New Hampshire fishing reports
66 reports for New Hampshire — what's biting, water temps, and where to focus.
Winnipesaukee Smallmouth Enter Pre-Spawn Window as Spring Warms
The Winnipesaukee River is draining at 1,180 cfs as of May 17 (USGS gauge 01081000), a level consistent with normal late-spring outflow from the lake. No water temperature reading was available this cycle. Our regional intel feeds carried no NH-specific angler reports this week; the closest freshwater read comes from The Fisherman — New England Freshwater, where Fisherman's World notes strong largemouth and smallmouth action at southern New England impoundments along with crappies and perch in season. The Fisherman — Cape Cod & Islands adds that area freshwater fishing "has not missed a beat," with big trout and largemouth active in local ponds and lakes. At Winnipesaukee in the third week of May, smallmouth bass are typically staged on rocky shoals in pre-spawn mode — the most reliably productive window of the season. Landlocked salmon remain accessible near mid-column depths before surface temps push them off the shallows entirely. The New Moon phase coincides with this mid-May transition, favoring low-light morning and evening bites.
Spring striper push reaches NH coast as new moon kicks in
Water reading 49°F off the NH coast per NOAA buoy 44007, and the spring striper migration has arrived right on cue. The Fisherman's South Shore MA to ME correspondents at Surfland Bait report fish actively exiting the Merrimack River — overwintered bass now moving downriver to feed — while early migratory arrivals are simultaneously making landfall along the shoreline. On The Water's May 15 migration map confirms the push has fully extended through the Northeast, with fish now reaching Maine. The Fisherman (Northeast) calls the regional run "supercharged," with sizes averaging the upper-teens to 20 pounds and some 40-pound-class fish entering coastal waters to the south. Saltwater Edge's May new moon forecast notes that lunar tidal exchanges historically bring waves of migratory bass and bait together in force. With the migration front now squarely at NH's doorstep and the new moon hitting today, the next several days shape up as the most promising striper window of the young season.
Bass enter post-spawn stride across NH's Merrimack and Winnipesaukee
The Merrimack River is running at 285 cfs as of May 16 (USGS gauge 01073500) — a moderate, fishable level suggesting the spring flush has peaked and conditions are stabilizing. The Fisherman — South Shore MA to ME's Surfland report notes that stripers which wintered in the lower Merrimack are now exiting the river and pushing toward coastal waters, clearing the stage for NH's resident freshwater fishery. On The Water's May 15 striper migration map confirms the Northeast push is fully extended, a reliable signal that spring is well underway across the region. For bass anglers, Tactical Bassin notes that post-spawn fish are actively schooling this week, with swimbaits, chatterbaits, and topwater producing well as fish transition off beds. A New Moon on May 17 tightens the best action into low-light windows at dawn and dusk. No Lake Winnipesaukee-specific reports are in hand this week, but mid-May historically puts Winnipesaukee smallmouth in an aggressive post-spawn feeding phase.
Spring Stripers Pushing onto the NH Coast as Migration Surges North
Water is running at 49°F per NOAA buoy 44007, and the spring striper migration pressing up the Northeast coastline is beginning to reach NH waters. The Fisherman — South Shore MA to ME reports overwintered stripers already exiting the Merrimack River and actively feeding, while quality fish approaching 20 pounds have been confirmed as far north as Boston Harbor — roughly 60 miles southwest of the NH seacoast. On The Water's May 8 striper migration map characterizes the 2026 push as exceptionally strong, with post-spawn bass spreading from New Jersey through Rhode Island and trending north fast. The Fisherman (Northeast) reinforced that picture, logging fish to 47 inches in Narragansett Bay as of May 7. NH coast anglers should find early arrivals working jetty ends, river mouths, and rocky structure now, with the main wave likely just days away. Seas are running at a manageable 2.6 feet and winds are light, making most access points fishable.
Lake Winnipesaukee spring transition: landlocked salmon and bass on the move
The Winnipesaukee River outlet gauge (USGS 01081000) registered 401 cfs on the evening of May 11, reflecting active spring runoff conditions on Lake Winnipesaukee. No water temperature reading was available from instruments this cycle — check locally before committing to depth strategies. Mid-May typically places the lake squarely in its prime window for landlocked Atlantic salmon, with fish still holding in the upper water column as surface temps climb toward the preferred range. Regional freshwater patterns, per Tactical Bassin, are firmly in post-spawn bass territory: "the bluegill spawn is in full swing" across the Northeast, with largemouth hitting topwater frogs and poppers over heavy cover. Smallmouth on Winnipesaukee should be in a similar transitional phase — some still on beds, others beginning to push toward deeper structure. The Fisherman — New England Freshwater notes strong crappie and trout action on ponds across southern New England, a pattern that typically arrives in central New Hampshire a week or two later. No NH-specific charter or shop reports were available this cycle.
Merrimack Stripers on the Move as NH Bass Post-Spawn Transition Begins
Striped bass that overwintered in the Merrimack River are actively pushing downriver this week, per The Fisherman — South Shore MA to ME's Surfland Bait report — a reliable mid-May movement that brings quality fish through accessible stretches of the river. USGS gauge 01073500 registered 195 cfs at midday on May 11, indicating moderate, fishable spring levels in the drainage. For bass anglers, the picture is similarly encouraging: Tactical Bassin reports the bluegill spawn in full swing across the Northeast, a reliable cue that largemouth are clearing their beds and shifting into opportunistic post-spawn feeding with topwater and swimbait patterns producing well. Lake Winnipesaukee-specific conditions data was unavailable this reporting cycle; typical mid-May patterns for the lake have landlocked salmon and lake trout pulling toward transitional depths as surface temps climb. The waning crescent this week supports early-morning low-light windows for surface-oriented fish.
Winnipesaukee Bass Near the Spawn as NH's May Season Opens
The Fisherman — New England Freshwater reports largemouth bass hitting hard across southern New England this week, with one angler landing a 7.25-lb fish on a bladed jig after dark and confirming bass visible on beds in Rhode Island — a signal that Winnipesaukee's own bass are likely staging for or entering the spawn as May progresses. No water temperature reading is available at this time; the nearest USGS gauge (01081000, Pemigewasset River at Plymouth, NH) is flowing at 412 cfs, reflecting active spring runoff across the Merrimack watershed. With ice-out now weeks past, lake trout and landlocked salmon are likely settled into their classic early-season trolling zones at 20–40 feet. Tactical Bassin confirms the bluegill spawn is in full swing across the Northeast — a development that traditionally pushes big bass onto shallow rocky flats, setting up one of the year's better topwater windows.
Spring striper push closes in on NH coast — arrival imminent
A 35-inch striper pulled from the mouth of the Merrimack River on a paddletail shad — reported this week by The Fisherman — South Shore MA to ME — signals the spring migration is at New Hampshire's doorstep. Water temps at NOAA buoy 44007 are running at 45°F, still cold, but the fish aren't waiting. Fresh bass have now reached the South Shore of Massachusetts and are moving further north with each passing day, per Dave Anderson in that same outlet. On The Water's May 8 migration map shows the 2026 push running at full speed from the Chesapeake through Rhode Island, and The Fisherman (Northeast) logged stripers to 47 inches in Narragansett Bay last week. NH river mouths, estuary edges, and rocky headlands are the prime targets as the first real arrival window of the season approaches.
Shad run crests and stripers push north as NH spring migration peaks
A 35-inch striped bass pulled from the mouth of the Merrimack River on a paddletail shad — reported this week by a Surfland Bait clerk via The Fisherman — South Shore MA to ME — marks the first confirmed migratory fish reaching the NH border zone. Shad are building fast: North Andover is the current hot zone on the lower Merrimack, per the same report, with numbers climbing daily. On The Water's May 8 striper migration map confirms post-spawn bass are pouring out of the Chesapeake and spreading northeast from New Jersey to Rhode Island at full speed. Dave Anderson's dispatch in The Fisherman — South Shore MA to ME calls for a rapid increase in striper numbers and size over the next ten days. Farther inland, Lake Winnipesaukee's post-spawn bass transition is underway — Tactical Bassin notes the bluegill spawn is in full swing, a reliable cue that largemouth are cruising shallow heavy cover — though no specific NH lake reports appear in this week's feeds.
Salmon and Lakers Lead Early-May Action on Winnipesaukee
The Winnipesaukee River at Tilton (USGS gauge 01081000) recorded 382 cfs this morning, reflecting healthy spring runoff across the Lakes Region watershed. No water temperature reading is available from gauges this cycle, though early May in the NH Lakes Region typically sees surface temps climbing through the upper 40s to low 50s°F as post-ice-out warming accelerates. No NH-specific tackle-shop or charter reports came through this period, so species calls lean on seasonal pattern and regional freshwater sources. The Fisherman — New England Freshwater notes anglers across the region beginning to shift attention toward bass and panfish as spring trout stocking activity winds down. Landlocked salmon and lake trout — Winnipesaukee's signature cold-water species — remain most active at this point in the season before summer stratification pushes them into the depths. Smallmouth bass are likely pre-spawn, staging along rocky shorelines. The waning gibbous moon may suppress surface feeding during peak overhead periods; plan for early morning and evening windows. Check state regulations before targeting any species.
Spring Striper Vanguard at the Merrimack
NOAA buoy 44007 recorded 44°F water and near-calm 1 m/s winds off the NH coast early Thursday — cold, but the migration freight train is on schedule. The sharpest on-the-ground signal for this stretch came from The Fisherman — South Shore MA to ME, where a Surfland Bait and Tackle staffer reported landing a 35-inch striper from the Merrimack River mouth, almost certainly a holdover working its way back to sea. The broader migration picture is bullish: OTW Saltwater's May 5 migration report placed fresh stripers filling in on Cape Cod, and Dave Anderson (via The Fisherman — South Shore MA to ME) wrote that fish reaching the South Shore "will be migrating further north with each passing day." The full-moon surge that lit up Narragansett Bay and the Cape Cod Canal this past week, per Saltwater Edge Blog and The Fisherman — Cape Cod & Islands, is moving northeast. NH coast anglers may be days away from the first consistent bite of 2026.
35-inch holdover striper hits Merrimack as shad bite builds
A 35-inch striped bass hammered a paddletail shad at the mouth of the Merrimack River last Sunday morning — almost certainly a holdover working its way downriver, per The Fisherman — South Shore MA to ME. Shad action is also slowly picking up along the Merrimack corridor, with North Andover already tagged as the hot zone by the same source. USGS gauge 01073500 logged a moderate 119 cfs in the early hours of May 7, offering manageable flows that should concentrate migratory fish at pool heads and current seams. No direct angler reports came through for Lake Winnipesaukee this week, but early May is prime post-spawn territory for the lake's smallmouth bass on its rocky shoals. Across the broader region, bass are deep in the post-spawn transition with multiple presentations working, per Tactical Bassin — topwater at first light through finesse mid-lake. The waning gibbous moon favors early-morning and late-evening feeding windows heading into the weekend.