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Best rock bass lakes in New Hampshire

25 New Hampshire waters hold rock bass, 22 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. Red-eyed brawler of rocky banks and harbors — eats everything, fights hard for its size, perfect for kids.

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. Moore Reservoir — 120 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Northern Pike, CrappieWhy #3: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 5 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. Mascoma Lake — 70 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Crappie, BluegillWhy #7: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 2 public access sites
8. Pleasant Lake — 90 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Bluegill, Yellow PerchWhy #8: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 2 public access sites
9. Island Pond (Derry) — 70 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Crappie, BluegillWhy #9: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 2 public access sites, 1 carry-in or shore-oriented
10. Crystal Lake — 50 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Crappie, BluegillWhy #10: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
11. Granite Lake — 110 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Bluegill, Yellow PerchWhy #11: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
12. Forest Lake — 15 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Bluegill, Yellow PerchWhy #12: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 2 public access sites
13. Contoocook River — 6 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Crappie, BluegillWhy #13: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · 10 public access sites, 8 carry-in or shore-oriented
14. Partridge Lake — 50 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Northern Pike, BluegillWhy #14: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
15. Spofford Lake — 60 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Northern Pike, BluegillWhy #15: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 4 public access sites, 1 carry-in or shore-oriented
16. Goose Pond — 35 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Bluegill, Yellow PerchWhy #16: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
17. Gilmore Pond — 30 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. Rockybound Pond — 30 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Bluegill, Yellow PerchWhy #18: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
19. Wilson Pond — 12 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike, Crappie, BluegillWhy #19: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
20. Nay Pond — 5 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Crappie, BluegillWhy #20: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
21. Androscoggin River — 8 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Rainbow Trout, Yellow PerchWhy #21: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · 7 public access sites, 7 carry-in or shore-oriented
22. Saltmarsh Pond — 30 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Bluegill, Yellow PerchWhy #22: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
23. PROFILE LAKE — 15 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Bluegill, Yellow PerchWhy #23: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 2 public access sites
24. Island Pond — 15 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Crappie, BluegillWhy #24: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
25. Pemigewasset River — 6 ft max · Smallmouth Bass, Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout, Brook TroutWhy #25: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · 3 public access sites, 2 carry-in or shore-oriented

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When to fish rock bass in New Hampshire

• Spring 2–10 ft — Spawners crowd shallow rock and gravel — anything small dropped near a boulder gets eaten.
• Summer 5–20 ft — Wherever there is rock there are rock bass — small jigs and crawler pieces along the boulder edges.
• Fall 8–22 ft — Schools tighten on deeper rock piles and steep banks — easy limits once you find one.
• Winter 12–30 ft — Wintering schools hold on the deepest rock — small tungsten jigs through the ice.

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 white perch lakes · best pumpkinseed lakes · best brown bullhead lakes

Rock Bass elsewhere: Ontario · Wisconsin · Minnesota · Québec · Michigan · New York · Massachusetts · Indiana · Ohio · Connecticut · Kentucky · Pennsylvania