New Hampshire Fishing Regulations

Not legal advice. Compiled from official government summaries. Regulations change each year — always check the official source before relying.

General Rules (barbless hooks are the #1 cause of fines)

⚠ Many waters have special regulations (artificial lures only, catch-and-release, size/bag changes) - check the digest by waterbody.
⚠ Saltwater species have separate rules.
⚠ Landlocked salmon and brook trout have special slot limits on many waters.

Species Limits

Species	Limit	Size / Season
Trout (brook, brown, rainbow)	5 per day	Min 8 in (general); special waters vary
Landlocked salmon	2 per day	Min 15 in (many waters); special waters vary
Largemouth & smallmouth bass	5 combined	No minimum (some waters 12 in)
Walleye	5	Min 15 in
Northern pike	5	Min 24 in
Chain pickerel	5
Panfish (bluegill, crappie, yellow perch, white perch, horned pout)	No limit (some waters 25)
Catfish	No limit

Waterbody-Specific Rules

Lake Winnipesaukee

Trout/salmon: 2 fish, 15 in minimum (landlocked salmon); rainbow trout 12 in minimum; lake trout 18 in minimum, 2/day; C&R for rainbow Oct 1 - Apr 1.

Lake Sunapee

Landlocked salmon: 15 in minimum, 2/day; lake trout 18 in minimum.

Squam Lake

Landlocked salmon: 15 in minimum, 2/day; rainbow trout 12 in minimum.

Newfound Lake

Landlocked salmon: 15 in minimum, 2/day; rainbow trout 12 in minimum, C&R Oct 1 - Apr 1.

Connecticut River

NH special water: See also NH-VT Interstate Rules on the [Interstate Waters](https://www.eregulations.com/newhampshire/fishing/freshwater/interstate-waters) page.

Merrimack River

NH special water: Manchester Upstream side of Amoskeag Dam to upstream side of Amoskeag Bridge, and between west bank of river and island adjacent to powerhouse for 500 feet downstream of fishway entrance.Closed to all fishing.

Big Lake

Landlocked salmon: 15 in minimum, 2/day; rainbow 12 in minimum.

Winnisquam Lake

Landlocked salmon: 15 in minimum, 2/day.

Profile Lake

NH special water: Trout Pond; Fly-fishing only No person shall take brook trout 12 to 16 inches in length. All brook trout 12 to 16 inches shall be immediately released unharmed. The daily limit for brook trout shall be 2 fish, of which only one may be over 16 inches.Cartop

Echo Lake (Franconia)

Trout: 8 in minimum, 5/day.

Airport Marsh

NH special water: Trout Pond Cartop

Archery Pond

NH special water: Trout Pond; Fly-fishing only Daily limit for brook trout is 2 fish Shorebank No boats

Back Lake

NH special water: Trout Pond Ramp 10 MPH speed limit some areas

Basin Pond

NH special water: Trout Pond Cartop No motors

Big Brook Bog

NH special water: Trout Pond; Fly-fishing only Cartop No motors

Black Mountain Pond

NH special water: Trout Pond Remote Walk-in No motors

Black Pond

NH special water: Trout Pond Remote Walk-in No motors

Blue Pond

NH special water: Trout Pond Remote Walk-in

Boundary Pond

NH special water: Trout Pond; Fly-fishing only Remote Walk-in No motors

Bragg Pond

NH special water: Trout Pond Remote Walk-in

Butterfield Pond

NH special water: Trout Pond Remote Walk-in No motors | 2. Fishing through the ice, from the ice, or from any object supported by the ice is prohibited.Shorebank No motors

Carr Pond

NH special water: Trout Pond Remote Walk-in

Carter Pond

NH special water: Trout Pond Remote Walk-in No motors

Center Pond

NH special water: Trout Pond Ramp No motors

Clarksville Pond

NH special water: Trout Pond; Fly-fishing only Cartop No petroleum motors; electric motors limited to trolling speed

Clough Pond

NH special water: Trout Pond Ramp

Coldrain Pond

NH special water: Trout Pond; Fly-fishing only Remote Walk-in

Cole Pond

NH special water: Trout Pond; Fly-fishing only No person shall take brook trout 12 to 16 inches in length. All brook trout 12 to 16 inches shall be immediately released unharmed. The daily limit for brook trout shall be 2 fish, of which only one may be over 16 inches.Remote Walk-in

From

NH special water: through September 30, the combined daily limit for salmon, trout is 4 fish, of which no more than 2 fish may be salmon. The daily limit for lake trout is 2 fish.Ramp Headway speed certain times

Conner Pond

NH special water: Trout Pond Cartop No petroleum motors; headway speed limit

Conservation Pond

NH special water: Trout Pond Remote Walk-in | 1. Only one artificial bait, one fly, one tandem fly or one bait shall be used per rod; and, | 2. Only one hook with a single hook point shall be used with bait.Ramp No houseboats

Coon Brook Bog

NH special water: Trout Pond; Fly-fishing only Cartop No motors

Corser Pond

NH special water: Trout Pond Remote Walk-in

Cranberry Bog

NH special water: Trout Pond Remote Walk-in

Devils

NH special water: Trout Pond Remote Walk-in

Duncan Lake

NH special water: Trout Pond Shorebank 6 MPH speed limit

Dustin Pond

NH special water: Trout Pond Remote Walk-in

East

NH special water: Trout Pond Cartop

Echo Lake

NH special water: Trout Pond Ramp

Ethan (Willey) Pond

NH special water: Wild Trout Pond Remote Walk-in No motors

Falls Pond

NH special water: Trout Pond Remote Walk-in No motors

Ferrin Pond

NH special water: Trout Pond Shorebank No motors

Flat Mountain Pond

NH special water: Trout Pond Remote Walk-in No motors

Four Mile Pond

NH special water: Trout Pond Remote Walk-in

French Pond

NH special water: Trout Pond Ramp No motors over 5 HP

Gilmore Pond

NH special water: Trout Pond Ramp No wake area

Guinea Pond

NH special water: Trout Pond Remote Walk-in No motors

Halfmile Pond

NH special water: Trout Pond Remote Walk-in

Harris Pond

NH special water: Trout Pond Remote Walk-in

Hellgate Pond

NH special water: Trout Pond Remote Walk-in

Hoyt Pond

NH special water: Trout Pond; Fly-fishing only Shorebank

Hunkins Pond

NH special water: Trout Pond Cartop No motors

Hunts Pond

NH special water: Trout Pond Cartop

Jacquith Pond

NH special water: Trout Pond Remote Walk-in

Jericho Lake

NH special water: 1. This waterbody is open to the taking of all species, except salmon and smelt, all year-round by all legal methods. | 2. The daily limit for northern pike is 3 fish. | 3. The minimum length for northern pike is 20 inches.Ramp No petroleum motors; Electric motors no greater than 3 HP; 5 MPH speed limit

Jones Pond

NH special water: Trout Pond; Fly-fishing only The daily limit for brook trout is 2 fish.Remote Walk-in

Judd Pond

NH special water: Trout Pond Remote Walk-in

Kiah Pond

NH special water: Trout Pond Cartop No motors

Ledge Pond

NH special water: Trout Pond Remote Walk-in No motors

Lime Pond

NH special water: Trout Pond; Fly-fishing only No person shall take brook trout 12 to 16 inches in length. All brook trout 12 to 16 inches shall be immediately released unharmed. The daily limit for brook trout shall be 2 fish, of which only one may be over 16 inches.Remote Walk-in

Lonesome Lake

NH special water: Trout Pond Remote Walk-in

Long Pond

NH special water: Trout Pond Cartop

Lucas Pond

NH special water: Trout Pond Cartop No motors

Merrymeeting Lake

NH special water: Lake Trout and/or Salmon When trolling to take fish: | 1. Only one artificial bait, one fly, one tandem fly or one bait shall be used per rod; and, | 2. Only one hook with a single hook point shall be used with bait.Ramp

Middle Pond

NH special water: Trout Pond Cartop No motors

Millen Lake

NH special water: Trout Pond Cartop 10 MPH speed limit certain times

Moose

NH special water: Trout Pond Shorebank No motors

Moose Pond

NH special water: Trout Pond; Fly-fishing only Cartop No motors

Morey Pond

NH special water: Trout Pond Cartop

Mount William Pond

NH special water: Trout Pond Ramp No petroleum motors

Mountain Pond

NH special water: Trout Pond Remote Walk-in

Mud Pond

NH special water: Trout Pond Remote Walk-in No motors

Munn Pond

NH special water: Trout Pond Remote Walk-in

Nathan Pond

NH special water: Trout Pond Remote Walk-in | 1. Only one artificial bait, one fly, one tandem fly or one bait shall be used per rod; and, | 2. Only one hook with a single hook point shall be used with bait.Ramp 6 MPH in some areas; Other restrictions

Oliverian Pond

NH special water: Trout Pond Ramp No motors

Orange Pond

NH special water: Trout Pond Shorebank No petroleum motors | 1. Only one artificial bait, one fly, one tandem fly or one bait shall be used per rod; and, | 2. Only one hook with a single hook point shall be used with bait.Ramp Headway speed in some areas

Peaked Hill Pond

NH special water: Trout Pond Remote Walk-in No motors

Perch Pond

NH special water: Trout Pond Shorebank

Perry Pond

NH special water: Trout Pond; Fly-fishing only Remote Walk-in

Phillips Pond

NH special water: Trout Pond; Fly-fishing only Cartop - subject to gates and bars

Pike Pond

NH special water: Trout Pond Cartop

Pleasant Lake

NH special water: Trout Pond Use or possession of rainbow smelt for bait shall be permitted.Ramp

Pond of

NH special water: Trout Pond Remote Walk-in No motors

Province Pond

NH special water: Trout Pond Remote Walk-in No motors

Rand Pond

NH special water: Trout Pond Ramp 10 HP or less

Rocky Pond

NH special water: Trout Pond Remote Walk-in

Round Pond

NH special water: Trout Pond Cartop

Russell Pond

NH special water: Trout Pond Cartop No motors

Saco Lake

NH special water: Trout Pond; Fly-fishing only Shorebank No motors

Saltmarsh Pond

NH special water: Trout Pond Ramp Electric motors only; no wake

Sawyer Pond

NH special water: Trout Pond Remote Walk-in No motors

Scott Bog

NH special water: Trout Pond; Fly-fishing only Cartop No motors

Sessions Pond

NH special water: Trout Pond Remote Walk-in

Shehan Flowage Pond

NH special water: Trout Pond Remote Walk-in

Shoal Pond

NH special water: Wild Trout Pond Remote Walk-in No motors

Signal Pond

NH special water: Trout Pond Remote Walk-in

Silver Lake

NH special water: Lake Trout and/or Salmon When trolling to take fish: | 1. Only one artificial bait, one fly, one tandem fly or one bait shall be used per rod; and, | 2. Only one hook with a single hook point shall be used with bait.Ramp No houseboats

Simmons Pond

NH special water: Trout Pond Shorebank

Sky Pond

NH special water: Trout Pond; Fly-fishing only No person shall take brook trout 12 to 16 inches in length. All brook trout 12 to 16 inches shall be immediately released unharmed. The daily limit for brook trout shall be 2 fish, of which only one may be over 16 inches.Cartop No motors

Smith Pond

NH special water: Trout Pond Ramp

Solitude Lake

NH special water: Trout Pond Remote Walk-in

South Pond

NH special water: The minimum length for lake trout is 15 inches.Cartop

Spofford Lake

NH special water: 1. This waterbody shall be closed to the taking of all fish October 16 through March 31; | 2. The open season for taking all species except smelt shall be from April 1 through October 15; | 3. From April 1 through October 15, no person shall take fish through the ice, from the ice, or from any object supported by the ice; | 4. The

Spoonwood Pond

NH special water: Trout Pond Remote Walk-in No petroleum motors | 1. Only one artificial bait, one fly, one tandem fly or one bait shall be used per rod; and, | 2. Only one hook with a single hook point shall be used with bait.Ramp Speed and other restrictions | 1. Only one artificial bait, one fly, one tandem fly or one bait shall be used per rod;

Stirrup Iron Pond

NH special water: Trout Pond; Fly-fishing only Shorebank

Stonehouse Pond

NH special water: Trout Pond; Fly-fishing only Cartop No petroleum motors

Stratford Bog

NH special water: Trout Pond Cartop No petroleum motors

Stub Hill Pond

NH special water: Trout Pond Remote Walk-in

Success Pond

NH special water: Trout Pond Ramp | 2. All tributaries will be closed to fishing Oct. 16 to May 31. | 1. Only one artificial bait, one fly, one tandem fly or one bait shall be used per rod; and, | 2. Only one hook with a single hook point shall be used with bait.Ramp Speed and other restrictions

Swain Pond

NH special water: Trout Pond Cartop

Swanzey Lake

NH special water: Trout Pond Cartop

Sweat Pond

NH special water: Trout Pond Remote Walk-in

Trout Pond

NH special water: Trout Pond Shorebank

Unknown Pond

NH special water: Trout Pond; Fly-fishing only Remote Walk-in

Whitcomb Pond

NH special water: Trout Pond Remote Walk-in

White Pond

NH special water: Trout Pond Shorebank No motors

Willard Pond

NH special water: Trout Pond; Fly-fishing only Ramp No petroleum motors

The following two areas of the lake are closed to all fishing

NH special water: through March 31: | 1. the area of Paugus Bay which lies between the railroad trestle at its south end and the Lakeport Dam in Laconia; | 2. the area of open water (the area not normally covered by ice in winter) at Weirs Channel. | 1. Only one artificial bait, one fly, one tandem fly or one bait shall be used per rod; and, | 2. O

Wright Pond

NH special water: Trout Pond; Fly-fishing only Remote Walk-in

Alder Brook

NH special water: – Labor Day season. Catch-and-release, single barbless hook artificial lures/flies. Managed for wild trout.

Androscoggin River

NH special water: Berlin to Shelburne Sawmill Dam in Berlin to ME/NH boundary No closed season for all species. Single barbless hook, artificial lures/flies. Catch-and-release all species.

Ashuelot River

NH special water: trout through the ice.

Bellamy River

NH special water: trout through the ice.

Blackwater River

NH special water: trout through the ice.

Carroll Stream

NH special water: – Labor Day season. Catch-and-release, single barbless hook artificial lures/flies. Managed for wild trout.

Cocheco River

NH special water: to 4th Sat. in April - Catch-and-release, single barbless hook, artificial lures/flies. 4th Sat. in April to Oct. 15 - Daily limit for trout 5 fish or 5 lbs., all legal methods.

Contoocook River

NH special water: Henniker to Concord From 2,500 ft. above former paper mill dam in West Henniker, to confluence with Merrimack River No closed season for all species. Daily limit of 2 trout through the ice.

Dead Diamond River

NH special water: to Sept. 30 season. Daily limit of 5 brook trout or 5 lbs. All legal methods.

Exeter River

NH special water: bridge No closed season for all species. Oct. 16 to 4th Saturday in April: Catch-and-release, single barbless hook, artificial lures/flies. 4th Saturday in April through Oct. 15: Daily limit for trout 5 fish or 5 lbs. All legal methods.

Exeter River Sandown to Exeter From Route 121-A to the Pickpocket Dam and from Route 111 to the Squamscott River

NH special water: trout through the ice. Closed to all fishing from the upstream side of the Pickpocket Dam and fishway including a 50 foot radius in front of the fishway on the upstream side to the downstream side of the Cross Road Bridge in the towns of Brentwood and Exeter

Flints Brook

NH special water: – Labor Day season. Catch-and-release, single barbless hook artificial lures/flies. Managed for wild trout.

Gulf Brook

NH special water: – Labor Day season. Catch-and-release, single barbless hook artificial lures/flies. Managed for wild trout.

Isinglass River

NH special water: bridge downstream to confluence with Cocheco River No closed season for all species. Oct. 16 to 4th Saturday in April: Catch-and-release, single barbless hook, artificial lures/flies. 4th Saturday in April through Oct. 15: Daily limit for trout 5 fish or 5 lbs. All legal methods.

Lamb Valley Brook

NH special water: – Labor Day season. Catch-and-release, single barbless hook artificial lures/flies. Managed for wild trout.

Lamprey River

NH special water: feet below Wiswall Dam between April 1 and July 31. Closed to all fishing in the waters 50 feet above the Wiswall Dam year round.

Long Mountain Brook

NH special water: – Labor Day season. Catch-and-release, single barbless hook artificial lures/flies. Managed for wild trout.

Loomis Valley Brook

NH special water: – Labor Day season. Catch-and-release, single barbless hook artificial lures/flies. Managed for wild trout.

Lost River

NH special water: ft. above parking area entrance bridge to 100 ft. below last footbridge in Lost River Gorge Closed to all fishing

Lyman Brook

NH special water: – Labor Day season. Catch-and-release, single barbless hook artificial lures/flies. Managed for wild trout.

Magalloway River

NH special water: Wentworth’s Location, Errol From the markers at the confluence with Sturtevant Stream at 44º50.41638’N-71º03.03498”W to the markers at confluence of Umbagog Lake at 44º47.73612’N-71º03.70758’W using WGS84 map datum.Jan. 1 through May 31 & day after Labor Day through September 30. Single barbless hook, artificial lures/flies. Catch

Mascoma River

NH special water: bridge south of Mascoma Lake Dam downstream to the covered bridge.Fly-fishing only. Daily limit for trout is 2 fish.

Meadow Brook

NH special water: – Labor Day season. Catch-and-release, single barbless hook artificial lures/flies. Managed for wild trout.

Merrymeeting River

NH special water: bridge at Alton Bay Jan. 1 – June 15 and Oct. 1–31 fly-fishing only, barbless hooks, catch-and-release. June 16 – Sept. 30 combined daily limit for trout and salmon is 2 fish, minimum length 15 inches, minimum length for lake trout 18 inches

West Branch

NH special water: – Labor Day season. Catch-and-release, single barbless hook artificial lures/flies. Managed for wild trout.

Nashua River

NH special water: ft. below Closed to all fishing

Newfound River

NH special water: – October 31 season, fly-fishing only. Jan. 1 – March 31: daily limit for trout is 2 fish and all salmon immediately released; April 1 – Sept. 30: combined daily limit for trout/salmon is 2 fish, minimum length for salmon and lake trout is 15 inches. Oct. 1–31: barbless hooks only, catch-and-release all fish

Pemigewasset River

NH special water: ft. below Eastman Falls Dam to the confluence of Winnipesaukee River No closed season for all species except salmon. Daily limit of 2 trout through the ice

Piscataquog River

NH special water: trout through the ice

Pond Brook

NH special water: – Labor Day season. Catch-and-release, single barbless hook artificial lures/flies. Managed for wild trout.

Powwow River

NH special water: trout through the ice.

Sand Brook

NH special water: – Labor Day season. Catch-and-release, single barbless hook artificial lures/flies. Managed for wild trout.

Soucook River

NH special water: trout through the ice.

Souhegan River

NH special water: ft upstream of green bridge on Old Wilton Road in Greenville to 300 ft downstream of Route 31 bridge in Wilton October 16 – June 15: Catch-and-release, single barbless hook artificial lures/flies. June 16 - October 15: Daily limit for brook trout is 5 fish or 5 lbs.

Sucker Brook

NH special water: trout through the ice

Sugar River

NH special water: Newport Rte. 11/103 Bridge to the so-called Oak Street Bridge Jan. 1 – Nov. 30 season. Fly-fishing only. Daily limit for trout is 2 fish.

Suncook River

NH special water: Barnstead to Allenstown/Pembroke From Route 126 bridge in Barnstead downstream to confluence with the Merrimack River No closed season for all species. Daily limit of 2 trout through the ice.

Swift River

NH special water: Sandwich to Tamworth From Route 113A bridge downstream to Route 113 bridge Fly-fishing only. Daily limit for trout is 2 fish.

Swift Diamond River

NH special water: - Sept. 30 season

Taylor River

NH special water: No closed season for all species. Daily limit of 2 trout through the ice

Turkey River

NH special water: trout through the ice

Winnipesaukee River

NH special water: trout through the ice

Witches Spring Brook

NH special water: - Labor Day season. Catch-and-release, single barbless hook artificial lures/flies. Managed for wild trout.

Seasons

Open water Apr - Oct (varies); ice fishing in winter; trout C&R season in late fall/winter on many waters.

Licence Fees

NH fishing license required (16+, resident/non-resident); fees per NH Fish & Game.

Edition: 2026 NH Freshwater Fishing Digest (NH Fish & Game) · Effective: 2026 season · Source: NH Fish & Game Dept. (wildlife.nh.gov/fishing)

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