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Best rainbow trout lakes in New Hampshire

156 New Hampshire waters list rainbow trout (official records or labelled estimates), 151 mapped with survey or official-chart depth data. Ranked below by size and depth-data quality, leading with the waters in our reviewed search catalog — open any water to see exactly where to fish it: depth contours, scored spots with plain-English reasons, seasonal windows and bait picks. The classic stocked cold-water trout. Depth is everything: rainbows follow the temperature layer they like.

1. Lake Winnipesaukee — 180 ft max · real survey depth contours · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Crappie, BluegillWhy #1: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 40 public access sites, 8 carry-in or shore-oriented
2. Squam Lake — 95 ft max · real survey depth contours · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Crappie, BluegillWhy #2: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 9 public access sites, 4 carry-in or shore-oriented
3. Umbagog Lake — 35 ft max · real survey depth contours · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Rainbow Trout, Yellow PerchWhy #3: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 2 public access sites
4. Moore Reservoir — 120 ft max · real survey depth contours · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Northern Pike, CrappieWhy #4: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 5 public access sites
5. Ephraim Cove — 140 ft max · real survey depth contours · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Crappie, Rainbow TroutWhy #5: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 2 public access sites
6. Lake Sunapee — 100 ft max · real survey depth contours · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Rainbow Trout, Yellow PerchWhy #6: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 12 public access sites, 3 carry-in or shore-oriented
7. Lake Winnisquam — 140 ft max · real survey depth contours · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Crappie, BluegillWhy #7: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 6 public access sites, 2 carry-in or shore-oriented
8. Newfound Lake — 180 ft max · real survey depth contours · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Rainbow Trout, Yellow PerchWhy #8: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 7 public access sites, 3 carry-in or shore-oriented
9. First Connecticut Lake — 160 ft max · real survey depth contours · Rainbow Trout, Yellow Perch, Lake Trout, Landlocked SalmonWhy #9: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 2 public access sites
10. Lake Francis — 70 ft max · real survey depth contours · Rainbow Trout, Yellow Perch, Lake Trout, Brown TroutWhy #10: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 2 public access sites
11. Massabesic Lake — 50 ft max · real survey depth contours · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Northern Pike, CrappieWhy #11: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 4 public access sites
12. Mascoma Lake — 70 ft max · real survey depth contours · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Crappie, BluegillWhy #12: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 2 public access sites
13. Highland Lake — 25 ft max · real survey depth contours · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Crappie, Rainbow TroutWhy #13: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 2 public access sites
14. Merrymeeting Lake — 120 ft max · real survey depth contours · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Rainbow Trout, Yellow PerchWhy #14: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 2 public access sites
15. Lake Wentworth — 80 ft max · real survey depth contours · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Crappie, Rainbow TroutWhy #15: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 4 public access sites, 1 carry-in or shore-oriented
16. Ossipee Lake — 61 ft max · real survey depth contours · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Crappie, Rainbow TroutWhy #16: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
17. Bow Lake — 65 ft max · real survey depth contours · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Crappie, BluegillWhy #17: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 4 public access sites
18. Waukewan Lake — 70 ft max · real survey depth contours · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Bluegill, Rainbow TroutWhy #18: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 2 public access sites
19. Second Ct Lake — 60 ft max · real survey depth contours · Largemouth Bass, Bluegill, Rainbow Trout, Yellow PerchWhy #19: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
20. Silver Lake — 160 ft max · real survey depth contours · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Bluegill, Rainbow TroutWhy #20: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 5 public access sites, 4 carry-in or shore-oriented
21. Conway Lake — 45 ft max · real survey depth contours · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Rainbow Trout, Yellow PerchWhy #21: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · no verified access record attached
22. Webster Lake — 43 ft max · real survey depth contours · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Crappie, Rainbow TroutWhy #22: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 3 public access sites, 1 carry-in or shore-oriented
23. Pleasant Lake — 90 ft max · real survey depth contours · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Bluegill, Rainbow TroutWhy #23: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 2 public access sites
24. Great East Lake — 100 ft max · real survey depth contours · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Crappie, BluegillWhy #24: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 2 public access sites
25. Squam Lake, Little — 70 ft max · real survey depth contours · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Crappie, Rainbow TroutWhy #25: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site

…plus 131 more New Hampshire waters holding rainbow trout.

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When to fish rainbow trout in New Hampshire

• Spring 5–20 ft — Post-ice-out trout roam shallow; fish inflows and windblown shorelines.
• Summer 8–30 ft — Rainbows hold near cold inflows, current seams and the thermocline — find the cool water and you've found the fish.
• Fall 10–35 ft — Fall feeding on rock shoals, current and channel edges as water cools.
• Winter 8–40 ft — Trout are comfortable in cold water — one of the best winter targets; streams and tailwaters fish shallow, deep lakes hold on basin edges.

Also in New Hampshire: best largemouth bass lakes · best smallmouth bass lakes · best northern pike lakes · best crappie lakes · best bluegill 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 pumpkinseed lakes · best brown bullhead lakes

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