How thick does ice need to be to fish on in New Hampshire?

Public guidance: at least 4 inches of clear, solid new ice to walk on. White ice is about half as strong. Follow your state agency's advice and check the ice yourself.

What are good ice-fishing lakes in New Hampshire?

Start with Lake Winnipesaukee, Winnisquam Lake and Ossipee Lake.

Ice fishing in New Hampshire: 10 lakes and how to stay safe

Ice fishing in New Hampshire: 10 lakes with walleye, perch, pike, panfish or trout under the ice, and the safety rules that come first.

Ice first

Those figures are for clear, solid new ice. White or snow ice is about half as strong, so double them. Ice is never the same thickness across a lake: check it with a spud or auger every few steps, stay away from inlets, outlets, springs and pressure ridges, and follow your state agency's advice.

Clear new ice	What it can hold (public guidance)
Under 4 in	Stay off
4 in	Walking, ice fishing on foot
5 to 7 in	Snowmobile or ATV
8 to 12 in	Small car or light pickup
12 to 15 in	Medium truck

1. Lake Winnipesaukee

Lake Winnipesaukee spreads over 44,600 acres of water. Lake trout, yellow perch, smallmouth bass and largemouth bass are the draw. Its bed shows three point drop-offs and two sheltered coves worth a first look. Under the ice, lake trout: cool surface. They come shallower; try shore points.

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

2. Winnisquam Lake

At 4,210 acres of water, Winnisquam Lake is a good-sized lake. The lake is next to Laconia. Expect trout, lake trout, yellow perch and northern pike. It goes down to about 155 ft. Lake Winnisquam is part of the Winnipesaukee River chain of lakes and offers both warmwater bass and coldwater trout fishing. Under the ice, trout: cold. Slow and near the surface on sunny days.

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

3. Ossipee Lake

Ossipee Lake covers 3,260 acres. The lake is about 4.2 miles east of Freedom. Expect lake trout, trout, crappie and yellow perch. The deepest water is around 73 ft. Ossipee Lake supports both warmwater bass fishing and a coldwater lake trout fishery. Under the ice, lake trout: cool surface. They come shallower; try shore points.

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

4. Conway Lake

Conway Lake spreads over 1,320 acres of water. You will find it near Conway. It holds trout, catfish, largemouth bass and smallmouth bass. It goes down to about 45 ft. The lake bed gives you three point drop-offs and two sheltered coves to work. Conway Lake in the Mount Washington Valley is known for its smallmouth bass and landlocked salmon fishing. Under the ice, trout: cold. Slow and near the surface on sunny days.

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

5. Merrymeeting Lake

Merrymeeting Lake spreads over some 1,230 acres. The lake is near New Durham. The fish here are trout, lake trout, smallmouth bass and catfish. The deepest water is around 120 ft. Merrymeeting Lake is a deep, cold-water lake managed for trout and lake trout. Under the ice, trout: cold. Slow and near the surface on sunny days.

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

6. Mascoma Lake

Mascoma Lake is a natural lake of some 1,160 acres. It lies right by Enfield. The fish here are trout. It goes down to about 68 ft. Its bed shows three point drop-offs and two sheltered coves worth a first look. Mascoma Lake in Enfield is stocked annually with trout by NH Fish and Game. Under the ice, trout: cold. Slow and near the surface on sunny days.

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

7. Bow Lake

Bow Lake covers 1,150 acres. The lake is about 21 miles southwest of Manchester. It holds trout, yellow perch, smallmouth bass and largemouth bass. The deepest water is around 65 ft. The lake bed gives you three point drop-offs and two sheltered coves to work. Under the ice, trout: cold. Slow and near the surface on sunny days.

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

8. Silver Lake (Madison)

Silver Lake (Madison) covers some 970 acres. It lies near Madison. It holds trout, lake trout, smallmouth bass and catfish. The deepest water is around 164 ft. Silver Lake in Madison is unusually deep for its size, reaching about 164 feet. Under the ice, trout: cold. Slow and near the surface on sunny days.

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

9. Nubanusit Lake

Nubanusit Lake spreads over some 720 acres. The lake is about 2 miles southwest of Harrisville. It holds trout, lake trout, yellow perch and smallmouth bass. The deepest water is around 97 ft. The lake bed gives you three point drop-offs and two sheltered coves to work. Nubanusit Lake has an unusually undeveloped shoreline, much of it protected by conservation land trusts. Under the ice, trout: cold. Slow and near the surface on sunny days.

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

10. Umbagog Lake

Umbagog Lake spreads over some 7,850 acres. It lies near Milan. Like most lakes its size in New Hampshire, it should hold yellow perch, bluegill, trout and smallmouth bass. At about 45 ft at its deepest, it warms quickly in spring. The lake bed gives you three point drop-offs and two sheltered coves to work. Umbagog Lake straddles the New Hampshire–Maine border and is the centerpiece of a national wildlife refuge known for nesting bald eagles and loons. Under the ice, yellow perch: cold. Deep schools; small jigs or minnows.

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

What to bring

Ice picks around your neck and a throw rope
A spud bar or auger to test as you walk
A flotation suit or life jacket on early and late ice
A friend, and someone on shore who knows where you went
Small jigs and spoons tipped with a minnow or waxie