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Best rainbow trout lakes in New Hampshire

21 New Hampshire waters hold rainbow trout, 16 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 classic stocked cold-water trout. Depth is everything: rainbows follow the temperature layer they like.

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. Lake Sunapee — 100 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Rainbow Trout, Yellow Perch
7. Newfound Lake — 180 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Rainbow Trout, Yellow Perch
8. First Connecticut Lake — 160 ft max · survey depth data · Rainbow Trout, Yellow Perch, Lake Trout, Landlocked Salmon
9. Lake Francis — 70 ft max · survey depth data · Rainbow Trout, Yellow Perch, Lake Trout, Landlocked Salmon
10. Lake Wentworth — 80 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Crappie, Rainbow Trout
11. Ossipee Lake — 70 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Crappie, Rainbow Trout
12. Merrymeeting Lake — 120 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Rainbow Trout, Yellow Perch
13. Conway Lake — 45 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Rainbow Trout, Yellow Perch
14. Bow Lake — 65 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Crappie, Bluegill
15. Spofford Lake — 60 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Northern Pike, Bluegill
16. Great East Lake — 100 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Crappie, Bluegill
17. Contoocook River — 6 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Crappie, Bluegill
18. Saco River — 6 ft max · Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout, Brook Trout
19. Androscoggin River — 8 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Rainbow Trout, Yellow Perch
20. Connecticut River — 6 ft max · Rainbow Trout, Yellow Perch, Brown Trout, Brook Trout
21. Pemigewasset River — 6 ft max · Smallmouth Bass, Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout, Brook Trout

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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