Lake Massabesic, New Hampshire: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  The Hillsborough County end of New Hampshire holds Lake Massabesic. Height above sea level is 312 feet. Around 25 miles of margin, so directions matter more than a general plan. Of the waters listed here in Hillsborough County, this is the largest. Head to Auburn, 1.7 miles away, for anything you forgot. Beyond it, South Hooksett at 3.9 miles and Manchester at 4 miles. Rules can differ a short way off, since the county line is near.

• Where to Fish on Lake Massabesic

  Our records give 50 ft, so you have a figure to work from. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Fish documented in Hillsborough County include rainbow trout, largemouth bass and brown trout. Those are county-wide records, so not every one of them will be in this water. On Lake Massabesic the obvious spot is not always the productive one.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Averages here run 70°F at the top of summer and 21°F at the bottom of winter. Cold locks it up for a good stretch each year. Once it clears, about early April, the fishing comes on quickly. Climate averages put the opening at about early April and the closing near mid December. June through September is the settled part of the year, with the shoulders busier for fish. It holds true on Lake Massabesic more years than not.

• Tackle & Baits

  Our records put this down as public water. This is a reservoir by origin, with the deepest water near the dam. There is somewhere to leave the car, half a mile off. Manchester Waterworks runs up to the bank here, which usually means extra restrictions. A landowner's word beats anything printed elsewhere. Some ground is open by custom rather than by right, so tread carefully. If the gate is shut, Stevens Pond at 2.3 miles is the nearest alternative. Treat access at Lake Massabesic as something to verify.