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5 km of the Squamscott River navigation corridor, with channel depths from USACE hydrographic survey. The river tops out around 19 ft. The depth chart comes from U.S. Army Corps of Engineers bathymetric survey data, so the contours are survey-derived rather than computer-modeled. What the data behind the map says about each species, season by season:
Squamscott River maps at 2,153 acres behind 9.9 miles of shoreline. With a 1.5 development index there's bank structure worth casting at, in moderation. Tip to tip the water measures near 3.7 mi with a 1.4-mi widest point. Its nearest charted neighbour, EXETER RESERVOIR, is 4 mi to the south.
Come spring, look for smallmouth bass tight to the bank in 3 to 12 ft. Expect a summer slide to 6 to 19 ft, then a winter hold in 6 to 19 ft. Start at Outside-bend hole (mile 0.2). It's a creek channel holding about 13 ft of water and rates good come winter. Prime time lands in early morning and the evening. A drop shot (goby/minnow) or a ned rig is the honest summer answer here.
Depth note: when a documented seasonal range extends below this chart, the table shows the deepest mapped working water, not a verified holding depth.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 12 ft | dawn & dusk | open water | Ned rig, Tube jig |
| Summer | 6 to 19 ft chart-limited; documented 10 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | Outside-bend hole (mile 0.2) (13 ft) | Drop shot (goby/minnow), Ned rig |
| Fall | 6 to 19 ft chart-limited; documented 8 to 25 ft | midday & dawn | Outside-bend hole (mile 0.2) (13 ft) | Jerkbait, Blade bait |
| Winter | 6 to 19 ft chart-limited; documented 20 to 45 ft | midday | Outside-bend hole (mile 0.2) (13 ft) | Blade bait, Hair jig |
Early season rainbow trout use the shallows, holding in 5 to 19 ft. Even in summer they hold at 5 to 19 ft; winter keeps them in 4 to 19 ft. The chart's best answer is Outside-bend hole (mile 0.2) — creek channel, 13 ft, prime for summer. Best bite is early morning and the evening. Tie on a dodger + spoon (deep troll) or a flutter spoon and you're in the game.
Depth note: when a documented seasonal range extends below this chart, the table shows the deepest mapped working water, not a verified holding depth.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 5 to 19 ft chart-limited; documented 5 to 20 ft | dawn & dusk | open water | Inline spinner (silver), Small spoon |
| Summer | 5 to 19 ft chart-limited; documented 8 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | Outside-bend hole (mile 0.2) (13 ft) | Dodger + spoon (deep troll), Flutter spoon |
| Fall | 5 to 19 ft chart-limited; documented 10 to 35 ft | dawn & dusk | Outside-bend hole (mile 0.2) (13 ft) | Casting spoon, Jerkbait over shoals |
| Winter | 4 to 19 ft chart-limited; documented 8 to 40 ft | dawn | Outside-bend hole (mile 0.2) (13 ft) | Jigging spoon, Tube jig (white) |
Spring puts brown trout in skinny water — 2 to 19 ft is the zone. Summer fish stay in 6 to 19 ft, and winter fish hold in 3 to 19 ft. Warm-month bites cluster around after dark and early morning. A spoon at the thermocline or a deep stickbait (night) covers the summer program.
Depth note: when a documented seasonal range extends below this chart, the table shows the deepest mapped working water, not a verified holding depth.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 19 ft chart-limited; documented 3 to 25 ft | dawn & dusk | open water | Stickbait off planer boards (shallow), Small spoon along mud lines |
| Summer | 6 to 19 ft chart-limited; documented 25 to 60 ft | night & dawn | open water | Spoon at the thermocline, Deep stickbait (night) |
| Fall | 3 to 19 ft chart-limited; documented 5 to 30 ft | dusk & dawn | open water | Jerkbait over gravel, Casting spoon |
| Winter | 3 to 19 ft chart-limited; documented 5 to 35 ft | dawn | open water | Jigging spoon, Small stickbait (slow) |
Come spring, look for crappie tight to the bank in 2 to 8 ft. Expect a summer slide to 6 to 19 ft, then a winter hold in 6 to 19 ft. Start at Outside-bend hole (mile 0.2). It's a creek channel holding about 13 ft of water and rates prime come fall. Prime time lands in early morning and the evening. A jig trolled/spider-rigged or a small crankbait (trolled) is the honest summer answer here.
Depth note: when a documented seasonal range extends below this chart, the table shows the deepest mapped working water, not a verified holding depth.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 8 ft | midday & dawn | Outside-bend hole (mile 2.2) (7 ft) | 1/16 oz jig + tube, Curly-tail grub |
| Summer | 6 to 19 ft chart-limited; documented 10 to 25 ft | dawn & dusk | Outside-bend hole (mile 0.2) (13 ft) | Jig trolled/spider-rigged, Small crankbait (trolled) |
| Fall | 6 to 19 ft chart-limited; documented 8 to 20 ft | dawn | Outside-bend hole (mile 0.2) (13 ft) | Jig + minnow combo, Small swimbait (1.5-2") |
| Winter | 6 to 19 ft chart-limited; documented 15 to 35 ft | midday | Outside-bend hole (mile 0.2) (13 ft) | Tungsten jig + soft plastic, Tiny jigging spoon |
The spring pattern is a shallow one: pumpkinseed in 1 to 8 ft. Midsummer fish sit out in 2 to 10 ft before dropping to 6 to 18 ft for 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 | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 1 to 8 ft | midday & dusk | open water | Micro jig under a float, Tiny beetle-spin |
| Summer | 2 to 10 ft | dusk & dawn | open water | Micro tube, Sponge spider (fly) |
| Fall | 4 to 14 ft | dusk & dawn | open water | Micro jig + waxworm, Small spoon tipped |
| Winter | 6 to 18 ft | dawn | open water | Tungsten ice jig + plastic, Tiny spoon |
The spring pattern is a shallow one: chain pickerel in 2 to 10 ft. As the season builds they drop to 3 to 15 ft, wintering in 5 to 18 ft. Time it for early morning and the evening. Summer baits: a weedless spoon + trailer or a buzzbait gets it done.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 10 ft | midday & dawn | open water | Inline spinner (silver), Small spoon (red/white) |
| Summer | 3 to 15 ft | dawn & dusk | open water | Weedless spoon + trailer, Buzzbait |
| Fall | 4 to 15 ft | midday & dawn | open water | Jerkbait along weed edges, Spinnerbait |
| Winter | 5 to 18 ft | dawn | open water | Jigging spoon (through ice) |
Squamscott River also holds largemouth bass (6 to 19 ft in summer), yellow perch (6 to 19 ft in summer), brown bullhead (3 to 12 ft in summer), bluegill (4 to 15 ft in summer), white perch (6 to 19 ft in summer). Pick any of them on the map above for rated spots and bait picks.
Count 2 structure marks on this chart. The deepest, Outside-bend hole (mile 0.2), sits near 13 ft.
Access data: New Hampshire Fish & Game — Public Access Sites. Confirm conditions and fees locally before you launch.
Season dates, license requirements, and size and bag limits for New Hampshire waters are set by the New Hampshire Fish and Game — and special regulations can apply to Squamscott River specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official New Hampshire fishing regulations →
Squamscott River is about 19 ft (6 m) deep at its deepest point. The depth chart comes from U.S. Army Corps of Engineers bathymetric survey data, so the contours are survey-derived rather than computer-modeled.
Anglers target smallmouth bass, rainbow trout, brown trout, crappie, pumpkinseed, chain pickerel, largemouth bass, yellow perch, brown bullhead, bluegill, white perch on Squamscott River. This isn't a survey of the water — none is published for it — but an informed estimate from the species common to the region, narrowed by this water's depth, size and each species' range.
Outside-bend hole (mile 0.2) is the top-rated area: a creek channel in about 13 ft of water that rates prime for crappie in fall. The map above holds the full rated-spot list for every species and season.
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.
Fishing on Squamscott River is regulated by the New Hampshire Fish and Game. Check the official New Hampshire regulations for current license requirements, season dates, and size and bag limits — special regulations can apply to this specific water.
EXETER RESERVOIR 4 mi · Wheelwright Pond 8 mi · EEL POND 9 mi · Bellamy River 9 mi · Piscataqua River 10 mi · Greenwood Pond 10 mi · Little Harbor 10 mi · BARBADOES POND 10 mi · Powwow Pond 10 mi · Bellamy Reservoir 10 mi · Portsmouth Harbor 11 mi, NH/ME · Great Pond 11 mi
See how Squamscott 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
Browse all New Hampshire fishing maps. See every water on DepthScout. Bathymetry credit: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. How we build these maps. Fish here with a sonar unit that logs? Send us your depth data and we'll improve this chart, credited to you. For fishing guidance only, never navigation.