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Best burbot lakes in New Hampshire

20 New Hampshire waters hold burbot, 19 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. The freshwater cod that feeds at night under the ice — ugly, delicious and wildly underrated.

1. Lake Winnipesaukee — 180 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Crappie, BluegillWhy #1: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 37 public access sites, 4 carry-in or shore-oriented
2. Squam Lake — 95 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Crappie, BluegillWhy #2: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 8 public access sites, 3 carry-in or shore-oriented
3. Ephraim Cove — 140 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Crappie, Rainbow TroutWhy #3: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 2 public access sites
4. Lake Sunapee — 100 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Rainbow Trout, Yellow PerchWhy #4: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 12 public access sites, 3 carry-in or shore-oriented
5. Lake Winnisquam — 140 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Crappie, BluegillWhy #5: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 4 public access sites, 1 carry-in or shore-oriented
6. Newfound Lake — 180 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Rainbow Trout, Yellow PerchWhy #6: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 7 public access sites, 3 carry-in or shore-oriented
7. First Connecticut Lake — 160 ft max · survey depth data · Rainbow Trout, Yellow Perch, Lake Trout, Landlocked SalmonWhy #7: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 2 public access sites
8. Lake Francis — 70 ft max · survey depth data · Rainbow Trout, Yellow Perch, Lake Trout, Landlocked SalmonWhy #8: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 2 public access sites
9. Merrymeeting Lake — 120 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Rainbow Trout, Yellow PerchWhy #9: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 2 public access sites
10. Lake Wentworth — 80 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Crappie, Rainbow TroutWhy #10: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 3 public access sites, 1 carry-in or shore-oriented
11. Pine River Pond — 55 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Crappie, BluegillWhy #11: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
12. Ossipee Lake — 61 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Crappie, Rainbow TroutWhy #12: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
13. Waukewan Lake — 70 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Bluegill, Yellow PerchWhy #13: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 2 public access sites
14. Silver Lake — 160 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Bluegill, Yellow PerchWhy #14: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 5 public access sites, 3 carry-in or shore-oriented
15. Squam Lake, Little — 70 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Crappie, Rainbow TroutWhy #15: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
16. Broad Bay — 70 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Crappie, Rainbow TroutWhy #16: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 2 public access sites
17. Third Connecticut Lake — 110 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Bluegill, Yellow PerchWhy #17: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
18. Lovell Lake — 45 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, BluegillWhy #18: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 2 public access sites
19. South Ponds — 80 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Rainbow Trout, Yellow PerchWhy #19: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site, 1 carry-in or shore-oriented
20. Connecticut River — 6 ft max · Rainbow Trout, Yellow Perch, Brown Trout, Brook TroutWhy #20: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · 1 public access site

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When to fish burbot in New Hampshire

• Spring 25–70 ft — Post-spawn burbot slide back toward deep basins but still run shallow rock after dark.
• Summer 50–120 ft — Deep and sluggish in warm months — mostly a bycatch while jigging deep structure for lake trout.
• Fall 30–80 ft — Feeding picks up hard as the water cools — dead bait or glow spoons on deep rock at night.
• Winter 15–60 ft — Late-winter spawners stack on rock humps and shoals — glow jigs pounded on bottom after dark.

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 brown trout lakes · best brook trout lakes · best landlocked salmon lakes · best chain pickerel lakes · best rock bass lakes · best white perch lakes · best pumpkinseed lakes · best brown bullhead lakes

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