Fishing the Connecticut Lakes Region

At the northern tip of New Hampshire you'll find the headwaters of the mighty Connecticut River. Starting as a trickle near the Canadian border in Pittsburg, NH, the river forms a chain of lakes, the Connecticut Lakes, before making it's 400 mile journey to Old Saybrook, Connecticut. The Connecticut Lakes are deep, cold-water lakes, home to lake trout and landlocked salmon.

The river itself holds native brook trout, rainbow trout, and large brown trout. Landlocked salmon make their way into the river during spring spawning runs of bait fish and during their fall spawn. The river has fly-fishing only regulations on five miles of river. Most of the river is open to lure and bait as well. Two tail-water dams provide cold river water for miles downstream making summer fishing on the Connecticut River excellent.

Remote ponds with good brook trout populations, some with fly-fishing only regulations, dot the wilderness and are accessible by car using well maintained logging roads. Diversity and abundance of quality fishing water make Pittsburg, and the Connecticut Lakes Region a favorite fishing destination.

Spring Fishing

Ice out in the spring of the year begins our fishing season. Typically during the first week of May, ice will leave the lakes. Smelt and other baitfish spawn in the spring and it is their spawning which triggers the first of two landlocked salmon runs on the Connecticut River. Bait fish from the lakes enter the river with the salmon right behind them. This generally occurs about a week after ice out, perhaps less, and continues for two to three weeks depending on spring river flows. Area ponds fish well for trout shortly after ice out. Moose Pond, Middle Pond and Back Lake can be quite good in early and mid-May. By Memorial Day weekend the salmon run is waning but the trout fishing on the legendary Connecticut River is heating up! Streamer and nymph fishing is productive with the occasional Blue Winged Olive hatch occurring on warm, spring afternoons. June sees the first of a long series of Caddis hatches. Fishing in June is very good throughout our region. The big lakes fish well trolling for large lake trout and landlocked salmon. Ponds, both fly fishing and open regulation are excellent spots for brook trout while the river fishes well for Rainbow, Brook and Brown Trout as well as young Landlocked Salmon. Spring is a great time to be here!

Click here to see lists of local Fishing related businesses and Guide Services as well as business that issue Fish & Game Licenses

Text courtesy of Lopstick Outfitters