Fishing in the White Mountains & North Country
Connecticut River headwaters, Androscoggin River, Umbagog Lake, Saco River, and the brook trout, rainbow trout, brown trout, and landlocked salmon fishing of northern New Hampshire.
1. Connecticut River Headwaters (Brook Trout, Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout, Landlocked Salmon, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye)
Connecticut River, Coos CountyThe Connecticut River begins in the Connecticut Lakes region of northern Coos County, flowing 410 miles through New Hampshire as the state's western border and offering excellent trout and salmon fishing with numerous public access points from Pittsburg to Lebanon.
2. Lake Francis (Rainbow Trout, Brook Trout, Lake Trout, Landlocked Salmon, Smallmouth Bass)
Lake Francis, Coos CountyLake Francis is a 2,200-acre impoundment on the upper Connecticut River near Pittsburg offering excellent lake trout and landlocked salmon fishing in a remote North Country setting.
3. First Connecticut Lake (Lake Trout, Landlocked Salmon, Rainbow Trout, Brook Trout, Smallmouth Bass)
First Connecticut Lake, Coos CountyFirst Connecticut Lake is a 3,520-acre lake at 2,000 feet elevation near the Canadian border offering excellent lake trout and landlocked salmon fishing in a pristine wilderness setting.
4. Second Connecticut Lake (Rainbow Trout, Brook Trout, Landlocked Salmon, Lake Trout)
Second Connecticut Lake, Coos CountySecond Connecticut Lake is a 1,240-acre lake offering excellent trout fishing at 1,800 feet elevation in the far northern reaches of New Hampshire.
5. Umbagog Lake (Smallmouth Bass, Landlocked Salmon, Lake Trout, Rainbow Trout, Chain Pickerel, Northern Pike)
Umbagog Lake, Coos CountyUmbagog Lake is a 7,850-acre lake straddling the Maine-New Hampshire border, forming the headwaters of the Androscoggin River and offering exceptional smallmouth bass and landlocked salmon fishing with a national wildlife refuge.
6. Androscoggin River (Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout, Brook Trout, Smallmouth Bass, Landlocked Salmon)
Androscoggin River, Coos CountyThe Androscoggin River flows 55 miles through New Hampshire from Umbagog Lake to Errol and onward into Maine, offering excellent trout and smallmouth bass fishing in a scenic northern river setting.
7. Saco River (Rainbow Trout, Brook Trout, Brown Trout, Smallmouth Bass, Fallfish)
Saco River, Carroll CountyThe Saco River flows 62 miles through the White Mountains from Crawford Notch to Conway and into Maine, offering excellent trout fly fishing with numerous public access points along Route 302.
8. Ammonoosuc River (Rainbow Trout, Brook Trout, Brown Trout, Smallmouth Bass)
Ammonoosuc River, Grafton/Coos countiesThe Ammonoosuc River flows 55 miles from the Mount Washington area through Bretton Woods, Twin Mountain, and Littleton to the Connecticut River, offering excellent trout streams accessible from Route 302.
9. East Branch Saco River (Brook Trout, Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout)
East Branch Saco River, Carroll CountyThe East Branch Saco River offers excellent wild brook trout fishing in the White Mountain National Forest near the Maine border with good walk-in access.
10. Wild River (Brook Trout, Rainbow Trout)
Wild River, Carroll CountyThe Wild River is a pristine trout stream flowing entirely within the White Mountain National Forest from the Maine border to the Androscoggin River, offering excellent brook trout fishing with wilderness access.
11. Ellis River (Brook Trout, Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout)
Ellis River, Carroll CountyThe Ellis River flows from Pinkham Notch through Jackson Village to the Saco River, offering excellent trout fishing in a scenic mountain stream with easy road access.
12. Swift River (Brook Trout, Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout)
Swift River, Carroll CountyThe Swift River in Albany offers excellent trout fishing in the White Mountain National Forest with access along the Kancamagus Highway.
13. Peabody River (Brook Trout, Rainbow Trout)
Peabody River, Coos CountyThe Peabody River flows from the northern slopes of Mount Washington through Pinkham Notch, offering excellent wild brook trout fishing in a dramatic mountain setting.
14. Rocky Branch (Brook Trout, Rainbow Trout)
Rocky Branch, Carroll CountyRocky Branch is a wilderness trout stream in the White Mountain National Forest near Crawford Notch offering good brook trout fishing by foot access.
15. Dry River (Brook Trout, Rainbow Trout)
Dry River, Carroll CountyThe Dry River flows from the southern slopes of Mount Washington through Crawford Notch State Park, offering good brook trout fishing with trail access.
16. Pine River (Carroll Co.) (Rainbow Trout, Brook Trout, Brown Trout)
Pine River, Carroll CountyThe Pine River in Ossipee and Freedom offers good trout fishing with public access points in the eastern White Mountains.
17. Moose River (Brook Trout, Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout)
Moose River, Coos CountyThe Moose River offers good trout fishing near the Connecticut Lakes region of northern Coos County with remote wilderness access.
18. Israel River (Rainbow Trout, Brook Trout, Brown Trout)
Israel River, Coos CountyThe Israel River flows through Jefferson and Lancaster to the Connecticut River, offering good trout fishing in the northern White Mountains.
19. Johns River (Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout, Brook Trout)
Johns River, Coos CountyThe Johns River offers good trout fishing in the Whitefield area of northern New Hampshire with public access points.
20. Upper Ammonoosuc River (Rainbow Trout, Brook Trout, Brown Trout)
Upper Ammonoosuc River, Coos CountyThe Upper Ammonoosuc River provides good trout fishing in the remote northern sections of the White Mountains near Stark and Milan.
21. Diamond River (Brook Trout, Rainbow Trout)
Diamond River, Coos CountyThe Diamond River is a wild trout stream in the Magalloway River watershed offering excellent brook trout fishing in remote northern Coos County.
22. Clear Stream (Brook Trout, Rainbow Trout)
Clear Stream, Coos CountyClear Stream is a remote trout stream near Errol offering excellent brook trout fishing in the northern forest.
23. Dead Diamond River (Brook Trout, Rainbow Trout)
Dead Diamond River, Coos CountyThe Dead Diamond River is a wilderness trout stream in the Diamond River watershed offering excellent remote brook trout fishing.
24. Magalloway River (Rainbow Trout, Brook Trout, Landlocked Salmon, Smallmouth Bass)
Magalloway River, Coos CountyThe Magalloway River flows from Maine into Umbagog Lake, offering excellent trout and landlocked salmon fishing in the northwestern corner of New Hampshire.
25. Mollidgewock Brook (Brook Trout, Rainbow Trout)
Mollidgewock Brook, Coos CountyMollidgewock Brook is a native brook trout stream in the Androscoggin River watershed near Errol.
26. Merrill Brook (Brook Trout, Rainbow Trout)
Merrill Brook, Coos CountyMerrill Brook offers good wild brook trout fishing in the remote forests of northern Coos County.
27. West Branch Saco River (Brook Trout, Rainbow Trout)
West Branch Saco River, Carroll CountyThe West Branch Saco River offers excellent brook trout fishing in the White Mountain National Forest near Crawford Notch with wilderness trail access.
28. Sawyer River (Brook Trout, Rainbow Trout)
Sawyer River, Carroll CountyThe Sawyer River offers good brook trout fishing in the White Mountain National Forest near Bartlett with walk-in access.
29. Pond Brook (Brook Trout, Rainbow Trout)
Pond Brook, Carroll CountyPond Brook offers good wild brook trout fishing in the northern White Mountains area.
30. Cold River (Brook Trout, Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout)
Cold River, Carroll CountyThe Cold River in Chatham and Fryeburg offers good trout fishing near the Maine border in the eastern White Mountains.
31. South Branch Cold River (Brook Trout, Rainbow Trout)
South Branch Cold River, Carroll CountyThe South Branch Cold River offers good wild brook trout fishing in the White Mountain National Forest near the Maine border.
32. Wildcat Brook (Brook Trout, Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout)
Wildcat Brook, Carroll CountyWildcat Brook offers good trout fishing near Jackson Village at the base of Wildcat Mountain ski area.
33. Thompson Brook (Brook Trout, Rainbow Trout)
Thompson Brook, Carroll CountyThompson Brook offers good brook trout fishing in the White Mountain National Forest near Jackson.
34. Great Brook (Brook Trout, Rainbow Trout)
Great Brook, Carroll CountyGreat Brook offers good wild trout fishing in the mountain streams of the Bartlett area.
35. Bemis Brook (Brook Trout, Rainbow Trout)
Bemis Brook, Carroll CountyBemis Brook offers good brook trout fishing near Crawford Notch in the White Mountain National Forest.
36. Gibbs Brook (Brook Trout)
Gibbs Brook, Coos CountyGibbs Brook offers native brook trout fishing in the remote northern section of the White Mountain National Forest.
37. Stony Brook (Coos Co.) (Brook Trout, Rainbow Trout)
Stony Brook, Coos CountyStony Brook offers good brook trout fishing in the Connecticut River watershed of northern Coos County.
38. Perry Stream (Brook Trout, Rainbow Trout)
Perry Stream, Coos CountyPerry Stream offers good trout fishing in the remote Connecticut Lakes region near the Canadian border.
39. Indian Stream (Brook Trout, Rainbow Trout, Landlocked Salmon)
Indian Stream, Coos CountyIndian Stream is a historic trout stream in the far northern corner of New Hampshire offering excellent brook trout and landlocked salmon fishing near the Canadian border.
40. Halls Stream (Brook Trout, Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout)
Halls Stream, Coos CountyHalls Stream forms the western boundary of the Connecticut Lakes region near the Canadian border, offering good trout fishing in a remote northern setting.
Fishing Tips for the White Mountains & North Country
- Check local regulations before fishing — each water body may have specific rules on limits, seasons, and bait.
- Spring and fall typically offer the best fishing in New Hampshire for most species.
- Consider hiring a local guide for the best experience on unfamiliar waters.
- Always carry a valid New Hampshire fishing license — available online through the state wildlife agency.
- Practice catch and release for sensitive species to help maintain healthy fish populations.
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