Local Waters
Lake Massabesic
Auburn / Manchester, NH · about 60 min from Portsmouth (typical, off-peak)
The pond a Nashua or Manchester person can reach before work stories start.
Salt River / stream Lake / pond Shop (desk) Guide only Parking Stay State access Private — ask first
Around now
Most likely in this drive this week. Not a guarantee — confirm the official rule.
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Smallmouth bass
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Trout
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Sunfish and crappie
Also worth a thought: Largemouth bass, Chain pickerel.
- Season
- Legal. Trout sink. Dawn is the trip. Official rule
- License
- New Hampshire freshwater license
- Park
- Public access and town lots. This is Manchester drinking water — follow posted shore rules.
- Walk in
- Short walks to signed public shore.
- Wading
- Shore fishing. No wandering into closed watershed land.
- Usual window
- Opens the fourth Saturday in April. Dawn in summer.
- Saturday conditions
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Wind 17 mph on open water. Try a sheltered bank.
- Sky
- ☀️ 88° fair
- Sun and moon
- Rise 5:58 · 🌔 Waxing gibbous · Set 7:39
- Wind at dawn
- W 17 mph · Patchy Blowing Dust · 88°F
- Wind later
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- dawn: W 17 mph
- 10am: W 17 mph
- 2pm: W 17 mph
- dusk: W 17 mph
- A setup that belongs here
- 5- or 6-wt, streamers and poppers.
- Notes
- Big public lake next to Manchester. Treat posted watershed signs as law.
Drinking-water lake. If a stretch is posted, leave.
Log this trip
Private. On this phone, and in your test book if you signed in on Journal.
Shops
Eldredge Bros. Fly Shop
1480 US Route 1, Cape Neddick, ME 03902
Call or check the site — seasonal hours
The southern Maine / NH seacoast fly shop. Call before a first York or Hampton trip.
Guides
Shop desks, plus a few independents who fish public water. We do not take a cut. Call them.
Evening Sun — Nissitissit and 495
Pepperell, MA · wade · Ask the shop — evening hours help if you work
Good for: Small fly-only water, northern I-495
Home shop for the Nissitissit. They know who should be on that stretch.