Lake Winnipesaukee
Lake Winnipesaukee is New Hampshire's largest lake, in the Lakes Region between Laconia, Meredith and Wolfeboro. It has both coldwater fishing for salmon and lake trout and warmwater fishing for bass.
Species
Fishery rating out of 5.
Landlocked Salmon
Salmon are stocked every year and are a top target for trollers.
Smallmouth Bass
Rocky points and island shoals hold plenty of smallmouth.
Lake Trout
Deep, cold water. Downriggers or vertical jigging.
Largemouth Bass
Weeds, docks and wood in the shallows.
White Perch
Schools roam open water. Small jigs, spoons and worms.
When they bite
Month-by-month activity for each target species.
| J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Landlocked Salmon | ||||||||||||
| Smallmouth Bass | ||||||||||||
| Lake Trout | ||||||||||||
| Largemouth Bass |
Boat launches
6 launch sites. Fees and hours change, so confirm before you go.
- Wolfeboro Town Docks LaunchFreeTown of Wolfeboro ramp; free, docks recently rebuiltDirections ↗
- Alton Bay Public Docks and RampFreeTown of Alton ramp at Alton Bay; free, paved parkingDirections ↗
- Center Harbor Town LaunchFeeTown ramp in Center Harbor; $15 for non-residents, 3-hour dock limitDirections ↗
- Meredith Town LaunchFeeTown of Meredith ramp; residents free with decal, $20 non-residentsDirections ↗
- Downing LandingFreeTown of Alton launch; free, limited site accessDirections ↗
- More public accessPublicSee New Hampshire Fish & Game or the lake manager's website for all ramps and feesDirections ↗
Size & creel limits
Minimum size and daily limit for each species in Lake Winnipesaukee are published by the state. Look up the current size and creel limits for this lake directly: New Hampshire Fish and Game Department ↗
Bait & tackle nearby
Closest shops to the lake and its boat launches. Call ahead for live bait and hours.
- AJ's Bait & TackleNearby8 Maple St, Meredith, NH(603) 279-3152Directions ↗
- Wolfeboro Bay OutfittersNearbyMain St, Wolfeboro, NH(603) 569-1114Directions ↗
Local tips
- Troll smelt imitations for salmon and lake trout in spring right after ice-out.
- Public ramps include Downing's Landing, Lee's Mill, Lovejoy Sands Road and the Meredith town docks.
- The lake has boat speed limits of 45 mph in the day and 25 mph at night.
Angler reports
Water temp, what's biting, and anything else other anglers should know about Lake Winnipesaukee.
View on interactive map
Zoom and pan on a street, satellite or terrain map. Red pins are boat launches.