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Fishing Lake Francis: what the data says
2,051-acre lake near Pittsburg. The lake tops out around 70 ft. The depth chart is built from real state fisheries GPS surveys, so the humps, channels and drop-offs you see are measured, not guessed. Below is the species-by-species picture, pulled from the same data the map uses.
Rainbow Trout fishing at Lake Francis
Spring rainbow trout on Lake Francis hold shallow, usually 5 to 20 ft. They move out to 8 to 30 ft in summer and finish the year down in 8 to 40 ft. The spot to know is Break off the point, a drop-off in about 7 ft of water that rates prime for rainbow trout in winter. Plan around early morning and the evening in the warm months. Summer baits: a dodger + spoon (deep troll) or a flutter spoon gets it done.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 5 to 20 ft | dawn & dusk | Inline spinner (silver), Small spoon |
| Summer | 8 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | Dodger + spoon (deep troll), Flutter spoon |
| Fall | 10 to 35 ft | dawn & dusk | Casting spoon, Jerkbait over shoals |
| Winter | 8 to 40 ft | dawn | Jigging spoon, Tube jig (white) |
Yellow Perch fishing at Lake Francis
Start shallow in spring: yellow perch sit in 3 to 12 ft that time of year. By summer they slide out to 10 to 30 ft, and by winter most fish are in 15 to 35 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Shallow bay flat: a weed flat around 8 ft that scores prime in spring. In summer the feeding windows fall in early morning. A drop-shot micro plastics or a small spoon tipped with worm covers the summer program.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 12 ft | midday & dawn | Small jig + curly tail, Perch-pattern micro crank |
| Summer | 10 to 30 ft | dawn | Drop-shot micro plastics, Small spoon tipped with worm |
| Fall | 12 to 35 ft | midday | Jigging spoon (small), Perch rig / spreader |
| Winter | 15 to 35 ft | midday & dawn | Tungsten jig + spikes, Rattle spoon (small) |
Landlocked Salmon fishing at Lake Francis
Spring landlocked salmon on Lake Francis hold shallow, usually 1 to 15 ft. Summer pushes them deeper, 25 to 60 ft, and winter fish settle into 10 to 40 ft. Secondary point is the standout, a point at roughly 7 ft, rated prime for spring landlocked salmon. In summer the feeding windows fall in early morning and the evening. A dodger + streamer down deep or a thin spoon on lead core covers the summer program.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 1 to 15 ft | dawn & dusk | Streamer flies (Grey Ghost) off boards, Thin spoon (Mooselook style) |
| Summer | 25 to 60 ft | dawn & dusk | Dodger + streamer down deep, Thin spoon on lead core |
| Fall | 5 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | Casting spoon at the mouths, Streamers |
| Winter | 10 to 40 ft | dawn | Small jigging spoon, Swedish pimple + smelt |
Burbot fishing at Lake Francis
Spring burbot on Lake Francis hold shallow, usually 25 to 70 ft. Summer fish stay in 21 to 70 ft, and winter fish hold in 15 to 60 ft. The spot to know is Deep basin, a deep basin in about 70 ft of water that rates prime for burbot in spring. In summer the feeding windows fall in after dark and midday. Tie on a heavy jig + cut bait and you're in the game.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 25 to 70 ft | night & dusk | Glow jigging spoon + cut bait, Rattle bait (dark) |
| Summer | 21 to 70 ft | night & midday | Heavy jig + cut bait |
| Fall | 21 to 70 ft | night & dusk | Glow spoon + minnow head, Blade bait (slow) |
| Winter | 15 to 60 ft | night & dusk | Glow tungsten + cut bait, Rattle spoon + minnow head |
Chain Pickerel fishing at Lake Francis
Spring chain pickerel on Lake Francis hold shallow, usually 2 to 10 ft. They move out to 3 to 15 ft in summer and finish the year down in 5 to 18 ft. The spot to know is Shallow bay flat, a weed flat in about 8 ft of water that rates prime for chain pickerel in spring. Plan around early morning and the evening in the warm months. Summer baits: a weedless spoon + trailer or a buzzbait gets it done.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 10 ft | midday & dawn | Inline spinner (silver), Small spoon (red/white) |
| Summer | 3 to 15 ft | dawn & dusk | Weedless spoon + trailer, Buzzbait |
| Fall | 4 to 15 ft | midday & dawn | Jerkbait along weed edges, Spinnerbait |
| Winter | 5 to 18 ft | dawn | Jigging spoon (through ice) |
Lake Trout fishing at Lake Francis
Spring lake trout on Lake Francis hold shallow, usually 10 to 40 ft. By summer they slide out to 21 to 70 ft, and by winter most fish are in 18 to 70 ft. Deep basin is the standout, a deep basin at roughly 70 ft, rated prime for summer lake trout. Plan around early morning in the warm months. A white tube jig (deep) or a magnum spoon on downrigger covers the summer program.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 10 to 40 ft | dawn & dusk | Casting spoon over shoals, Jerkbait (shallow) |
| Summer | 21 to 70 ft | dawn | White tube jig (deep), Magnum spoon on downrigger |
| Fall | 10 to 50 ft | dusk & dawn | Heavy casting spoon, Jigging rap over reefs |
| Winter | 18 to 70 ft | dawn | White tube jig, Airplane jig |
Notable structure
- Deep basin: deep basin, around 70 ft
- Main-lake point: point, around 18 ft
- Shallow feeding flat: feeding flat, around 10 ft
- Shallow bay flat: weed flat, around 8 ft
- Secondary point: point, around 7 ft
- Back-bay flat: weed flat, around 7 ft
- Break off the point: drop-off, around 7 ft
Common questions
How deep is Lake Francis?
Lake Francis is about 70 ft at its deepest point. The depth chart here comes from real state fisheries GPS surveys, so the contours reflect measured depths.
What fish are in Lake Francis?
Anglers target rainbow trout, yellow perch, lake trout, landlocked salmon, chain pickerel, burbot on Lake Francis.
Where is the best fishing spot on Lake Francis?
Shallow bay flat is the top-rated area: a weed flat in about 8 ft of water that rates prime for yellow perch in spring. Open the map above to see every rated spot for each species and season.
When is the best time to fish Lake Francis?
For rainbow trout, 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
Back Lake · Diamond Pond · First Connecticut Lake · Diamond Pond, Little · Round Pond · Connecticut River
See how Lake Francis stacks up: best rainbow trout lakes in New Hampshire · best yellow perch lakes in New Hampshire · best lake trout lakes in New Hampshire · best landlocked salmon lakes in New Hampshire
Browse all New Hampshire fishing maps or every water on DepthScout. Bathymetry credit: state fisheries survey programs. How we build these maps. For fishing guidance only, never navigation.