New Hampshire offers anglers a diverse array of fishing opportunities across its picturesque landscapes. From pristine mountain streams to expansive lakes and coastal waters, the Granite State provides year-round options for both freshwater and saltwater enthusiasts. Anglers can target a variety of species including trout, bass, salmon, and striped bass in New Hampshire’s abundant waterways.

The state’s fishing seasons vary by species and location, with many rivers and streams open from January to October for trout fishing. Lakes and ponds typically allow fishing from late April through fall, while some waters remain open year-round. New Hampshire’s Fish and Game Department manages these resources, implementing regulations to ensure sustainable fishing practices.

Popular fishing destinations include Lake Winnipesaukee, the largest lake in the state, known for its excellent bass and salmon fishing. The Connecticut River offers opportunities for both warm and coldwater species, while the seacoast region provides access to saltwater fishing. Whether ice fishing in winter or fly fishing in summer, New Hampshire’s diverse aquatic habitats cater to anglers of all skill levels and preferences.

Overview of Fishing in New Hampshire

New Hampshire offers abundant fishing opportunities across its diverse waterways. The state boasts nearly 1,000 lakes and ponds, along with 19,000 miles of rivers and streams.

Anglers can target a variety of fish species in New Hampshire’s waters. Popular catches include:

• Trout (Brook, Rainbow, Brown)
• Bass (Largemouth, Smallmouth)
• Salmon (Atlantic, Landlocked)
• Perch (Yellow, White)
• Pickerel
• Lake Trout

The New Hampshire Fish and Game Department manages fishing activities statewide. They enforce regulations, issue licenses, and conduct fish stocking programs to maintain healthy populations.

Fishing seasons vary by species and location. Ice fishing is popular from December to April on frozen lakes like Winnipesaukee and Crystal Lake.

The state publishes an annual New Hampshire Fishing Digest outlining current regulations, license requirements, and fishing tips. Anglers must obtain proper licenses before fishing in state waters.

New Hampshire’s fish hatcheries play a crucial role in supporting the state’s fisheries. They raise and stock various species to enhance fishing opportunities across the state.

From mountain streams to coastal waters, New Hampshire provides year-round fishing experiences for both residents and visitors. The state’s diverse aquatic habitats support a rich variety of fish species, making it an attractive destination for anglers.

Freshwater Fishing Locations

New Hampshire offers diverse freshwater fishing opportunities across its lakes, ponds, rivers, and streams. Anglers can find excellent spots for various species in different habitats throughout the state.

Lakes and Ponds

Lake Winnipesaukee, New Hampshire’s largest lake, provides prime fishing for salmon, lake trout, and smallmouth bass. The 44,000-acre lake has numerous coves and islands to explore.

Squam Lake, known for its clear waters, offers great fishing for lake trout, smallmouth bass, and yellow perch. The lake’s rocky shorelines and deep holes make it an ideal habitat for these species.

Pawtuckaway Lake in Nottingham is a popular spot for largemouth bass, chain pickerel, and panfish. The lake’s numerous coves and submerged timber create excellent fish habitats.

Lake Winnisquam, connected to Lake Winnipesaukee, is known for its lake trout and rainbow smelt fishing. The lake also supports healthy populations of smallmouth bass and yellow perch.

Rivers and Streams

The Connecticut River, forming the border between New Hampshire and Vermont, offers diverse fishing opportunities. Anglers can target walleye, northern pike, and smallmouth bass along its length.

The Merrimack River is a prime spot for striped bass fishing in its lower reaches. Further upstream, anglers can find smallmouth bass, northern pike, and walleye.

The Contoocook River is known for its trout fishing, particularly in its upper reaches. Brown and rainbow trout are common catches in this scenic river.

The Pemigewasset River, part of the Merrimack watershed, offers excellent fly fishing for trout. Its clear waters and varied currents create ideal conditions for wild and stocked trout.

Trout Ponds

New Hampshire maintains numerous trout ponds across the state. These waters are regularly stocked with brook, rainbow, and brown trout.

Echo Lake in Franconia Notch State Park is a picturesque trout pond surrounded by mountains. It’s stocked with brook and rainbow trout throughout the fishing season.

Robins Pond in Pillsbury State Park offers remote trout fishing. The pond is stocked with brook trout and provides a peaceful angling experience.

Wild Trout Streams

The Androscoggin River in northern New Hampshire is known for its wild brook trout population. Fly fishing is popular in its upper reaches, where anglers can find native trout in pristine settings.

The Swift River, flowing through the White Mountain National Forest, harbors wild brook trout. Its clear, cold waters and boulder-strewn pools provide excellent habitat for these fish.

Nash Stream, a tributary of the Upper Ammonoosuc River, is another top wild trout stream. The area is part of a large-scale habitat restoration project, benefiting the native brook trout population.

Saltwater Fishing Locations

New Hampshire offers diverse saltwater fishing opportunities along its coastline and in its estuaries. Anglers can target popular species like striped bass, bluefish, and mackerel in various scenic locations.

Coastal Waters

The Atlantic Ocean provides excellent fishing prospects along New Hampshire’s 18-mile coastline. Hampton Beach is a prime spot for surf casting, with striped bass and bluefish as common catches. Rye Harbor offers both shore and boat access for anglers seeking flounder and mackerel.

The rocky shoreline near Odiorne Point State Park in Rye presents opportunities for catching striped bass and bluefish. Seabrook Beach, at the southern end of the coast, is another popular location for surf fishing.

Boat launches at Portsmouth Harbor and Little Harbor allow anglers to access deeper waters for targeting larger fish.

Estuaries and Bays

Great Bay, New Hampshire’s largest estuary, is a rich fishing ground. The bay and its tributaries offer excellent opportunities for catching striped bass, bluefish, and flounder.

Access points around Great Bay include Adams Point in Durham and the boat launch at Hilton Park in Dover. The Oyster and Lamprey Rivers, which feed into Great Bay, are productive areas for striped bass fishing.

The Piscataqua River, forming part of the border with Maine, is another top spot for saltwater fishing. Anglers can fish from shore at Prescott Park in Portsmouth or launch boats from various ramps along the river.

Key Fish Species and Techniques

New Hampshire’s diverse waterways offer anglers opportunities to target a wide variety of fish species using different techniques. From coldwater streams to coastal waters, the state provides habitats for numerous sought-after game fish.

Coldwater Species

Rainbow Trout, Brook Trout, and Brown Trout thrive in New Hampshire’s cool, clear streams and lakes. Anglers often use fly fishing techniques to catch these species, employing dry flies, nymphs, and streamers. Spin fishing with light tackle and small lures is also effective.

Lake Trout inhabit deep, cold lakes like Lake Winnipesaukee. Trolling with downriggers or lead core line is a popular method for targeting these fish. Jigging in deep water can also be productive.

Landlocked Salmon provide exciting fishing opportunities in larger lakes. Trolling with spoons, stickbaits, or live bait rigs is a common technique. During spring and fall, casting near shore or river mouths can yield good results.

Warmwater Species

Largemouth Bass and Smallmouth Bass are abundant in many New Hampshire lakes and rivers. Anglers target these species using a variety of lures including plastic worms, jigs, crankbaits, and topwater baits. Fishing around structure like weed beds, fallen trees, and rocky shorelines is often productive.

Chain Pickerel and Northern Pike inhabit weedy areas of lakes and slow-moving rivers. Casting or trolling with large spoons, spinners, or live bait is effective for these predatory fish.

White Perch, Yellow Perch, and Black Crappie provide excellent panfishing opportunities. Light tackle with small jigs, live bait, or small lures works well for these species. Ice fishing is popular for targeting these fish during winter months.

Marine Species

Striped Bass fishing is popular along New Hampshire’s short coastline and in coastal rivers. Anglers use a variety of techniques including casting lures, fly fishing, and live bait fishing. The spring herring run attracts large numbers of stripers.

Bluefish offer exciting action for coastal anglers. Casting or trolling with metal lures or topwater plugs can be highly effective when schools of bluefish are feeding near the surface.

Flounder fishing is productive in coastal bays and estuaries. Bottom fishing with bait is the most common technique. Cod and Haddock are popular targets for deep sea fishing trips, typically using bait or jigs in offshore waters.

Fishing by Region

New Hampshire’s diverse regions offer unique fishing experiences. From coastal waters to mountain streams, each area provides distinct opportunities for anglers to pursue their favorite catches.

Southeast New Hampshire

The Southeast region boasts excellent saltwater fishing along the Atlantic coast. Hampton Beach and Rye Harbor are popular spots for striped bass and bluefish. Inland, Pawtuckaway Lake offers largemouth bass, chain pickerel, and yellow perch.

Great Bay, a tidal estuary, provides opportunities for catching stripers and flounder. Anglers can access the bay from several locations, including Adams Point in Durham.

Freshwater enthusiasts can try their luck at Bow Lake in Strafford, known for its healthy populations of smallmouth bass and rainbow trout.

Southwest New Hampshire

Southwest New Hampshire features numerous lakes and ponds ideal for fishing. Spofford Lake in Chesterfield is renowned for its lake trout and rainbow smelt. Ice fishing is popular here during winter months.

The Connecticut River forms the western border of this region, offering diverse fishing opportunities. Anglers can target walleye, northern pike, and smallmouth bass.

Smaller water bodies like Granite Lake in Nelson and Sunset Lake in Greenfield provide peaceful settings for catching bass, perch, and sunfish.

White Mountain Region

The White Mountain region is a paradise for trout fishing enthusiasts. Swift River in Conway offers excellent fly fishing for brook and rainbow trout. The Saco River provides opportunities for both trout and smallmouth bass fishing.

Lake Winnipesaukee, New Hampshire’s largest lake, is home to lake trout, salmon, and smallmouth bass. Squam Lake, famous for its pristine waters, offers great fishing for bass and trout.

Mountain streams like the Wild Ammonoosuc River provide challenging but rewarding fishing for native brook trout.

Merrimack Valley Region

The Merrimack Valley region is centered around the Merrimack River, which offers diverse fishing opportunities. Anglers can target striped bass in the lower sections and smallmouth bass further upstream.

Lake Massabesic in Manchester is a popular spot for largemouth bass, yellow perch, and chain pickerel. The lake also supports a healthy population of stocked trout.

Smaller water bodies like Horseshoe Pond in Concord provide urban fishing opportunities for bass and panfish.

Monadnock Region

The Monadnock Region is known for its scenic beauty and quality fishing. Dublin Lake, at the base of Mount Monadnock, is stocked with brook and rainbow trout. It’s a fly-fishing only water body, attracting anglers seeking a peaceful experience.

Otter Brook Lake in Keene offers good fishing for largemouth bass, chain pickerel, and yellow perch. The lake’s varied structure provides excellent habitat for these species.

Rivers like the Ashuelot and Contoocook offer opportunities for both cold and warm water species, including trout, smallmouth bass, and walleye.

Great North Woods

The Great North Woods region is a remote wilderness area offering pristine fishing experiences. The Connecticut Lakes, a chain of four lakes, provide excellent opportunities for brook trout, lake trout, and landlocked salmon fishing.

The Androscoggin River is known for its trophy brook trout and landlocked salmon. Fly fishing is particularly popular in the upper sections of the river.

Remote ponds like East Inlet Pond and Scott Bog offer adventurous anglers the chance to catch native brook trout in a wilderness setting. Access to these waters often requires hiking or the use of canoes.

Special Fishing Techniques

New Hampshire offers unique fishing experiences through specialized techniques. Ice fishing and fly fishing stand out as popular methods that anglers employ to catch various species in the state’s diverse waterways.

Ice Fishing

Ice fishing is a beloved winter activity in New Hampshire. Anglers flock to frozen lakes like Winnipesaukee and Crystal Lake from December to April. They drill holes in the ice and use specialized equipment to catch fish beneath the frozen surface.

Popular targets include lake trout, white perch, and cusk. Cusk are particularly interesting, as they’re nocturnal and prefer the deeper, darker parts of lakes. Tip-ups are common devices used for ice fishing, allowing anglers to monitor multiple lines simultaneously.

Safety is paramount when ice fishing. Anglers must check ice thickness before venturing out and carry essential safety gear. Many ice fishers use portable shelters to protect themselves from the elements during long fishing sessions.

Fly Fishing

Fly fishing is a graceful and challenging technique practiced in New Hampshire’s rivers and streams. The White Mountain National Forest offers numerous opportunities for fly anglers to test their skills.

Beginners can benefit from guided trips or lessons offered by experienced local guides. These experts can teach proper casting techniques and help anglers understand the intricacies of fly selection.

Popular fly fishing targets in New Hampshire include brook trout, rainbow trout, and brown trout. The Isinglass River is a notable location, offering both warm and cold water fishing opportunities.

Fly fishers must pay close attention to local regulations and seasons. Catch and release practices are common to help preserve fish populations in sensitive areas.

Conservation and Wildlife Management

The New Hampshire Fish and Game Department plays a crucial role in conserving and managing the state’s fish and wildlife resources. This agency oversees 124 Wildlife Management Areas (WMAs) encompassing nearly 60,000 acres across New Hampshire.

These WMAs serve multiple purposes. Their primary goal is to conserve and improve habitat for wildlife. Additionally, they provide opportunities for public recreation, including hunting, fishing, and wildlife watching.

The department sets fishing regulations to maintain healthy fish populations. These rules cover catch limits, size restrictions, and seasonal closures for various species. Anglers must familiarize themselves with current regulations before fishing in New Hampshire waters.

Conservation efforts extend beyond WMAs. The Fish and Game Department conducts research and monitoring programs to assess wildlife populations. This includes annual duck banding work, which helps track waterfowl migration patterns and population trends.

The department also develops and implements strategic plans for wildlife management. These plans guide conservation efforts, habitat improvement projects, and sustainable use of natural resources. By balancing ecological needs with recreational opportunities, New Hampshire aims to preserve its diverse fish and wildlife for future generations.

Planning Your Fishing Trip

New Hampshire offers diverse fishing opportunities year-round. Proper planning ensures a successful and enjoyable experience on the state’s waters. Familiarize yourself with seasons, obtain necessary licenses, consider hiring a guide, and pack appropriate gear.

Fishing Seasons

New Hampshire’s fishing seasons vary by species and location. Rivers and streams are generally open year-round for catch-and-release fishing. The regular season for most waters runs from April 1 to October 15.

Ice fishing is popular from January to March on many lakes and ponds. Some bodies of water have special regulations or season dates.

Spring is prime for trout fishing, while summer offers excellent opportunities for bass and panfish. Fall brings exciting salmon and trout action as fish prepare for spawning.

Always check current regulations before your trip, as dates and rules may change annually.

Fishing Licenses and Permits

All anglers 16 and older must have a valid New Hampshire fishing license. Options include:

• Resident fishing license
• Non-resident fishing license
• 1-day, 3-day, or 7-day fishing licenses for visitors
• Combination hunting and fishing licenses

Licenses can be purchased online, at local tackle shops, or at New Hampshire Fish and Game offices. Some areas may require additional permits or stamps.

Youth under 16 can fish without a license but must follow all other fishing regulations.

Hiring a Fishing Guide

A local fishing guide can greatly enhance your New Hampshire fishing experience. Guides offer:

• Expert knowledge of local waters and fish behavior
• Access to prime fishing spots
• Instruction on fishing techniques
• Proper equipment and boat access

Many guides specialize in fly fishing, while others focus on specific species or water types. Book well in advance, especially for popular seasons or locations.

Guides can be found through the New Hampshire Guides Association or local outfitters. Prices vary based on trip duration and services provided.

Fishing Gear and Equipment

Pack appropriate gear for your New Hampshire fishing adventure:

• Rod and reel suited to your target species
• Fishing line and a variety of lures or flies
• Waders and waterproof boots for stream fishing
• Life jacket for boat fishing
• Sunscreen, hat, and polarized sunglasses
• Insect repellent
• First aid kit

For ice fishing, bring:

• Ice auger
• Ice fishing rod and tip-ups
• Warm, waterproof clothing
• Ice cleats

Many outfitters offer gear rentals if you’re trying a new fishing style or traveling light. Always check regulations for any gear restrictions in specific waters.