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Fishing Contoocook River: what the data says
flows northeast: Henniker to Penacook The river tops out around 6 ft. The contours are modeled from the water's real shoreline and maximum depth. Treat them as a rough guide, and never use them for navigation. Here is how the season plays out for each species, straight from the data behind the map.
Smallmouth Bass fishing at Contoocook River
Spring smallmouth bass on Contoocook River hold shallow, usually 2 to 6 ft. Summer fish stay in 2 to 6 ft, and winter fish hold in 2 to 6 ft. The spot to know is Riffle & run (mile 12.4), a rock pile in about 3 ft of water that rates prime for smallmouth bass in spring. Best bite is early morning and the evening. Summer baits: a drop shot (goby/minnow) or a ned rig gets it done.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 6 ft | dawn & dusk | Ned rig, Tube jig |
| Summer | 2 to 6 ft | dawn & dusk | Drop shot (goby/minnow), Ned rig |
| Fall | 2 to 6 ft | midday & dawn | Jerkbait, Blade bait |
| Winter | 2 to 6 ft | midday | Blade bait, Hair jig |
Rainbow Trout fishing at Contoocook River
Start shallow in spring: rainbow trout sit in 2 to 6 ft that time of year. Summer fish stay in 2 to 6 ft, and winter fish hold in 1 to 6 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Current seam (mile 3.7): a current seam around 3 ft that scores prime in spring. Plan around early morning and the evening in the warm months. A dodger + spoon (deep troll) or a flutter spoon covers the summer program.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 6 ft | dawn & dusk | Inline spinner (silver), Small spoon |
| Summer | 2 to 6 ft | dawn & dusk | Dodger + spoon (deep troll), Flutter spoon |
| Fall | 2 to 6 ft | dawn & dusk | Casting spoon, Jerkbait over shoals |
| Winter | 1 to 6 ft | dawn | Jigging spoon, Tube jig (white) |
Brown Trout fishing at Contoocook River
Start shallow in spring: brown trout sit in 1 to 6 ft that time of year. Summer fish stay in 2 to 6 ft, and winter fish hold in 1 to 6 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Current seam (mile 3.7): a current seam around 3 ft that scores prime in summer. In summer the feeding windows fall in after dark and early morning. A spoon at the thermocline or a deep stickbait (night) covers the summer program.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 1 to 6 ft | dawn & dusk | Stickbait off planer boards (shallow), Small spoon along mud lines |
| Summer | 2 to 6 ft | night & dawn | Spoon at the thermocline, Deep stickbait (night) |
| Fall | 1 to 6 ft | dusk & dawn | Jerkbait over gravel, Casting spoon |
| Winter | 1 to 6 ft | dawn | Jigging spoon, Small stickbait (slow) |
Rock Bass fishing at Contoocook River
In spring, rock bass run shallow here, mostly 1 to 6 ft. Summer fish stay in 2 to 6 ft, and winter fish hold in 2 to 6 ft. Riffle & run (mile 12.4) is the standout, a rock pile at roughly 3 ft, rated prime for spring rock bass. In summer the feeding windows fall in the evening. Summer baits: a ned rig (small) or a marabou jig gets it done.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 1 to 6 ft | midday & dawn | 1/16 oz jig + grub, Small inline spinner |
| Summer | 2 to 6 ft | dusk | Ned rig (small), Marabou jig |
| Fall | 2 to 6 ft | midday | Small tube jig, Inline spinner |
| Winter | 2 to 6 ft | midday | Tungsten jig + plastic, Small spoon + spike |
Crappie fishing at Contoocook River
Start shallow in spring: crappie sit in 2 to 6 ft that time of year. Summer fish stay in 2 to 6 ft, and winter fish hold in 2 to 6 ft. The spot to know is Outside-bend hole (mile 0.6), a creek channel in about 5 ft of water that rates prime for crappie in fall. In summer the feeding windows fall in early morning and the evening. A jig trolled/spider-rigged or a small crankbait (trolled) covers the summer program.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 6 ft | midday & dawn | 1/16 oz jig + tube, Curly-tail grub |
| Summer | 2 to 6 ft | dawn & dusk | Jig trolled/spider-rigged, Small crankbait (trolled) |
| Fall | 2 to 6 ft | dawn | Jig + minnow combo, Small swimbait (1.5-2") |
| Winter | 2 to 6 ft | midday | Tungsten jig + soft plastic, Tiny jigging spoon |
Pumpkinseed fishing at Contoocook River
Spring pumpkinseed on Contoocook River hold shallow, usually 1 to 6 ft. Summer fish stay in 1 to 6 ft, and winter fish hold in 2 to 6 ft. The spot to know is Eddy pocket (mile 2.3), a eddy pocket in about 4 ft of water that rates prime for pumpkinseed in winter. Plan around the evening and early morning in the warm months. Summer baits: a micro tube or a sponge spider (fly) gets it done.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 1 to 6 ft | midday & dusk | Micro jig under a float, Tiny beetle-spin |
| Summer | 1 to 6 ft | dusk & dawn | Micro tube, Sponge spider (fly) |
| Fall | 2 to 6 ft | dusk & dawn | Micro jig + waxworm, Small spoon tipped |
| Winter | 2 to 6 ft | dawn | Tungsten ice jig + plastic, Tiny spoon |
Contoocook River also holds chain pickerel (1 to 6 ft in summer), largemouth bass (2 to 6 ft in summer), yellow perch (2 to 6 ft in summer), brown bullhead (2 to 6 ft in summer), bluegill (2 to 6 ft in summer), white perch (2 to 6 ft in summer). Pick any of them on the map above for rated spots and bait picks.
Notable structure
- Outside-bend hole (mile 0.6): creek channel, around 5 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 8.7): creek channel, around 5 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 15.2): creek channel, around 5 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 17.4): creek channel, around 5 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 20.2): creek channel, around 5 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 22.3): creek channel, around 5 ft
- Channel swing (mile 18.7): creek channel, around 5 ft
- Inside bend (mile 16.2): point, around 5 ft
- Channel swing (mile 21.1): creek channel, around 5 ft
- Current seam (mile 23.1): current seam, around 5 ft
- Eddy pocket (mile 9.5): eddy pocket, around 5 ft
- Current seam (mile 10.4): current seam, around 4 ft
- Eddy pocket (mile 2.3): eddy pocket, around 4 ft
- Inside bend (mile 13.7): point, around 4 ft
Common questions
How deep is Contoocook River?
Contoocook River is about 6 ft at its deepest point. The contours here are modeled from the water's real shape and maximum depth, so treat them as a rough guide.
What fish are in Contoocook River?
Anglers target largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, crappie, bluegill, rainbow trout, yellow perch, brown trout, chain pickerel, rock bass, white perch, pumpkinseed, brown bullhead on Contoocook River.
Where is the best fishing spot on Contoocook River?
Riffle & run (mile 12.4) is the top-rated area: a rock pile in about 3 ft of water that rates prime for smallmouth bass in spring. Open the map above to see every rated spot for each species and season.
When is the best time to fish Contoocook River?
For smallmouth bass, the summer bite is best in early morning and the evening. Each species page section below lists the seasonal windows, and the map shows a live NOW badge when you're inside one.
Nearby waters
Elm Brook Pool · Tom Pond · ROLF POND · Clement Pond · Pillsbury Lake · KEYSER POND
See how Contoocook River stacks up: best largemouth bass lakes in New Hampshire · best smallmouth bass lakes in New Hampshire · best crappie lakes in New Hampshire · best bluegill lakes in New Hampshire
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