Live wading and fishing conditions for 31 New Hampshire rivers
Every river below is monitored through its USGS streamflow gauges, refreshed every 15 minutes and rated in plain language for wading safety. Select a river for the live dashboard with current flow, trend, weather and community reports.
Upper Connecticut (Pittsburg)
New Hampshire's flagship trout water — the cold, dam-fed reaches of the Connecticut below First, Second, and Third Connecticut Lakes at Pittsburg, including the storied Trophy Stretch. Flow is entirely generation-driven: it fishes best on stable low releases and turns pushy and off-color when the dams spin up, so the release matters more than any single CFS number.
Region: Great North Woods · Fish for: Brook Trout, Landlocked Salmon · USGS gauges: Connecticut R Below Indian Stream Nr Pittsburg, Nh
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Androscoggin River
The North Country's trophy trout river — the Androscoggin below Errol dam runs cold and big through Thirteen-Mile Woods, holding wild and holdover brook trout, browns, rainbows, and landlocked salmon. It is a dam-regulated big river best drifted or waded on the edges; the reach downstream toward Gorham warms and adds smallmouth.
Region: Great North Woods · Fish for: Brook Trout, Brown Trout · USGS gauges: Androscoggin River At Errol, Nh, Androscoggin River Below Bog Brook At Cambridge Nh, Androscoggin River Near Gorham, Nh
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Pemigewasset River
The spine of the White Mountains' western drainage — the Pemi runs from Franconia Notch and the wild East Branch at Lincoln down through Woodstock and Plymouth, cold trout water up top that grows into a broad smallmouth river below. Stocked rainbows and wild brookies up high, salmon near the lakes, and strong smallmouth in the lower runs.
Region: White Mountains · Fish for: Rainbow Trout, Brook Trout · USGS gauges: East Branch Pemigewasset River At Lincoln, Nh, Pemigewasset River At Woodstock, Nh, Pemigewasset River At Plymouth, Nh
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Saco River
The Mount Washington Valley's signature river — the Saco runs cold and clear off the Presidentials through Bartlett and Crawford Notch, holding stocked and wild trout up high and smallmouth in the sandy, slower reaches around Conway. A popular float-and-wade river that fishes well spring through fall.
Region: White Mountains · Fish for: Brook Trout, Rainbow Trout · USGS gauges: Saco River At River Street, At Bartlett, Nh, Saco River Near Conway, Nh
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Merrimack River
New Hampshire's big central river — formed at Franklin where the Pemi and Winnipesaukee meet, the Merrimack rolls south through Concord, Manchester, and Nashua as a broad smallmouth river, with a spring American-shad run reaching the Amoskeag fishway in Manchester. A boat-and-bank big river best May through fall.
Region: Merrimack Valley · Fish for: Smallmouth Bass, American Shad · USGS gauges: Merrimack River At Franklin Junction, Nh, Merrimack R Nr Goffs Falls, Below Manchester, Nh
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Ammonoosuc River
A classic White Mountain freestone tumbling off the western slope of Mount Washington through Bethlehem, Littleton, and Lisbon to the Connecticut — one of NH's best-known trout rivers, with stocked and wild brook, brown, and rainbow trout in cold, wadeable pocket water. Big-fish potential in the deeper runs and a beautiful riverwalk through Littleton.
Region: White Mountains · Fish for: Rainbow Trout, Brook Trout · USGS gauges: Ammonoosuc River At Bethlehem Junction, Nh
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Contoocook River
One of the few New England rivers that flows north — the Contoocook runs from Peterborough through Henniker and Hopkinton to the Merrimack at Penacook, a versatile river with stocked trout up high and strong smallmouth, pickerel, and largemouth in the broad middle and lower reaches. A staple of the Monadnock and Merrimack valley fishery.
Region: Merrimack Valley · Fish for: Smallmouth Bass, Rainbow Trout · USGS gauges: Contoocook River At Peterborough, Nh, Contoocook River Near Henniker, Nh, Contoocook R Bl Hopkinton Dam At W Hopkinton, Nh
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Connecticut River
New Hampshire's western border river — below the Pittsburg tailwaters the Connecticut broadens through Stratford, Lancaster, Lebanon, and Walpole as a big, dam-regulated river holding smallmouth, trout in the cooler upper reaches, walleye, and largemouth in the slower pools. A boat-and-bank big river shared with Vermont; flow is regulated by the upstream dams (Wilder, Bellows Falls).
Region: Connecticut River Valley · Fish for: Smallmouth Bass, Brown Trout · USGS gauges: Connecticut River At North Stratford, Nh, Connecticut River Near Dalton, Nh, Connecticut River At West Lebanon, Nh, Connecticut River At North Walpole, Nh
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Diamond River
A remote, cold tributary of the Androscoggin dropping out of the Dartmouth College Grant near Wentworth Location — pocket water and plunge pools full of wild brook trout, with salmon and browns running up from the Errol reach. Rugged, freestone, and worth the walk.
Region: Great North Woods · Fish for: Brook Trout, Brown Trout · USGS gauges: Diamond River Near Wentworth Location, Nh
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Ashuelot River
The Monadnock region's signature river — the Ashuelot runs from Gilsum through Keene, Swanzey, and Winchester to the Connecticut at Hinsdale, cold trout water below Surry Mountain dam and in the upper gorge that grows into a broad smallmouth river downstream. Stocked rainbows and wild brookies up top, strong smallmouth in the lower runs, with excellent access through Ashuelot River Park in Keene.
Region: Monadnock Region · Fish for: Rainbow Trout, Smallmouth Bass · USGS gauges: Ashuelot River Near Gilsum, Nh, Ashuelot River Below Surry Mt Dam, Near Keene, Nh, Ashuelot River At West Swanzey, Nh, Ashuelot River At Hinsdale, Nh
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Winnipesaukee River
The short, dam-regulated outlet of Lake Winnipesaukee running from Lakeport through Tilton to Franklin, where it joins the Pemi to form the Merrimack — warmwater smallmouth and pickerel with landlocked salmon dropping down from the big lake in cold water. A river-trail river with easy urban access.
Region: Lakes Region · Fish for: Smallmouth Bass, Landlocked Salmon · USGS gauges: Winnipesaukee River At Tilton, Nh
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Souhegan River
A lively Monadnock-region tributary of the Merrimack running from Greenville through Wilton and Milford to Merrimack — a designated river with stocked and wild trout in the riffly upper reaches and smallmouth in the warmer lower water. A popular, accessible fishery with a whitewater personality in high flow.
Region: Merrimack Valley · Fish for: Smallmouth Bass, Rainbow Trout · USGS gauges: Souhegan River (Site Wlr-1) Near Milford, Nh, Souhegan River At Merrimack, Nh
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Lamprey River
The Seacoast's premier warmwater river — the Lamprey winds through Raymond, Epping, and Lee to the tidal head at Newmarket, holding strong smallmouth, largemouth, and pickerel, plus spring runs of shad and river herring at the Wiswall and Macallen fishways. A designated Wild and Scenic river with excellent access.
Region: Seacoast · Fish for: Smallmouth Bass, American Shad · USGS gauges: Lamprey River At Langford Road, At Raymond, Nh, Lamprey River Near Newmarket, Nh
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Baker River
A clean White Mountain freestone draining the Warren and Wentworth valleys to the Pemigewasset at Plymouth — cold, wadeable trout water with stocked and wild brookies and rainbows, plus smallmouth near the mouth. Easy access off NH 25 and a favorite family trout river.
Region: White Mountains · Fish for: Brook Trout, Rainbow Trout · USGS gauges: Baker River Near Rumney, Nh
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Sugar River
A trout river draining Lake Sunapee through Newport and Claremont to the Connecticut — stocked and wild brook, brown, and rainbow trout in the cold riffles, with a rail-trail (the Sugar River Trail) running alongside for easy access and smallmouth in the warmer lower water. A staple of the Dartmouth-Sunapee fishery.
Region: Dartmouth-Lake Sunapee · Fish for: Brook Trout, Rainbow Trout · USGS gauges: Sugar River 0.2 Mi Below Nh 11, At Sunapee, Nh, Sugar River At West Claremont, Nh
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Smith River
A spirited freestone draining the hills above Bristol to the Pemigewasset — a well-known stocked and wild trout river with a scenic gorge, plunge pools, and a whitewater reach at Profile Falls. Cold and wadeable in the upper water, with smallmouth near the mouth.
Region: Lakes Region · Fish for: Rainbow Trout, Brook Trout · USGS gauges: Smith River Near Bristol, Nh
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Piscataquog River
A three-branch Merrimack tributary draining the hills west of Manchester through Weare, New Boston, and Goffstown — cold trout water below the Everett flood-control dam and in the upper branches, warming into smallmouth and pickerel water toward the mouth. Good access via Clough State Park and the river's town crossings.
Region: Merrimack Valley · Fish for: Smallmouth Bass, Brook Trout · USGS gauges: Piscataquog River Bl Everett Dam, Nr E Weare, Nh, South Branch Piscataquog River Near Goffstown, Nh, Piscataquog River Near Goffstown, Nh
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Isinglass River
A clean, protected Seacoast tributary of the Cocheco running through Barrington and Strafford — a designated river with stocked and wild trout up top and smallmouth and pickerel in the warmer downstream water. Small and scenic, with good conservation-area access.
Region: Seacoast · Fish for: Brook Trout, Smallmouth Bass · USGS gauges: Isinglass R At Rochester Neck Rd, Nr Dover, Nh
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Upper Ammonoosuc River
A North Country freestone draining the Nash Stream and Kilkenny country through Stark and Groveton to the Connecticut — stocked and wild brook trout with browns and rainbows in the deeper runs. A quiet, scenic river distinct from the White Mountains' Ammonoosuc to the south.
Region: Great North Woods · Fish for: Brook Trout · USGS gauges: Upper Ammonoosuc River Near Groveton, Nh
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Bearcamp River
A pretty freestone draining the Sandwich Range through Tamworth toward Ossipee Lake — cold trout water up high that warms into smallmouth and pickerel water downstream. A mix of pocket water and quiet runs, best late spring and fall.
Region: Lakes Region · Fish for: Brook Trout, Smallmouth Bass · USGS gauges: Bearcamp River At South Tamworth, Nh
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Exeter River
A slow, tannic Seacoast river winding through Sandown, Brentwood, and Exeter to the tidal Squamscott — classic warmwater habitat full of chain pickerel, largemouth, and yellow perch, with smallmouth in the faster reaches. A gentle paddle-and-fish river best spring through fall.
Region: Seacoast · Fish for: Chain Pickerel, Largemouth Bass · USGS gauges: Exeter River At Odell Road, Near Sandown, Nh, Exeter River At Haigh Road, Near Brentwood, Nh
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Cocheco River
A Seacoast warmwater river running through Rochester and Dover toward Great Bay — smallmouth, pickerel, and largemouth in the slow reaches, with stocked trout up high and river herring at the fishways. Urban in stretches but a solid year-round warmwater fishery.
Region: Seacoast · Fish for: Smallmouth Bass, Chain Pickerel · USGS gauges: Cocheco River Near Rochester, Nh
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Peabody River
A steep White Mountain freestone tumbling off the Presidential Range through Pinkham Notch to the Androscoggin at Gorham — cold, clear pocket water full of wild and stocked brook trout. Small water, big scenery, best in early summer after runoff drops.
Region: White Mountains · Fish for: Brook Trout · USGS gauges: Peabody River At Gorham, New Hampshire
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Suncook River
A warmwater Merrimack tributary running from the Suncook Lakes through Epsom and Chichester to Pembroke — smallmouth, pickerel, and largemouth in the slow reaches and impoundments. A modest but productive southern-tier river best spring through fall.
Region: Merrimack Valley · Fish for: Smallmouth Bass, Chain Pickerel · USGS gauges: Suncook River At North Chichester, Nh
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Warner River
A pleasant Merrimack-valley tributary running through Bradford and Warner to the Contoocook at Davisville — stocked and wild trout in the cooler riffles with smallmouth in the warmer lower water. A quiet, accessible river off NH 103.
Region: Merrimack Valley · Fish for: Brook Trout, Rainbow Trout · USGS gauges: Warner River At Davisville, Nh
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Cold River
A small, cold Monadnock-region freestone dropping through Alstead and Walpole to the Connecticut — stocked and wild brook and rainbow trout in the tumbling pocket water and quiet pools, including the scenic Vilas Pool. Intimate small-stream trout fishing off NH 123.
Region: Monadnock Region · Fish for: Brook Trout, Rainbow Trout · USGS gauges: Cold River At High Street, At Alstead, Nh
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Oyster River
A small Seacoast stream running through Durham and the UNH campus to Great Bay — modest but real, with brook trout in the cooler upper water, pickerel and perch in the slow pools, and a river-herring run at the fish ladder. Intimate small-stream fishing close to town.
Region: Seacoast · Fish for: Brook Trout · USGS gauges: Oyster River Near Durham, Nh
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Blackwater River
A tannic Merrimack-valley river running through Salisbury and Webster below the Blackwater flood-control dam — brook trout and pickerel in the slow, dark water with stocked trout and some largemouth. A gentle, out-of-the-way river best in cool water.
Region: Merrimack Valley · Fish for: Brook Trout, Chain Pickerel · USGS gauges: Blackwater River Near Webster, Nh
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Cockermouth River
A small, cold trout stream dropping out of Groton to feed Newfound Lake at Hebron — wild and stocked brook trout in the tumbling upper water and quiet lower runs. Intimate small-stream fishing in a beautiful corner of the Lakes Region.
Region: Lakes Region · Fish for: Brook Trout · USGS gauges: Cockermouth River Below Hardy Brook, At Groton, Nh
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Beaver Brook
A southern-tier warmwater stream running through Pelham to the Merrimack at the Massachusetts line — chain pickerel, largemouth, and some smallmouth in the slow, weedy water. Small and close to town, a fine light-tackle warmwater spot.
Region: Merrimack Valley · Fish for: Chain Pickerel, Largemouth Bass · USGS gauges: Beaver Brook At North Pelham, Nh
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Spicket River
A small warmwater river crossing from Salem, New Hampshire into Methuen, Massachusetts — chain pickerel, largemouth, and perch in the slow, ponded reaches. A modest urban-edge fishery best for pickerel and panfish in the warm months.
Region: Merrimack Valley · Fish for: Chain Pickerel, Largemouth Bass · USGS gauges: Spicket River At North Salem, Nh, Spicket River Near Methuen, Ma
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