What is the deepest lake in New Hampshire?

Of the lakes with a published depth, Newfound Lake is the deepest at about 183 ft.

Deepest lakes in New Hampshire: 10 lakes ranked by depth

Which lakes in New Hampshire go deepest? These 10 have a published maximum depth, from Newfound Lake at about 183 ft down.

Deepest first

#	Lake	Deepest	Size
1	Newfound Lake	about 183 ft	4,450 acres
2	Silver Lake (Madison)	about 164 ft	970 acres
3	First Connecticut Lake	about 163 ft	3,070 acres
4	Winnisquam Lake	about 155 ft	4,210 acres
5	Merrymeeting Lake	about 120 ft	1,230 acres
6	Lake Sunapee	about 105 ft	4,140 acres
7	Squam Lake	about 99 ft	6,790 acres
8	Nubanusit Lake	about 97 ft	720 acres
9	Lake Francis	about 82 ft	1,930 acres
10	Lake Wentworth	about 80 ft	3,100 acres

1. Newfound Lake

Newfound Lake covers 4,450 acres. You will find it next to Bridgewater. The usual New Hampshire mix applies: smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, yellow perch and bluegill. It goes down to about 183 ft. It is a clear lake, so long casts and a quiet approach pay off.

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

2. Silver Lake (Madison)

Silver Lake (Madison) is a natural lake of some 970 acres. You will find it about 1.4 miles northeast of Madison. It holds trout, lake trout, smallmouth bass and catfish. It goes down to about 164 ft. Its bed shows three point drop-offs and two sheltered coves worth a first look. 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

3. First Connecticut Lake

First Connecticut Lake covers 3,070 acres. The lake is about 17 miles southwest of Colebrook. The usual New Hampshire mix applies: largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, yellow perch and trout. At about 163 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.

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

4. Winnisquam Lake

Winnisquam Lake is a natural lake of 4,210 acres. It lies next to Laconia. Trout, lake trout, smallmouth bass and largemouth bass are the draw. At about 155 ft deep, it stays cooler below the surface well into summer. Its bed shows three point drop-offs and two sheltered coves worth a first look. Lake Winnisquam is part of the Winnipesaukee River chain of lakes and offers both warmwater bass and coldwater trout fishing.

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

5. Merrymeeting Lake

At 1,230 acres of water, Merrymeeting Lake is small enough to learn in a few trips. You will find it near New Durham. It holds trout, lake trout, smallmouth bass and catfish. At about 120 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. 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

6. Lake Sunapee

At 4,140 acres, Lake Sunapee is a good-sized lake. You will find it next to Newbury. Like most lakes its size in New Hampshire, it should hold smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, yellow perch and bluegill. At about 105 ft deep, it stays cooler below the surface well into summer. Lake Sunapee is one of New Hampshire's largest lakes, with Mount Sunapee rising along its shore.

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

7. Squam Lake

Squam Lake spreads over 6,790 acres of water. The lake is right by Holderness. Like most lakes its size in New Hampshire, it should hold smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, yellow perch and bluegill. At about 99 ft deep, it stays cooler below the surface well into summer. The lake bed gives you three point drop-offs and two sheltered coves to work. 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

8. Nubanusit Lake

Nubanusit Lake is a natural lake of 720 acres of water. It lies near Harrisville. It holds trout, lake trout, smallmouth bass and yellow perch. The deepest water is around 97 ft. On the 3-D map the bed has three point drop-offs and two sheltered coves: good places to start. 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

9. Lake Francis

Lake Francis covers 1,930 acres of water. You will find it about 12 miles southwest of Colebrook. It is the Connecticut River behind Murphy Dam. The usual New Hampshire mix applies: largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, yellow perch and trout. At about 82 ft deep, it stays cooler below the surface well into summer. The lake bed gives you three point drop-offs and two sheltered coves to work. Lake Francis, created by Murphy Dam on the Connecticut River, is the centerpiece of Lake Francis State Park in Pittsburg.

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

10. Lake Wentworth

At 3,100 acres, Lake Wentworth is a good-sized lake. You will find it about 1.2 miles west of Wolfeboro. The usual New Hampshire mix applies: largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, yellow perch and trout. It goes down to about 80 ft. Its bed shows three point drop-offs and an upper arm worth a first look. Lake Wentworth connects to Lake Winnipesaukee via the short Smith River channel.

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

The clearest of them

Newfound Lake is known for clear water. On a clear lake fish see a long way: lighter line, natural colours and longer casts make the difference.

Fishing deep water

In summer a deep lake splits into a warm top layer and a cold bottom; fish hold near the line between them, often 20 to 40 ft down. A depth finder, a slow troll or a jig dropped straight down finds them.