Take Me Fishing!™

WHY FISH NH? New Hampshire Fish and Game Department

Just step outside to find scenic fishing here in wild Take Me New Hampshire – we’ve got great fishing around every corner: ™ u Fishing! 12,000 miles of river and streams. u 975 lakes and ponds. u Fishing for bass, trout, salmon, pike, walleye, pickerel, Southeast Region perch and more… u Record big fish – and some wily wild fish too! u Scenic vistas and wildlife abound. u Nearly a million trout stocked each year – just for you! Learn more about fishing in New Hampshire at fishnh.com © SCULPIES / DREAMSTIME.COM © HWAHL3 / DREAMSTIME.COM © HWAHL3

Shoreline Fishing Guide COMPOSITE IMAGE / DREAMSTIME.COM COMPOSITE IMAGE

New Hampshire Fish and Game Connecting you to life outdoors™

NEW HAMPSHIRE FISH AND GAME DEPARTMENT 11 Hazen Drive l Concord, NH 03301 l (603) 271-2501

Your purchase of fishing tackle and motorboat fuels, along with license sales, helps fund sport fish restoration and management in New Hampshire fishnh.com ROCHESTER Southeastern New Hampshire: 126 MAINE 202 Where fishing is close to home! STRAFFORD 16 Perhaps the most understated feature about 4 DOVER freshwater fishing in southeastern New Hampshire is 9 how easy it can be to escape the crowds, the traffic, NORTHWOOD BARRINGTON and the noise often associated with more populous 125 MADBURY areas. Traditionally, one thinks of heading to the White 152 DEERFIELD 4 Mountains and the northern part of the state to find refuge DURHAM 155 4 and solitude. Here in southeastern New Hampshire, too, NOTTINGHAM 108 16 with minimal effort and travel, you can cast a line in some LEE PAWTUCKAWAY NEWINGTON of the most scenic rivers and ponds in the state. LAKE 152 156 PORTSMOUTH NEWMARKET Try these shorebank fishing spots in 107 GREENLAND southeastern New Hampshire – just a few of EPPING RYE NEWFIELDS RAYMOND 33 the many the area has to offer. Featured sites 1 95 include: 125 101 STRATHAM FREMONT NORTH EXETER HAMPTON l BRENTWOOD Isinglass, Cocheco and Lamprey rivers 107 HAMPTON l Pawtuckaway Lake DANVILLE 108 HAMPTON l Lucas Pond, Barbadoes Pond and the Exeter KINGSTON FALLS Reservoir Fishing the Salt? Our Seashore Fishing Guide shows you where to go. Visit www.fishnh.com.

Catch-and-Release Fishing for fun, not food? Make sure you practice “catch-and-release.” A fish that is properly handled will have the best chance for survival. Here’s how: Never remove a deeply swallowed hook from the fish’s throat or stomach — instead, cut the leader and leave the hook in the fish. It will eventually work free or rust away. l Use barbless hooks or hooks with pinched barbs. l Land the fish quickly, so it does not become exhausted or stressed. l Release the fish while it’s still in the water. l To remove the hook, gently back it out of the fish’s

At different times of year, more than a dozen fish species can be caught from shore in southeastern New Hampshire waters. Fish of Southeastern New Hampshire Fish Identification Chart

Use this handy guide to choose the best baits and to see what kind of fish you’ve caught. Bluegill Baits to Use Largemouth Bass Natural Baits

Worms and crawlers

Grasshoppers and crickets Pumpkinseed Black Crappie

Minnows

Artificial Baits

Flies Jigs and horned pout ) (wet, dry, streamers) curl tail grubs Chain Pickerel Bullhead (

Spoons Crank baits Brook Trout Yellow Perch Yellow In-line spinner baits Topwater baits (popper)

Artificial putty baits Brown Trout

fishnh.com Rainbow Trout /USFWS ILLUSTRATIONS RAVER © DUANE Match Your Bait to Your Catch

The first Saturday in June and the third Saturday in January are free fishing days in N.H. Pawtuckaway Lake

Pawtuckaway State Park furnishes some trails around and largemouth bass, chain pickerel, yellow perch, black parts of Pawtuckaway Lake that shoreline anglers can use to crappie, brown bullhead, pumpkinseed, and bluegill. Fishing catch a variety of warmwater fish species, including small licenses can be purchased at the park store. There is a park admission fee. Take Exit 5 off Rt. 101 to Rt. 156

in Nottingham. ST EVEN S

H IL L 1. Fundy Cove

E R F

E R L O D NOTTINGHAM 152

A Trails can be accessed from the N.H. Fish and D

Game boat access site. Extensive shoreline

EET STR fishing opportunities on either side of the R O R A TE D T LU cove. No park entrance fee. From Rt. 156, take F

Deerfield Road and turn left onto Fundy Road.

D E E 2. Neal’s Cove R O F A IE K LD

Just off State Park Road, you’ll find a small I

R O

T A

parking area and good access for casting from

IL A TR Y D PAWTUCKAWAY N LE shore. From Rt. 156, turn onto Mountain Road D U Fundy G F E

STATE PARK Cove FA and follow signs to the park. RM

R D

156 . 3. Beach/campground B

E D

K R Footbridges allow access to small islands (no

fishing from the bridges). Fishing also available

2 L A Y N for campers with waterfront sites. Swim and E D A OA 3 R W picnic while you’re here! Plenty of parking.

C K A R U P

Neal’s T

Cove

E Horse T

A Island S T DRIVE H S O

R E

Park Entrance

M O U N T A I N

156

R O A HA D RRIMAN RAYMOND H IL L

EPPING R O A D © NHFG / VICTOR YOUNG PHOTO © NHFG / VICTOR YOUNG 0 3 1 2 Trails on either side of the Fundy Cove boat MILES launch provide ample shoreline fishing access.

For panfish, also try a small artificial fly or jig under a bobber. Sport Fish Restoration funds help manage N.H.’s fisheries. Southeastern N.H. Trout Ponds

Designated trout ponds offer anglers the unique opportunity to enjoy small bodies of water primarily managed for brook trout, brown trout and rainbow trout. These ponds have shorter fishing seasons to allow for greater trout growth and survival. They are stocked multiple times throughout the spring and early summer to enhance shoreline fishing success. Generally, these ponds have a five-fish or five-pound daily limit, and any legal fishing method/gear can be used. Be sure to check the pond’s specific regulations in theN.H. Freshwater Fishing Digest.

1. Lucas Pond, Northwood Access to Lucas Pond is granted to anglers by the town of Northwood. The access area includes a car top launch facility and enough room for several anglers to fish from shore. Motors are prohibited. At times, Lucas Pond can receive heavy fishing pressure, so the waterbody receives large numbers of brook trout, brown trout and rainbow trout. Older age classes of trout are also stocked in the pond. Take Lucas Pond Road off of

Rt. 43 or Rt. 152. PHOTO © NHFG / VICTOR YOUNG

B O

W 4

STR 9 EET 202 FOREST PETERS NORTH WMA 202 9 D RIVER A D O A R POND O

D L NORTHWOOD IE L F IL R H MO E UNT E ER AIN D OP CO

RO 43 A R D E P P U

L U 4 C D A Lucas Pond receives ample numbers D R A LUCAS S PO D O L N GA R D R IE POND L of brook, brown and rainbow trout as F A

WOODMAN R N E RO D E A D MARSH D well as some tiger trout. With good D L E WMA I F R R E RO E W AD shoreline access from the boat launch E NOTTINGHAM O D L

GE area, a good day of fishing is just a 152 BIG

R O A cast away. 43 D

LAMONTAGNE 0 2 COFFE 1 ET OWN WMA R

. MILES

See stocking info and fishing reports at:www.fishnh.com/fishing/trout-stocking.html Kids under age 16 fish for free. Southeastern N.H. Trout Ponds (cont.)

2. Barbadoes Pond, Madbury/Dover

Access to Barbadoes Pond is granted through a cooperative agreement with the City of Dover and the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department. Take Rt. 9 to Old Stage Road in Madbury. From the parking area, a five-minute walk down a smooth trail will take you to the eastern shoreline of Barbadoes Pond. This 16-acre pond is stocked with both brook trout and rainbow trout. Barbadoes Pond is not as heavily stocked as other designated trout ponds, but this is offset by the Long stretches of wide-open shoreline access and limited fishing pressure make limited fishing pressure here. Barbadoes Pond an ideal spot for some hassle-free fishing action.

T O D L E A N C O 9 D o R c

o R O N A BARRINGTON D O Riv S e T r A

D R DOVER

TOL S END AD S M RO A O ROA

H R D C

H N C E. U N V 16 T E A E R

BELLAMY 2 B

RESERVOIR U

BARBADOES L

D C A POND

R O O D A L L D A 125 D L D I A O S O R H TA R G E

L L Y

M S

R MADBURY C

HAYES R OAD

E LAN 108 RY HER C D ROA 0 2 155 MAST LEE 1 MILES © NHFG / VICTOR YOUNG PHOTOS © NHFG / VICTOR YOUNG

The best times to fish are the 3 days before and the 3 days after the full moon and new moon. Southeastern N.H. Trout Ponds (cont.)

3. Exeter Reservoir (Water Works Pond), Exeter

This smaller pond provides access along the eastern shoreline for anglers of all ages to catch brook trout and rainbow trout. The reservoir also receives a small number of older brook trout that will assuredly become a long- lasting memory if caught. Only shoreline angling is permitted. Access the pond from Rt. 108 in Exeter, just south of where it crosses under Rt. 101. A small road leading to the Exeter Sportsman’s Club parallels the

eastern shoreline. PHOTO © NHFG / VICTOR YOUNG

With a shoreline-only fishing

W BU N I K N policy and easy-to-find location,

E D r R

A N e

85 O IC v 108 H R

i I U Exeter Reservoir is a great spot L L T R

A RO

V AD

101 E N EXIT . for some fun family fishing time. EXIT IO

10 N

Brookies and rainbows are stocked

D here including some older, larger ROA G 27 IN ER EXIT V brook trout. 3 O L 11 S D HT A W IG RO t E AL t H N co U s T

AVE.

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BR O M

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D ROAD q

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EXETER

RESERVOIR R T 27 S 111 111 111 EXETER EXIT r

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W K 88 N

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1 2 3 4

The best times to fish are the 3 days before and the 3 days after the full moon and new moon. Over 130,000 trout are stocked in southeastern N.H. waters every year. Observe the water – let the fish show you where to cast. P IC K Fishing Seacoast Rivers E R IN G

ROCHESTER R SOMERSWORTH O A D Several beautiful rivers flow through southeastern

108 R C O o C ch New Hampshire, with excellent fishing for trout as I H e ATER ROAD s ES c BLACKW i T o n E R g R

l N 9 i well as warmwater species. Shoreline anglers should a E C v s K e s R r O

A be prepared for considerable walking and sometimes D

challenging terrain. That said, it’s hard to believe these 1 River scenic spots are so close to home! T 6 O T L H 125 E N S D T R 16 E R E O T 1. Isinglass River (Barrington/Rochester) A D 2 AD BARRINGTON O R

The stretch between the downstream side of the Rt. 108

C 125 crossing and the confluence with the Cocheco N o 9 O S c T h A eco W River offers year-round angling opportunity. Waste

TOLEN R D R iver 9 Management, Inc., maintains two nice public access OAD N UT E R points along Rochester Neck Road: A parking area O DOVER A D MADBURY approximately ½ mile from Rt. 125 on the right BELLAMY Barbadoes brings you to a fast-moving section of the Isinglass RESERVOIR Pond 9 River, where trout hold well. A second access point

M is found further down Rochester Neck Road, where A D

4 R the Isinglass River crosses under the road. R Y 108

R O 155 M A A D IN

D S 2. Cocheco River (Dover) A TR RO EE T Downstream of Watson Road in Dover, the Cocheco MAST 4 OAD 155 R yste O r

is quickly becoming a popular fishery. Thanks to R

DU iv L RH e L A WEDNESD I M r AY M

the efforts of several groups and the City of Dover, H P IL O L I NT R O ROAD public access and trout stocking have been restored LEE AD DURHAM

L E to this beautiful stretch of river. Access the river E

H y O Lampre O PA K C D R A K RO by following a converted railroad bed trail along R i E O v R A e S ET D r N EN B the northern side of the river. While many anglers OAD L R

ISWAL D

A F

A O

L R

L focus on the area downstream of the Watson Road S E

D R 108 O Dam, the trail gives anglers an easy opportunity to A 3 D fish much more of the river. Anglers who put in the extra effort to access downstream sections of the

Cocheco will be rewarded with gorgeous scenery. BA 152 Y ROAD GREAT BAY 3. Lamprey River (Durham) NEWMARKET 0 6 The area downstream of the Wiswall Dam to 2 4 the first trestle downstream of Packers Falls is MILES generously stocked with brook, brown, and rainbow trout. Ample parking provided by the town of the river provide anglers access to a variety of fishing opportunities. Durham is found on the eastern side of the river off There is also a small parking area off Bennett Road for anglers Wiswall Rd. From there, trails along both sides of fishing the Packer Falls area.

For panfish, also try a small artificial fly or jig under a bobber. Sport Fish Restoration funds help manage N.H.’s fisheries. Help Maintain Angler Access

Shoreline fishing opportunities in southeastern New R ROAD LACKWATE B Hampshire are dependent on a combination of public and private access locations. It’s no secret that continued access will only be ensured if we all act responsibly. Please do your part, because maintaining current access is much easier than restoring it. Tips for anglers on good landowner relations: l Before fishing on private property: Get permission. Ask the landowner where you should park, and if there are any areas or times that they would prefer you not fish. l While fishing: Remember that you are the guest of the landowner. Treat their property with the same care and Basic rigging setup respect that you would if it were your own. To rig your fishing rod, start with fresh bait and l Clean up! Don’t clean fish in and around waterbodies. a sharp hook. Add a nonlead sinker* to keep your bait Always carry out all trash, and pick up any debris that near the fish. Top it off with a bobber, which keeps your bait you find. off the bottom — and lets you know when you have a bite! l After the trip: Take time to express your appreciation * N.H. State Law prohibits the use of certain sizes to the landowner. of lead tackle in all fresh waters in the state. Learn more at fishleadfree.org. To learn more visit wildnh.com/landshare. Need-to-know knots Clinch Knot Palomar Knot

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REVISED 10/2016

“If the angler did not lose a fish now and then, he would surely not appreciate the capture of one” (The Angler’s Secret, 1904)