The 5 Best Fishing Lakes in New Hampshire (And the Types of Fish to Expect!)

With 975 lakes and ponds inside its borders, the state of New Hampshire packs plenty of fishing opportunities into its small footprint. Still, that’s a lot of ground to cover. So if you go, be sure to consult our list of don’t-miss fishing lakes.

1. Lake Winnipesaukee, Central New Hampshire

With 72 square miles of crystal-clear, spring-fed water, Lake Winnipesaukee is the Granite State’s largest lake. Visitors and residents alike find it a favorite spot for all manner of outdoor adventures. Considered by some to be the best fishing lake in New England for trout and salmon, the lake is also home to bass, pickerel, perch, bluegill, and whitefish.

2. Squam Lake, Central New Hampshire

Also located in New Hampshire’s Lakes Region, northwest of Lake Winnipesaukee, this lake actually consists of two spring-fed, connected bodies of water (Big Squam and Little Squam). Smallmouth bass fishing is the Squam’s main draw, according to aa-fishing.com. That’s thanks to an abundance of channels, ledges, islands, and other habitats. You can also land trout, salmon, sunfish, perch, and pickerel. The gorgeous scenery seems like something out of a movie, and it is. The 1981 film On Golden Pond, starring Katharine Hepburn, Henry Fonda, and Jane Fonda, was filmed in this area.

3. Umbagog Lake, Umbagog National Wildlife Refuge, and Umbagog State Park

Prefer to do your fishing far from the crowds? Then the wild surroundings of Umbagog Lake will definitely float your boat. The remote waters, located on the northern end of the New Hampshire/Maine border, are among the most pristine in the Granite State. The lake is home to bass, trout, perch, salmon, and pickerel. Keep an eye out for above-water wildlife too, including loons, bald eagles, and moose.

4. Conway Lake, Carroll County

Now managed for landlocked salmon fishing, this lake was once used to transport logs to a local sawmill. Conway Lake is also a great spot for landing smallmouth and largemouth bass.

5. Highland Lake, Stoddard/Washington

One of the smaller lakes in the state’s Lakes Region, Highland is a big deal for trout fishing, as it’s stocked annually with rainbow and brook trout. You’ll also find black crappie, small and largemouth bass, chain pickerel, white perch, and horned pout. NewEngland.com named this lake one of the best ice-fishing spots in New England.

Summary of the 5 Best Fishing Lakes in New Hampshire