New Hampshire · Fishing

Fishing in New Hampshire

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Fishing · 200 spots

Featured spots

riverWild Trout

Fly fishing

Connecticut River - Pittsburg Stretch

Pittsburg, New Hampshire

brook trout, rainbow trout

Stocked

Lake fishing

Basin Campground

New Hampshire

Lake fishing

Cold River

New Hampshire

River fishing

Covered Bridge

Albany, New Hampshire

River fishing

Dolly Copp Picnic Pavilion

Martins Location, New Hampshire

All spots · 200 of 526 spots

Lake fishing

Al's Pond

Sandwich, New Hampshire

river

Fly fishing

Ammonoosuc River - Lisbon Access

Lisbon, New Hampshire

rainbow trout, brown trout

Stocked

river

Fly fishing

Androscoggin River - Errol Access

Errol, New Hampshire

brown trout, rainbow trout

Stocked

Lake fishing

Archers Pond

Ossipee, New Hampshire

Lake fishing

Ayers Pond

Hudson, New Hampshire

Lake fishing

Baboosic Lake

Merrimack, New Hampshire

Lake fishing

Back Pond

Stewartstown, New Hampshire

Lake fishing

Badger Pond

Lyndeborough, New Hampshire

Lake fishing

Bagley Pond

Warner, New Hampshire

Lake fishing

Bagley Pond

New Hampshire

Lake fishing

Bagley Pond

Warner, New Hampshire

Lake fishing

Baker Pond

Coos Junction, New Hampshire

Lake fishing

Bancroft Reservoir

Rindge, New Hampshire

Lake fishing

Bancroft Resevoir

Rindge, New Hampshire

Lake fishing

Baptist Pond

Springfield, New Hampshire

Lake fishing

Baptist Pond

New Hampshire

Lake fishing

Barden Pond

Washington, New Hampshire

Lake fishing

Barrett Pond

Washington, New Hampshire

Lake fishing

Basin Brook Reservoir

Chatham, New Hampshire

Lake fishing

Batchelder Pond

Wilton, New Hampshire

Lake fishing

Bear Hill Pond

Allenstown, New Hampshire

Lake fishing

Bear Pond

Washington, New Hampshire

Lake fishing

Beard Pond

New Hampshire

Lake fishing

Beaver Pond

New Hampshire

New Hampshire packs a surprising amount of fishable water into a small state. The 378 listings on Roamze cover everything from the sprawling 72-square-mile Lake Winnipesaukee near Moultonborough to quiet backwater spots like Hothole Pond near Loudon and Mud Pond near Deering that rarely see pressure on a weekday. Lake fishing dominates the options here, with ponds and reservoirs spread across every region of the state — Pawtuckaway Lake near Nottingham in the southeast, Bog Brook Reservoir near Grantham in the upper valley, Back Pond near Stewartstown up in Coos County near the Canadian border. River fishing is also in the mix, with listings like the stretch near Sugarloaf 2 Campground in Twin Mountain giving you access to moving water in the White Mountains corridor. The variety means you can target warmwater species like largemouth bass and yellow perch on lowland ponds in summer, then shift to coldwater fishing on deeper lakes and streams as seasons change. New Hampshire Fish and Game manages an active stocking program, so smaller waters like Cummings Meadow Reservoir near Jaffrey and Whittemore Lake near Bennington can fish well even when they look unassuming on a map. A valid New Hampshire fishing license is required for anyone 16 and older.

Frequently asked questions

When is the best time of year to fish in New Hampshire?

Late April through June is strong across most water types, right after ice-out when fish are active in the shallows and New Hampshire Fish and Game has completed its spring stocking runs. Fall, from September into October, is a second productive window, particularly on lakes like Lake Winnipesaukee and Pawtuckaway Lake where cooling water pushes fish into more predictable patterns. Summer midday heat slows surface activity on warmwater ponds, so early morning and the last two hours before dark are your best bets from July through August.

Do I need a fishing license, and where do I get one?

Yes, anyone 16 or older needs a valid New Hampshire fishing license. You can buy one online through the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department website, at most sporting goods stores, or at many town clerk offices. Non-resident licenses are available in one-day, three-day, and full-season options, which is worth knowing if you're only making a short trip to somewhere like Spectacle Pond near Marlborough or Pleasant Lake near Deerfield.

What species can I expect to catch in New Hampshire lakes and ponds?

Largemouth and smallmouth bass, yellow perch, chain pickerel, and rainbow trout are the most commonly targeted species across the lake and pond listings here. Larger waters like Lake Winnipesaukee hold lake trout and landlocked salmon in addition to bass and perch. Smaller impoundments like Greenville Reservoir near Temple and Bancroft Reservoir near Rindge tend to be stocked with trout and are good bets for perch and pickerel as well.

What gear setup makes sense for fishing New Hampshire ponds and lakes?

A medium-light spinning rod in the 6- to 7-foot range handles most situations on New Hampshire ponds, whether you're throwing small jigs for perch, working soft plastics for bass, or drifting a worm under a bobber for stocked trout. If you're fishing larger, deeper water like Lake Winnipesaukee and targeting lake trout or salmon, you'll want heavier tackle and likely a boat with the ability to troll or jig at depth. For river fishing near spots like the Twin Mountain area, a lighter rod and basic drift-fishing or spinner setup covers most scenarios.

Are most of these fishing spots accessible without a boat?

Many of the smaller ponds and reservoirs in the listings, including spots like Horseshoe Pond near Canterbury, Nubble Pond near Farmington, and Mitchell Pond near Windham, have public access points where bank fishing is practical. That said, a kayak or canoe opens up a lot more water and lets you reach structure that bank anglers can't reach. On larger lakes like Pawtuckaway and Winnipesaukee, a motorized boat is a real advantage, though both have public boat launches.