Where to Fish

Places to Catch Fish in New Hampshire

Suggested Fishing Locations By Species

PLEASE NOTE: This is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all available fishing locations. It is a list of suggested locations compiled by fisheries biologists who live and work in the region.

Suggested Fishing Locations By Species

American Eel    
Winnipesaukee, Silver (Lochmere), Winnisquam, Opechee lakes; Merrimack, Winnipesaukee rivers.

Black Crappie    
Balch, Milton-3/Northeast, Spectacle (Meredith), Pine River ponds; Belleau, Great East, Pemigewasset, Wickwas, Hermit, Winnipesaukee lakes.

Bluegill    
Numerous warmwater ponds; Winnipesaukee, Wickwas lakes; Lees Mills Pond; Connecticut, Merrimack rivers.

Brook Trout    
Most headwater/mountain brooks (wild fish); designated trout ponds; Pleasant (Elkins), White (Tamworth), Highland (Andover) lakes; Tewksbury, Saltmarsh, Perch, Spectacle ponds; Sky, Upper Hall ponds (fly only); Pemigewasset (Lincoln, Campton, Thornton), East Branch Pemigewasset rivers.

Brown Bullhead    
Nearly all lakes, ponds, and medium to large rivers.

Brown Trout    
Crystal (Eaton), Mascoma, Webster, Mirror (Woodstock), Tarleton lakes; Big and Middle Pea Porridge, Lower Beech ponds; Mascoma, Connecticut, Pemigewasset (southern) rivers.

Carp    
Mascoma Lake; Merrimack, Connecticut rivers.

Chain Pickerel    
Nearly all lakes, ponds, and medium to large rivers; Merrimack, Connecticut rivers and oxbows.

Cusk (Burbot)    
Winnipesaukee, Winnisquam, Newfound lakes.

Fallfish    
Winnipesaukee, Opechee, Silver, Winnisquam, Chocorua lakes; numerous medium to large rivers.

Lake Trout    
Newfound, Winnisquam, Winnipesaukee, Sunapee, Silver (Madison), Merrymeeting, Tarleton, Great East lakes; Big Dan Hole Pond.

Lake Whitefish     
Winnipesaukee, Silver (Madison), Big Squam lakes.

Landlocked Salmon    
Big and Little Squam, Winnipesaukee, Winnisquam, Conway, Merrymeeting, Newfound, Ossipee, Pleasant (Elkins), Sunapee lakes; Big Dan Hole Pond.   

Largemouth Bass    
Numerous warmwater lakes, ponds, and medium to large rivers; Winnipesaukee, Big and Little Squam, Waukewan, Wickwas, Pemigewasset, Crystal (Gilmanton), Hermit, Conway lakes; Milton-3/Northeast, Balch ponds; Merrimack, Connecticut rivers and oxbows.

Northern Pike    
Connecticut River and oxbows; Upper and Lower Baker ponds.

Pumpkinseed    
Nearly all lakes, ponds, and medium to large rivers.

Rainbow Trout    
Designated trout ponds; Winnipesaukee, Newfound, Winnisquam, Big and Little Squam, Crystal (Enfield), Mascoma, Waukewan, Winona, Lovell, Stinson, Tarleton, Little Sunapee, Highland, Wentworth lakes; Tewksbury, Saltmarsh, Lower Beech ponds; Newfound (fly only), Winnipesaukee, Pemigewasset, Connecticut rivers.

Rock Bass    
Mascoma, Sunapee, Crystal (Enfield), Pleasant (Elkins), Canaan Street lakes; Merrimack, Connecticut rivers.

Round Whitefish    
Newfound Lake

Smallmouth Bass    
Winnipesaukee, Big and Little Squam, Winnisquam, Newfound, Wentworth, Little Sunapee, Pleasant (Elkins), Merrymeeting, Lovell, Manning, Webster, Ossipee, Waukewan, Opechee, Sunset, Crystal (Gilmanton), Conway, Great East lakes; Goose, Grafton, Rust ponds; Pemigewasset, Winnipesaukee, Merrimack rivers.

Walleye    
Connecticut River

White Perch    
Winnipesaukee, Winnisquam, Big Squam, Opechee, Waukewan, Wentworth, Mascoma, Silver (Lochmere), Ossipee lakes; Goose, Upper and Lower Baker ponds. 

Yellow Perch    
Nearly all lakes, ponds, and medium to large rivers.

American Shad    
Salmon Falls River.

Black Crappie
Bear Hill Pond & Spruce Pond (Allenstown), Merrimack River (Franklin to Hooksett), Big Island Pond (Derry), Massabesic Lake (Auburn), Powwow River (East Kingston), Great Pond, Greenwood Pond & Country Pond (Kingston), Scobie Pond (Londonderry), Pawtuckaway Lake & Round Pond (Nottingham), Arlington Mill Reservoir (Salem), Angle Pond (Sandown), Canobie Lake (Windham), Ayers Pond (Barrington), Bellamy Res. (Madbury), Willand Pond (Somersworth), Turtletown Pond (Concord), Brindle Pond (Barnstead), Wheelwright Pond (Lee), Winkley Pond (Barrington), Contoocook River, and Hoit Road Marsh (Concord), Harvey Lake (Northwood).

Bluegill    
Big Island Pond (Rockingham), Massabesic Lake (Auburn), Lamprey River (Deerfield, Northwood), Merrimack River, Hood Pond & Beaver Lake (Derry), Scobie Pond & Kendal Pond (Londonderry), Arlington Mill Reservoir (Salem), Cobbetts Pond (Windham), Brindle Pond & Lily Pond (Barnstead), Deer Meadow Pond (Chichester), Horseshoe Pond (Concord), Kimball Pond (Dunbarton), Swain Pond (Barrington), Bellamy Reservoir (Madbury), Contoocook River (Broad Cove), and Crooked Pond (Loudon), Heads Pond (Hooksett), and other small warmwater ponds.

Brook Trout
Suncook River (Barnstead to Pembroke), Baboosic Brook (Merrimack), Archery Pond, Catamount Pond, and Bear Brook (Allenstown), Sanborn Brook (Chichester), Little Suncook River (Epsom), Clough Pond (Loudon), Hothole Pond (Loudon,Concord), Soucook River (Loudon,Pembroke), Big Island Pond (Derry), Massabesic Lake (Auburn), Tower Hill Pond (Candia), Exeter River (Sandown to Exeter), Exeter Res. (Exeter), Lamprey River  (Deerfield to Durham), Lucas Pond (Northwood), Stonehouse Pond (Barrington), Isinglass River (Barrington, Strafford), Beaver Brook (Derry to Pelham), Winnicut River (N. Hampton to Greenland), Beaver Lake (Derry), Piscataquog River (Goffstown), Canobie Lake (Salem), Isinglass River (Barrington,Strafford), Big River (Barnstead, Strafford), and Barbadoes Pond (Madbury).

Brown Trout 
Suncook River (Barnstead to Pembroke), Beaver Brook (Derry to Pelham), Big Island Pond (Derry), Exeter River (Sandown to Exeter), Lucas Pond (Northwood), Massabesic Lake (Auburn), Bow Lake (Strafford), Lamprey River (Deerfield to Durham), Cocheco River (Dover), Little Suncook River (Epsom), Merrimack River (Concord), Soucook River (Epsom to Pembroke), and Pleasant Lake (Deerfield), Tower Hill Pond (Candia), and Berry Brook (Rye).

Hornpout
Hoit Marsh (Concord), Turtletown Pond (Concord), Turkey Pond (Concord), Morril Pond (Canterbury), Harvey Lake (Northwood), Bow Lake (Northwood), Pawtuckaway Lake (Nottingham), Kimball Pond (Dunbarton), Beaver Lake (Derry), Powwow Pond (Kingston),  Onway Lake (Raymond), Swains Lake (Barrington), Merrymeeting Marsh (New Durham), Ayers Lake (Barrington), Country Pond (Kingston), Upper & Lower Suncook Lakes (Barnstead), and Arlington Mill Reservoir (Salem).

Carp
Merrimack River (south near Garvin's Falls/Bow Dam) and Nashua River.

Chain Pickerel
Arlington Mills Res. (Salem), Suncook Lake (Barnstead), Lily Pond (Barnstead, Pittsfield), Blake Pond (Pittsfield), Sanborn Pond (Loudon), Merrimack River, Heads (Lakins) Pond (Hooksett), Turkey Pond & Turtletown Pond (Concord), Gorham Pond & Kimball Pond (Dunbarton), Deer Meadow Pond (Chichester), Stumpfield Marsh (Hopkinton), Hood Pond (Derry), Jenness Pond (Northwood), Freeses Pond & Shingle Pond (Deerfield), World End Pond (Salem), Kendall Pond (Londonderry), Cobbetts Pond (Windham), Lily Pond (Somersworth), Mendums Pond & Ayers Pond (Barrington), Bellamy Reservoir (Madbury), Pawtuckaway Lake (Nottingham), and Taylor River (Hampton).

Fallfish
Numerous medium to larger sized rivers.

Largemouth Bass
Brindle Pond, Lougee Pond & Suncook Lake (Barnstead), Lily Pond (Barnstead, Pittsfield), Chestnut Pond & Odiorne Pond (Epsom), Crooked Pond (Loudon), Deer Meadow Pond (Chichester), Gorham Pond & Kimball Pond (Dunbarton), Heads (Lakins) Pond (Hooksett), Horseshoe Pond & Turkey Pond (Big)  & Turtletown Pond (Concord), Merrimack River, Morrill Pond (Canterbury), Wild Goose Pond (Pittsfield), Angle Pond (Sandown), Arlington Mill Reservoir (Salem), Beaver Lake (Derry), Big Island Pond (Atkinson, Derry, Hampstead), Canobie Lake & Cobbetts Pond (Windham), Harvey Lake & Jenness Pond (Northwood), Massabesic Lake (Auburn), Pawtuckaway Lake (Nottingham), Country Pond, Powwow Pond & Great Pond (Kingtson), Ayers Pond & Mendums Pond & Swain Pond (Barrington), Wheelwright Pond (Lee), Willand Pond (Somersworth), Bellamy Reservoir (Madbury), and Turee Pond (Bow).

Pumpkinseed
Most lakes, ponds and medium to large rivers.
Rainbow Trout    Suncook River/Lake (Barnstead to Epsom), Clough Pond (Loudon), Hothole Pond (Loudon/Concord), Soucook River (Loudon, Pembroke), Exeter River (Sandown to Exeter), Exeter Res. (Exeter), Winnicut River (N. Hampton to Greenland), Lucas Pond (Northwood), Massabesic Lake (Auburn), Big Island Pond (Derry), Beaver Lake (Derry), Lamprey River (Deerfield to Durham), Canobie Lake (Salem), Isinglass River (Barrington,Strafford), Baboosic Brook (Merrimack), Archery Pond (Allenstown), Isinglass River (Barrington, Strafford), Beaver Brook (Pelham), Bow Lake (Strafford), Beaver Brook (Derry to Pelham), Pleasant Lake (Deerfield), and Willand Pond (Somersworth), Cocheco River (Dover), Piscassic River (Newfields), Barbadoes Pond (Madbury), Tower Hill Pond (Candia).

Rock Bass
Nashua River and Contoocook River.

Smallmouth Bass
Suncook Lake (Barnstead), Merrimack River, Rocky Pond (Loudon, Canterbury), Massabesic Lake (Auburn), Big Island Pond & Beaver Lake (Derry), Jenness Pond (Northwood), North River Pond (Northwood, Barrington, Nottingham), Pleasant Lake (Deerfield), Onway Lake (Raymond), Phillips Pond & Angle Pond (Sandown), Sunset Lake (Hampstead), Northwood Lake (Northwood), Pawtuckaway Lake (Nottingham), Arlington Mill Reservoir (Salem), Canobie Lake & Cobbetts Pond (Windham), Country Pond (Kingston, Newton), Greenwood Pond (Kingston), Scobie Pond (Londonderry), Bow Lake (Strafford), Mendums Pond & Ayers Pond (Barrington), Wheelwright Pond (Lee), and Cocheco River (Dover).

Walleye
Contoocook River and Merrimack River.

White Perch
Suncook Lake & Brindle Pond (Barnstead), Gorham Pond (Dunbarton), Eel Pond (Rye), Massabesic Lake (Auburn), Big Island Pond (Derry), Northwood Lake & Harvey Lake (Northwood), Pleasant Lake (Deerfield), Pawtuckaway Lake (Nottingham), Arlington Mill Reservoir (Salem), Bow Lake (Strafford), Wheelwright Pond (Lee), Ayers Pond (Barrington), Willand Pond (Somersworth), Contoocook River, and Merrimack River.

Yellow Perch
Nearly all lakes, ponds and medium to large rivers.

American Shad 
Connecticut River below Vernon (Vernon, VT) and Bellows Falls (Walpole, NH) Dams.

Black Crappie    
Scott Pond (Fitzwilliam), Connecticut River, Contoocook Lake (Jaffrey), Meetinghouse Pond (Marlborough), Monomonac Lake (Rindge), Highland Lake (Stoddard), Surry Mtn. Pond (Surry), Pisgah Reservoir (Winchester), Powdermill Pond (Greenfield/Bennington), Stumpfield Marsh (Hopkinton), Clement Pond (Hopkinton), Halfmoon Pond (Washington)

Bluegill    
Connecticut River, Child’s Bog (Harrisville), Cheshire Pond (Jaffrey), Meetinghouse Pond (Marlborough), Grassy Pond (Rindge), Center Pond (Stoddard), Swanzey Lake & Wilson Pond (Swanzey),  Halfmoon Pond (Hancock), MacDowell Lake (Peterborough), Waterloom Pond (New Ipswich) and other small warm water ponds.

Brook Trout
Chapman Pond (Sullivan), Dublin Lake (Dublin), Spoonwood Lake (Nelson), Roaring Brook (Richmond), Purgatory Brook (Milford), Shaker Brook (Marlborough), Spaulding Brook (Brookline), County Farm Brook (Wilton), Moose Brook (Hancock), Town Line Brook (Peterborough), Whittemore Lake (Bennington), Beards Brook, (Hillsborough), Baboosic Brook (Merrimack), Coldspring Pond (Stoddard), Swanzey Lake (Swanzey), Sand Pond (Marlow), Blood Brook (Wilton), Partridge Brook (Westmoreland), French Pond (Henniker), Nissitissit River (Brookline), Willard Pond (Antrim), Souhegan River (Greenville/Amherst), Stone Pond (Marlborough), Firehouse Pond (Bow), Stoney Brook (Lyneboro/Wilton), Mont Williams Pond (Weare), Smith Pond (Washington)

Brown Trout
Cold River (Alstead/Walpole), Contoocook River (Hillsborough/Jaffrey/Henniker), Forest Lake (Winchester), Gilmore Pond (Jaffrey), Laurel Lake (Fitzwilliam), Newell Pond (Alstead), Warren Lake (Alstead), South Branch Ashuelot River (Swanzey/Troy), Ashuelot River (Gilsum/Marlow/Surry/Winchester), Blackwater River (Webster), Cold River (Alstead/Walpole), Souhegan River (Greenville/Amherst), Beards Brook (Hillsborough), Piscataqoug River (Goffstown), South Branch Piscataqoug River (New Boston), Island Pond (Washington).

Hornpout
Connecticut River, Howe Reservoir (Dublin), Grassy Pond (Rindge), Child’s Bog (Harrisville), Meetinghouse Pond (Marlborough), Island Pond (Stoddard), McDowell Lake (Peterborough), Mud Pond (Dublin), Baboosic Lake (Amherst), and most other lakes, ponds and rivers 

Carp
Connecticut River, Horseshoe Pond (Merrimack)

Chain Pickerel
Connecticut River, Fullam Pond (Chesterfield), Grassy Pond (Rindge), Warren Lake (Alstead), Forest Lake (Winchester), Millen Pond (Washington), May Pond & Lake Ashuelot (Washington), Crescent Lake (Acworth), Rockwood Pond (Fitzwilliam) and most other warm water lakes and ponds

Fallfish
Connecticut River, Ashuelot River (Swanzey/Winchester)

Lake Trout
Nubanusit Lake & Spoonwood Pond (Hancock/Nelson), Silver Lake (Harrisville), Granite Lake (Stoddard) 

Largemouth Bass
Deering Reservoir & Dudley Pond (Deering), Connecticut River, Center Pond (Nelson), Stumpfield Marsh (Hopkinton), Monomonac Lake (Rindge), Highland Lake (Stoddard), Harrisville Pond & Skatutakee Lake (Harrisville), Spofford Lake (Chesterfield), Warren Lake (Alstead), Pleasant Lake & Shattuck Pond (Francestown), Scott Pond (Fitzwilliam), Crescent Lake (Acworth) and most warm water ponds.

Northern Pike
Connecticut River and backwaters (Woodsville to Mass. border), Spofford Lake (Chesterfield), Wilson Pond (Swanzey) and Skatutakee Lake (Harrisville). 

Pumpkinseed
Most lakes, ponds and large rivers

Rainbow Trout
Pleasant Lake (Deerfield), Cold River (Alstead/ Acworth), Gustin Pond (Marlow), Center Pond & Nubanusit Lake (Nelson), Laurel Lake (Fitzwilliam), Warren Lake (Alstead), Forest Lake (Winchester), Granite Lake (Nelson/Stoddard), Silver Lake (Harrisville), Spofford Lake (Chesterfield), Mont Williams Pond (Weare), North Branch River (Antrim), Willard Pond (Antrim), Beards Brook (Hillsborough), Piscataquog River (Goffstown), So. Branch Piscataquog River (Goffstown/New Boston), West Branch Piscataquog River (Weare), Whittemore Lake (Bennington), Contoocook River (Hillsborough/Bennington/Henniker), Gilmore Pond (Jaffrey), Blackwater River (Webster), French Pond (Henniker), Warner River (Warner), Swanzey Lake (Swanzey), Mont Williams Pond (Weare), Emerald Pond (Hillsborough), Souhegan River (Greenville/Amherst), Ashuelot River (Gilsum/Marlow/Winchester)

Rock Bass
Island Pond (Stoddard), Spofford Lake (Chesterfield), Connecticut River 

Smallmouth Bass
Connecticut River, Gustin Pond (Marlow), Spoonwood Pond & Nubanusit Lake (Nelson), Laurel Lake (Fitzwilliam), Warren Lake (Alstead), Granite Lake & Highland Lake (Stoddard), Spofford Lake (Chesterfield), Pisgah Reservoir (Winchester), Contoocook River (Hillsborough/Bennington/Peterborough), Emerald Pond (Hillsborough), Deering Res (Deering), Gregg Lake (Antrim), Pleasant Lake (Francestown), Dublin Lake (Dublin)

Walleye
Connecticut River (Woodsville south to Mass. border).

White Perch
Connecticut River, Laurel Lake (Fitzwilliam), Spofford Lake (Chesterfield), Highland Lake & Island Pond (Stoddard), Contoocook Lake (Jaffrey/Rindge), Franklin Pierce Lake (Hillsborough), Pleasant Lake (Francestown)

Yellow Perch
Nearly all lakes, ponds and medium to large rivers.

American Eel
Connecticut River (Woodsville south)

Black Crappie
Connecticut River (Lancaster south)

Brook Trout
All brooks and major river systems, Androscoggin River, upper Connecticut River, Nash Stream, Clear Stream, Indian Stream, Perry Stream, Mohawk River, Simms Stream, Wild River, designated trout ponds:  Little Diamond Pond, Joe Coffin Pond, Back Lake, Profile Lake, Echo Lake, South Pond, Little Bog Pond, Trio Ponds, Munn Pond, Sessions Pond, Big Dummer Pond

Brown Trout
Ammonoosuc River (Lisbon/Littleton), upper and lower Connecticut River, Androscoggin River, Mohawk River, Simms Stream, Lake Francis, Christine Lake, Little Dummer Pond, Cedar Pond, Moore Reservoir, Streeter Pond

Brown Bullhead
Nearly all lakes, ponds, and medium to large rivers, Androscoggin River, Pontook Reservoir (Androscoggin River)

Chain Pickerel
Nearly all lakes, ponds, and medium to large rivers, Connecticut River, Lake Umbagog, Big Cherry Pond, Perch Pond, Ogontz Lake, Partridge Lake, Dodge Pond, Moore Reservoir

Cusk (Burbot)
1st and 2nd Connecticut Lake, South Pond, Upper Ammonoosuc River

Fallfish
Androscoggin River, Magalloway River

Lake Trout    
Big Diamond Pond, Connecticut Lakes, Big Greenough Pond, South Pond

Lake Whitefish     
Upper Connecticut River
Landlocked Salmon    1st and 2nd Connecticut Lakes, Francis Lake, upper Connecticut River

Landlocked Salmon

Lake Francis, 1st and 2nd Connecticut Lakes

Largemouth Bass    
Burns Lake, Mirror Lake, Cedar Pond, Martin Meadow Pond, Forest Lake, Moore Reservoir, Partridge Lake, Nay Pond, Jericho Pond, Dodge Pond

Northern Pike    
Connecticut River and backwaters, Dodge Pond, Flag Pond, Jericho Pond, Ogontz Lake, Partridge Lake, Moore Reservoir, Perch Pond

Pumpkinseed
Nearly all lakes, ponds, and medium to large rivers.

Rainbow Trout
Akers Pond, 3rd Connecticut Lake, Cedar Pond, Martin Meadow Pond, Pearl Lake, Streeter Pond, Mirror Lake, Androscoggin River, Ammonoosuc River, Connecticut River, Moose River, Peabody River, Wild River

Rock Bass
Connecticut River, Moore Reservoir, Nay Pond, Partridge Lake

Smallmouth Bass
Forest Lake, Lake Umbagog, Moore Reservoir, Back Lake, Cedar Pond, Pontook Reservoir, Mirror Lake, Cedar Pond, Martin Meadow Pond, Forest Lake, Moore Reservoir, Partridge Lake, Nay Pond, Jericho Pond, Androscoggin River, Magalloway River, Connecticut River

Yellow Perch
Nearly all lakes, ponds, and medium to large rivers, Connecticut River, Androscoggin River

Walleye
Connecticut River (Woodsville south to Mass. border)

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