Fishing Report For Squam Lake, NH

Current Report: Fair

Squam Lake is well known as an excellent smallmouth bass fishery.

FALL. Late Fall is in full swing and smallmouth have followed schools of baitfish out of coves and bays into 15 to 20 feet of water. They thrive in the cold, clean water, which is an ideal environment for them. Quality fish are coming from points around Little Squam and Bear Cove, as well as islands and rocky shores in the central narrows. Locals report that tube jigs, and drop shot rigs with small worms or shad shaped plastics, are popular in 10' water or deeper. Worms, jigs, deep-diving crankbaits, swimbaits, and slow-rolled spinnerbaits, are also successful, when bass are shallow to mid depth. Fishing shallow for smallmouth is often good on cold, windy, cloudy and rainy days.

WINTER. Winter will isolate them around deeper structure, points, flats and creek channels, often suspending in open water above these features. Before, during and after ice fishing season, they can generally be found on deep rocky structure, ledges, rocky humps and channel edges, 25 to 60 feet deep. Jigging spoons, tube baits, drop-shot worms, jigs and Ned rigs tend to temp smallmouth in deep water. I like to work these deeper haunts very slowly, as the bass are somewhat sluggish. Here they hold, feeding less frequently, awaiting warmer water to return in Spring.

SPRING. After ice out, when water temperatures rise into the 50's, smallmouth move from deep wintering spots to shallower water, just outside spawning areas. They feed heavily in 4 to 12 feet of water at this time, and are typically caught on jerkbaits, crankbaits, tube baits, Ned rigs, and crayfish imitating plastics. Once water warms into the high 50's, they move into shallower water, and create nests in gravel or sand areas, then lay their eggs. Females then move to deeper water and males remain to guard the eggs, and then the fry. After a couple weeks, the males also move into 8 to 25 feet deep, and feed aggressively. Heavy tube baits, Ned rigs, plastic worms, spoons and swimbaits are catching smallies during this period.

SUMMER. Smallmouth bass are currently feeding shallow early and late in the day in 8 to 15 feet of water. They are being caught on topwater, crankbaits, swimbaits, Ned rigs and tube baits. Smallmouth bass here feed on crawfish,and small sunfish. They prefer rocky or gravel bottom areas, as this is where crayfish live. Good areas to explore include wind-blown points, islands, submerged rock piles and long gravel points. During the hotter parts of the day, they are being caught on points, humps, and ledges around 20 to 30 feet deep. Often these deeper fish tend to school, so finding them can deliver some fast action.

Current Report: Good

Smelt are the key to finding and catching these big salmon in Squam Lake. Live smelt is reported to be the top option, and lures imitating smelt are second best. Local anglers most often target landlocked salmon by trolling open water, once schools are located in an area.

FALL. Now that these salmon have completed spawning in early Fall, they are migrating back to deeper water, around 20 to 60 feet. Live smelt, flatfish, spinners, jerkbaits and spoons are now catching nice fish

WINTER. In Winter, landlocked salmon here are typically caught in 40 feet deep, and deeper. After ice out, they drop into 30 to 60 feet deep, following channels, troughs and structure contours. Jigging spoons, colorful ice jigs, or live bait catches the majority of these salmon while ice fishing here.

SPRING. Locals report that getting on the lake soon after ice-out, provides the best opportunity of good salmon fishing, as they are relatively shallow. Once ice-out is complete in Spring, landlocked salmon become more active and feed on schools of smelt in 8 to 25 feet of water, often near the shoreline. At this time they begin moving to inflowing tributaries. Trolling shallow with spinners, flatfish and super dupers is the most popular method for catching them during Spring.

SUMMER. Anglers most often target landlocked salmon by trolling open water. During the warm Summer months, salmon migrate to deeper, cooler water, usually between 35 and 45 feet deep. Trolling with lead core line or downriggers allows for use of most lures and bait at these depths. They forage on a variety of prey, primarily smelt.

Current Report: Good

The New Hampshire Fish and Game Department maintains a stocking program that allows anglers good opportunity to catch rainbow trout in Squam Lake.

FALL. Late Fall is now cooling water temperatures in the shallows enough to drive rainbow trout out to deeper water. Good areas include tributary inlets on the western and southern arms, the narrows between Big Squam and Little Squam, and shallow points and rocky shoals all around the lake. Anglers are now catching them 15 to 30 feet deep on rocky banks, wind-blown points, rocky structure, humps, and anywhere baitfish are gathering. Now that they had a full summer to grow, there are some nice size rainbow to be caught. Small spinners, spoons, jigs, miniature crankbaits and swimbaits are good choices, as are salmon eggs and prepared baits.

WINTER. When Winter sets in jigging spoons, and jigs tipped with bait, are catching nice limits of rainbows out of 20 to 50 feet of water. These baits work well around the old river channels and the deeper humps and cuts, before during and after ice season. Trolling with leaded line or downriggers, or vertical jigging with spoons and jigs, are the best approach during the cold-water season. Slowly worked offerings are more likely to attract bites in this cold water.

SPRING. As water begins to warm in early Spring, rainbow trout move from their late winter holding areas to shallow, warmer water 2 to 20 feet deep. A good number of rainbows are typically caught from mid morning to late afternoon, during the warmest water of the day. Shallow flats and rocky structure are quick to warm in the afternoon sun. A wide variety of small spinners, spoons and bait are catching most of the fish. Later in Spring may find them around 20 to 30 feet deep.

SUMMER. Once Summer is here to stay, the warmer water drives rainbow deeper, 20 to 40 feet deep, occasionally deeper. Trolling with spoons, spinners and crankbaits, using downriggers or leaded line, and drift fishing with bait, are currently the most productive methods. Following drop-offs into deeper water, along structure or creek channels, is a major key to getting bites. Anglers fishing from the bank are using nightcrawlers or Berkley PowerBait, with heavy weights on a Carolina rig, to get baits in deeper water.