Fishing & Hunting

Columbia’s land offers a particularly great setting for hunting enthusiasts. Its vast stretches of uninhabited land in combination with its high animal population create a unique hunting experience. Some of the best and most abundant animals to hunt include partridges, wild turkeys, white tailed deer and moose.

Note: Hunting is allowed by permission only in the Bunnell Preserve.
Always abide by local fishing and hunting laws.

Columbia contains a numerous network of brooks, spring fed streams, bogs and ponds. Its largest moving body of water is the Connecticut River that forms the town’s western boarder. The bodies of water are each different providing their own special fish habitats, where some are even stocked with fish year round.

Local fish species include, Brook Trout, Brown Trout, Rainbow Trout, Smallmouth Bass, Rock Bass, Yellow Perch, Brown Bullhead, Chain Pickerel, Lake Whitefish, Northern Pike and Pumpkinseed.

Fish Pond:
A Public access project area maintained and established in part by the Brunalt Family, The US Fish and Wildlife Service, Federal Aid in Sport Fish Restoration Program and the NH Fish and Game Department. It has ample parking, a boat launch and is accessible 24 hrs day. It is stocked with Trout periodically.
Location: Rt 3 to Fish Pond Rd, 2.2 miles on your left.

Lime Pond:
This remote pond is surrounded by the Lime Pond Conservation area which is now protected from further development. The pond is stocked with Trout periodically and has no boat launch (put-in only), it is also fly fishing only.
Location: Rt 3 to Titus Hill Rd, about 6 miles to Holden Rd, 1.5 miles on the right. Contact: NHFGD Region 1, [email protected].

The Connecticut River:
The majority of Columbia’s native fish species are found in the Connecticut River, where only a smaller variety is found in the streams and ponds. The Brown Trout can often be found in abundance in Simms Stream, a Connecticut River tributary. The Connecticut is stocked periodically. Some motorized boats are allowed in the river, but Columbia has no boat launch access, though does have numerous put/drop-in locations.
Location: Rt 3 along the western Columbia town border.

Other stocked waters include the Simms Stream.

List of Bodies of Water: (limited list)
Ponds & Swamps: Wallace Pond, Cranberry Bog Pond, Fish Pond, Lime Pond & Blueberry Swamp
Streams & Rivers: Moran Brook, Harvey Brook, East & West Branch Simms Stream, Schoolhouse Brook, Sweatt Brook, Lyman Brook, Uran Brook & Boy Brook.