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Best pumpkinseed lakes in New Hampshire

124 New Hampshire waters hold pumpkinseed, 123 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 brilliant little sunfish of weedy northern bays — a snail-crunching shallow-water resident that outnumbers bluegill across the east and Canada.

1. Lake Winnipesaukee — 180 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Crappie, Bluegill
2. Squam Lake — 95 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Crappie, Bluegill
3. Umbagog Lake — 35 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Rainbow Trout, Yellow Perch
4. Moore Reservoir — 120 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Northern Pike, Crappie
5. Lake Winnisquam — 140 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Crappie, Bluegill
6. Massabesic Lake — 50 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Northern Pike, Crappie
7. Lake Wentworth — 80 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Crappie, Rainbow Trout
8. Mascoma Lake — 70 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Crappie, Bluegill
9. Highland Lake — 25 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Crappie, Bluegill
10. Nubanusit Lake — 90 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Bluegill, Yellow Perch
11. Bow Lake — 65 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Crappie, Bluegill
12. Pawtuckaway Lake — 45 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Crappie, Bluegill
13. Northwood Lake — 20 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Crappie, Bluegill
14. Spofford Lake — 60 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Northern Pike, Bluegill
15. Goose Pond — 35 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Bluegill, Yellow Perch
16. Swains Lake — 25 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Bluegill, Yellow Perch
17. Kanasatka, Lake — 45 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Bluegill, Yellow Perch
18. Pleasant Lake — 60 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Bluegill, Yellow Perch
19. Ashuelot Pond — 25 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Bluegill, Yellow Perch
20. Opechee Lake — 50 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Bluegill, Yellow Perch
21. Bellamy Reservoir — 20 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Crappie, Bluegill
22. Powder Mill Pond — 15 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Crappie, Bluegill
23. Massasecum Lake — 50 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Crappie, Bluegill
24. Canobie Lake — 40 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Crappie, Bluegill
25. Back Lake — 15 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Bluegill, Yellow Perch

…plus 99 more New Hampshire waters holding pumpkinseed.

When to fish pumpkinseed in New Hampshire

• Spring 1–8 ft — Spawning colonies carpet warm, protected bays — small baits dropped on the beds get instant attention.
• Summer 2–10 ft — Docks, pads and weed flats — pumpkinseeds hold tighter to vegetation than bluegill and love snails and nymphs.
• Fall 4–14 ft — Schools tighten on the last green weeds — find healthy cabbage near a drop and the school is there.
• Winter 6–18 ft — A staple ice panfish — soft-bottom flats just outside the deepest green weeds; downsize and watch for lift bites.

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

Pumpkinseed elsewhere: Minnesota · Michigan · Montana · New York