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Best brown trout lakes in New Hampshire

51 New Hampshire waters hold brown trout, 46 mapped with real state-agency depth surveys. Ranked below by size and depth-data quality — open any water to see exactly where to fish it: depth contours, scored spots with plain-English reasons, seasonal windows and bait picks. Wary, nocturnal-leaning predator. Shorelines and inflows in cold months; the thermocline in summer.

1. Webster Lake — 43 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Crappie, Rainbow TroutWhy #1: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 3 public access sites, 1 carry-in or shore-oriented
2. Broad Bay — 70 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Crappie, Rainbow TroutWhy #2: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 2 public access sites
3. Christine Lake — 65 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Bluegill, Yellow PerchWhy #3: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
4. Milton Pond — 50 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Crappie, Rainbow TroutWhy #4: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
5. Tower Hill Pond — 40 ft max · survey depth data · Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout, Brook TroutWhy #5: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site, 1 carry-in or shore-oriented
6. Kimball Pond, Lower — 50 ft max · survey depth data · Brown TroutWhy #6: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 2 public access sites, 1 carry-in or shore-oriented
7. Beech Pond, Lower — 50 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Rainbow Trout, Yellow Perch, Brown TroutWhy #7: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · no verified access record attached
8. Success Pond — 25 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Rainbow Trout, Brown TroutWhy #8: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
9. Island Pond (Washington) — 50 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Crappie, Brown TroutWhy #9: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
10. Armington Lake — 30 ft max · survey depth data · Smallmouth Bass, Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout, Chain PickerelWhy #10: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
11. Barnstead Parade Dam Pond — 15 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Crappie, Bluegill, Rainbow TroutWhy #11: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
12. Laurel Lake — 45 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Rainbow Trout, Yellow PerchWhy #12: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 2 public access sites
13. Jackman Reservoir — 30 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Northern Pike, CrappieWhy #13: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 2 public access sites
14. Millen Lake — 40 ft max · survey depth data · Smallmouth Bass, Rainbow Trout, Yellow Perch, Brown TroutWhy #14: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
15. Horn Pond — 20 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Bluegill, Rainbow TroutWhy #15: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
16. Northeast Pond — 30 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Crappie, Rainbow TroutWhy #16: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
17. Contoocook River — 6 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Crappie, BluegillWhy #17: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · 10 public access sites, 8 carry-in or shore-oriented
18. Kezar Lake — 25 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Crappie, Rainbow TroutWhy #18: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 2 public access sites
19. Townhouse Pond — 30 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Crappie, Rainbow TroutWhy #19: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
20. Sand Lake — 70 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Yellow Perch, Brown TroutWhy #20: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
21. Pea Porridge Pond, Big — 40 ft max · survey depth data · Smallmouth Bass, Rainbow Trout, Yellow Perch, Brown TroutWhy #21: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
22. Forest Lake — 30 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Crappie, Bluegill, Rainbow TroutWhy #22: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 2 public access sites
23. Iona Lake — 30 ft max · survey depth data · Smallmouth Bass, Yellow Perch, Brown Trout, Chain PickerelWhy #23: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · no verified access record attached
24. Cummins Pond — 40 ft max · survey depth data · Yellow Perch, Brown Trout, Chain Pickerel, White PerchWhy #24: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site, 1 carry-in or shore-oriented
25. Crystal Lake — 55 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Yellow Perch, Brown TroutWhy #25: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site

…plus 26 more New Hampshire waters holding brown trout.

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When to fish brown trout in New Hampshire

• Spring 3–25 ft — Cold-water browns hug shorelines, river mouths and mud lines — often in a few feet of water early and late.
• Summer 25–60 ft — Browns sit at the thermocline by day and slide shallow after dark — the night troll takes the giants.
• Fall 5–30 ft — Spawn-run browns stage off tributaries and gravel shorelines, aggressive and territorial.
• Winter 5–35 ft — Browns feed all winter — nearshore when bait is in, deeper breaks otherwise.

Also in New Hampshire: best largemouth bass lakes · best smallmouth bass lakes · best northern pike lakes · best crappie lakes · best bluegill lakes · best rainbow trout lakes · best yellow perch lakes · best lake trout lakes · best brook trout lakes · best landlocked salmon lakes · best chain pickerel lakes · best burbot lakes · best rock bass lakes · best white perch lakes · best pumpkinseed lakes · best brown bullhead lakes

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