Best fishing lakes in New Hampshire: 12 lakes and what bites

The lakes at a glance

1. Lake Winnipesaukee

At 44,600 acres of water, Lake Winnipesaukee is a big lake. The fish here are smallmouth bass, lake trout, yellow perch and largemouth bass. On the 3-D map the bed has three point drop-offs and two sheltered coves: good places to start.

Lake Winnipesaukee today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

2. Winnisquam Lake

At some 4,210 acres, Winnisquam Lake is a good-sized lake. It lies right by Laconia. It holds trout, lake trout, smallmouth bass and largemouth bass. It goes down to about 155 ft. Its bed shows three point drop-offs and two sheltered coves worth a first look.

Winnisquam Lake today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

3. Ossipee Lake

Ossipee Lake covers some 3,260 acres. It lies near Freedom. It holds largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, lake trout and trout. It goes down to about 73 ft. The lake bed gives you three point drop-offs and an upper arm to work. Ossipee Lake supports both warmwater bass fishing and a coldwater lake trout fishery.

Ossipee Lake today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

4. Bow Lake

At 1,150 acres, Bow Lake is small enough to learn in a few trips. You will find it about 21 miles southwest of Manchester. The fish here are trout, smallmouth bass, largemouth bass and catfish. The deepest water is around 65 ft. The lake bed gives you three point drop-offs and two sheltered coves to work. Bow Lake in Strafford is a popular trout and bass fishing lake near the Seacoast region.

Bow Lake today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

5. Nubanusit Lake

At 720 acres, Nubanusit Lake is small enough to learn in a few trips. It lies about 2 miles southwest of Harrisville. It holds trout, lake trout, smallmouth bass and yellow perch. The deepest water is around 97 ft. Nubanusit Lake has an unusually undeveloped shoreline, much of it protected by conservation land trusts.

Nubanusit Lake today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

6. Merrymeeting Lake

Merrymeeting Lake covers some 1,230 acres. The lake is about 2.6 miles south of New Durham. Expect trout, lake trout, smallmouth bass and catfish. It goes down to about 120 ft. Its bed shows three point drop-offs and two sheltered coves worth a first look. Merrymeeting Lake is a deep, cold-water lake managed for trout and lake trout.

Merrymeeting Lake today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

7. Conway Lake

At some 1,320 acres, Conway Lake is small enough to learn in a few trips. You will find it about 2.4 miles northwest of Conway. It holds catfish, largemouth bass, trout and smallmouth bass. It goes down to about 45 ft. Its bed shows three point drop-offs and two sheltered coves worth a first look.

Conway Lake today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

8. Silver Lake (Madison)

Silver Lake (Madison) spreads over 970 acres of water. It lies near Madison. Trout, lake trout, smallmouth bass and catfish are the draw. At about 164 ft deep, it stays cooler below the surface well into summer. On the 3-D map the bed has three point drop-offs and two sheltered coves: good places to start. Silver Lake in Madison is unusually deep for its size, reaching about 164 feet.

Silver Lake (Madison) today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

9. Umbagog Lake

Umbagog Lake covers 7,850 acres of water. You will find it near Milan. Like most lakes its size in New Hampshire, it should hold smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, yellow perch and bluegill. The deepest water is around 45 ft. On the 3-D map the bed has three point drop-offs and two sheltered coves: good places to start. Umbagog Lake straddles the New Hampshire–Maine border and is the centerpiece of a national wildlife refuge known for nesting bald eagles and loons.

Umbagog Lake today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

10. Squam Lake

Squam Lake is a natural lake of 6,790 acres. You will find it next to Holderness. The usual New Hampshire mix applies: smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, yellow perch and bluegill. At about 99 ft deep, it stays cooler below the surface well into summer. On the 3-D map the bed has three point drop-offs and two sheltered coves: good places to start. Squam Lake, the filming location for the movie On Golden Pond, is one of New Hampshire's largest lakes.

Squam Lake today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

11. Mascoma Lake

Mascoma Lake is a natural lake of 1,160 acres. It lies right by Enfield. It holds trout. The deepest water is around 68 ft. The lake bed gives you three point drop-offs and two sheltered coves to work. Mascoma Lake in Enfield is stocked annually with trout by NH Fish and Game.

Mascoma Lake today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

12. Newfound Lake

Newfound Lake covers 4,450 acres. It lies right by Bridgewater. The usual New Hampshire mix applies: smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, yellow perch and bluegill. The deepest water is around 183 ft. The lake bed gives you three point drop-offs and a sheltered cove to work. Newfound Lake is one of the deepest and clearest lakes in New Hampshire.

Newfound Lake today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

Which lake for which fish

Lakes listed for a fish are the ones on this page where it is on record or typical for the lake.

• Bass: Lake Winnipesaukee, Winnisquam Lake, Ossipee Lake and Bow Lake
• Walleye: Winnisquam Lake
• Trout: Lake Winnipesaukee, Winnisquam Lake, Ossipee Lake and Bow Lake
• Crappie: Winnisquam Lake and Ossipee Lake
• Pike and muskie: Winnisquam Lake
• Catfish: Winnisquam Lake, Ossipee Lake, Bow Lake and Nubanusit Lake

When to go

• Spring: walleye are usually at their best. Prime range. Low light is best, on reefs and weed edges.
• Summer: walleye are usually fair. Warm surface. They go deep in the day; try evenings.
• Fall: walleye are usually at their best. Prime range. Low light is best, on reefs and weed edges.
• Winter: walleye are usually fair. Cold. Slow jigs on deep structure.

Before you go

Buy a New Hampshire fishing licence before the trip and read the state's rules for each lake: seasons, size and bag limits change from water to water. Each lake page on LakeScope shows today's water temperature, the wind, the best bite times and a 3-D view of the bed, so check it the morning you go.