam Ant #14-18, Crowe Beetle #12-16, Chernobyl Ant #10-14 |