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Best chain pickerel lakes in New Hampshire

393 New Hampshire waters hold chain pickerel, 390 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 eastern esox — a lie-in-wait weed-bed assassin that bites all year, including through the ice.

1. Horseshoe Pond — 30 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Crappie, BluegillWhy #1: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 7 public access sites, 3 carry-in or shore-oriented
2. Lake Winnipesaukee — 180 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Crappie, BluegillWhy #2: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 37 public access sites, 4 carry-in or shore-oriented
3. Squam Lake — 95 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Crappie, BluegillWhy #3: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 8 public access sites, 3 carry-in or shore-oriented
4. Umbagog Lake — 35 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Rainbow Trout, Yellow PerchWhy #4: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 2 public access sites
5. Moore Reservoir — 120 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Northern Pike, CrappieWhy #5: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 5 public access sites
6. Ephraim Cove — 140 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Crappie, Rainbow TroutWhy #6: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 2 public access sites
7. Lake Sunapee — 100 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Rainbow Trout, Yellow PerchWhy #7: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 12 public access sites, 3 carry-in or shore-oriented
8. Lake Winnisquam — 140 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Crappie, BluegillWhy #8: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 4 public access sites, 1 carry-in or shore-oriented
9. Coon Brook Bog — 5 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Bluegill, Yellow Perch, Chain PickerelWhy #9: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
10. Newfound Lake — 180 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Rainbow Trout, Yellow PerchWhy #10: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 7 public access sites, 3 carry-in or shore-oriented
11. Lake Francis — 70 ft max · survey depth data · Rainbow Trout, Yellow Perch, Lake Trout, Landlocked SalmonWhy #11: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 2 public access sites
12. Massabesic Lake — 50 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Northern Pike, CrappieWhy #12: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 4 public access sites
13. Mascoma Lake — 70 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Crappie, BluegillWhy #13: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 2 public access sites
14. Highland Lake — 25 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Crappie, Rainbow TroutWhy #14: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 2 public access sites
15. Merrymeeting Lake — 120 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Rainbow Trout, Yellow PerchWhy #15: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 2 public access sites
16. Lake Wentworth — 80 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Crappie, Rainbow TroutWhy #16: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 3 public access sites, 1 carry-in or shore-oriented
17. Pine River Pond — 55 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Crappie, BluegillWhy #17: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
18. Ossipee Lake — 61 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Crappie, Rainbow TroutWhy #18: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
19. Bow Lake — 65 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Crappie, BluegillWhy #19: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 4 public access sites
20. Balch Pond — 40 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Crappie, Yellow Perch, Chain PickerelWhy #20: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · no verified access record attached
21. Monomonac Lake — 25 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Crappie, Bluegill, Yellow PerchWhy #21: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
22. Waukewan Lake — 70 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Bluegill, Yellow PerchWhy #22: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 2 public access sites
23. Pawtuckaway Lake — 45 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Crappie, BluegillWhy #23: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 2 public access sites, 1 carry-in or shore-oriented
24. Second Ct Lake — 60 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Bluegill, Rainbow Trout, Yellow PerchWhy #24: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
25. Piscataquag River — 25 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Crappie, Bluegill, Yellow PerchWhy #25: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site

…plus 368 more New Hampshire waters holding chain pickerel.

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When to fish chain pickerel in New Hampshire

• Spring 2–10 ft — Early spawner: post-spawn fish prowl warming, weedy bays and eat everything that moves.
• Summer 3–15 ft — Classic ambush game: weed edges, pad fields and dock shade — flashy, steady retrieves.
• Fall 4–15 ft — Feeding hard around the last green weeds as water cools.
• Winter 5–18 ft — One of ice fishing's most reliable biters — shiners on tip-ups over weed flats.

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 burbot lakes · best rock bass lakes · best white perch lakes · best pumpkinseed lakes · best brown bullhead lakes

Chain Pickerel elsewhere: Québec · Maine · New York · Massachusetts · New Brunswick · Connecticut · Vermont · Nova Scotia · New Jersey · Delaware · Rhode Island