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First Connecticut Lake

Pittsburg, New Hampshire — NH Fish & Game Region 1 (North Country). Listed as a Lake Trout and/or Salmon in the 2026 Fishing Digest.

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3,071Surface acres
163 ftMax depth
56 ftAverage depth
OligotrophicTrophic class (NHDES)
ColdwaterFishery type
2Public access sites

Source: NH Fish & Game NH Freshwater Fishing Guide layer (2026; depth/area/trophic from NHDES). Depth map: NHFG bathymetry map (PDF).

Location & fast facts

Where First Connecticut Lake is in New Hampshire

The red circle marks First Connecticut Lake.

Fast facts

About First Connecticut Lake

  • County: Coos
  • Town: Pittsburg
  • Watershed: Connecticut River basin (NHDES)
  • Type: Natural lake or pond (NHDES)
  • NH Fish & Game: Region 1 (North Country)
  • Distance: about 131 mi from Concord, NH and 189 mi from Boston, straight-line (not driving distance)
  • Getting there (NHFG): Rt 3
  • Access (NHFG): Town ramp; or TransCanada beach/ramp

Towns and counties: NHFG, NHDES and U.S. Census town boundaries (shore towns found by overlaying the lake outline).

Fishing in New Hampshire

  • 2026 fishing license: Resident $45 · Non-resident $63 · 1-day $10 / $15 NHFG
  • Kids: Under 16 fish free, no license needed NHFG
  • Free fishing days 2026: Sat Jan 17 & Sat Jun 6 (3rd Sat in Jan, 1st Sat in June) NH Digest
  • Lakes & ponds: Almost 1,000 public lakes and ponds NHDES
  • Buy a license: Online or at about 250 local license agents NHFG
  • Ice fishing: Most waters: ice-in to ice-out. Lake trout/salmon lakes (First Connecticut Lake is one): Jan 1–Mar 31, no keeping salmon. Trout ponds closed. Bob houses off by Apr 1 NH Digest
  • Regulations: 2026 NH Freshwater Fishing Digest

As of 2026-10-10. Check the official source before you go.

Lake map

First Connecticut Lake shoreline, boat launches & beaches

Boat Ramp (Boat launch)1First Connecticut Lake Picnic and Launch Area (Boat launch)21 mileN

Numbers on the map match the list at rightbelow.

Boat launch
  1. 1Boat Ramp
    Boat launch · Pittsburg
  2. 2First Connecticut Lake Picnic and Launch Area
    Boat launch · Pittsburg

Shoreline: NHDES Lake Information Mapper lake outline (NH hydrography data). State outline: U.S. Census Bureau TIGERweb. Points: NH Access Sites to Public Waters (NH OPD / NHFG). Interactive map: Leaflet with © OpenStreetMap contributors. Not for navigation.

Conditions right now

Air temperature & conditions (nearest NWS station)Loading…
Fetching the latest National Weather Service observation…

Live from the National Weather Service API for the lake's coordinates (45.0937, -71.2479). The nearest station may be several miles away. NWS forecast for First Connecticut Lake. No live water-temperature sensor is shown because we haven't found a public one for this lake.

Sun, moon & best fishing times

Sun & moon at First Connecticut Lake

Best fishing times

Major periodMinor periodDaylight

    Based on solunar theory, an estimate. Major periods (about 2 hours) center on when the moon is directly overhead or underfoot; minor periods (about 1 hour) center on moonrise and moonset. The 0–100 activity score rises during those periods and gets a boost near sunrise and sunset and around the new and full moon. Weather, water temperature and pressure often matter more. Sun and moon times are calculated in your browser from the lake's coordinates with standard astronomy formulas, shown in ET (America/New_York), and accurate to within a few minutes.

    Ice-out on First Connecticut Lake

    Average ice-outMay 3
    Earliest on recordApril 9, 1921
    Latest on recordMay 19, 1972
    Most recent (2025)April 28
    Last 10 years, averageApril 30
    average May 3Apr 9May 20192020251920: May 71921: April 91922: May 31923: May 71924: May 71925: April 231926: May 71927: April 231928: May 101929: May 91930: May 61931: April 151932: May 91933: May 71934: April 281935: May 101936: May 21937: May 81938: April 281939: May 111940: May 131941: April 251942: May 31943: May 181944: May 81945: April 131946: May 61947: May 171948: April 271949: April 231950: May 71951: April 291952: April 301953: April 141954: May 21955: April 281956: May 121957: May 11958: April 261959: May 61960: May 11961: May 151962: May 121963: May 61964: May 61965: May 81966: May 141967: May 81968: April 211969: May 111970: May 71971: May 121972: May 191973: April 301974: May 151975: May 121976: April 241977: May 61978: May 161979: April 291980: May 31981: April 281982: May 131983: May 41984: April 291985: May 91986: April 251987: April 201988: May 31989: May 121990: May 21991: May 11992: May 131993: May 21994: May 91995: May 51996: May 131997: May 121998: April 181999: May 42000: May 32001: May 52002: April 262003: May 22004: April 302005: April 302006: April 262007: May 52008: April 302009: April 262010: April 92011: May 12016: April 272017: May 12018: May 102019: May 122020: May 32021: April 192022: April 302023: April 262024: April 182025: April 28

    102 years of ice-out dates recorded by NHDES (1920–2025). Dates are the day the lake was declared clear of ice.

    NHDES ice-out record for First Connecticut Lake (updated September 23, 2026)

    Fish you can catch

    Landlocked salmon ★Lake troutCusk (burbot)

    ★ = stocked in 2026. Species list from NHFG Fishing Guide codes: LLS, LT, BRB (names decoded by us; NHFG does not publish the legend with the layer). NHFG fishery type: Coldwater.

    NHFG NH Freshwater Fishing Guide layer

    2026 stocking

    1 stocking trip in 2026, 1,113 fish in total.

    DateSpeciesFishLbsHatchery
    May 14, 2026Landlocked salmon (1+ yr)1,113271Milford

    NHFG Fish Stocking (2026) feature service · NHFG stocking report

    Pulled Oct 10, 2026.

    Seasons & rules for First Connecticut Lake

    The 2026 NH Freshwater Fishing Digest lists First Connecticut Lake as a Lake Trout and/or Salmon Lake.

    ❄ Winter · Jan 1–Mar 31

    • Ice fishing only
    • Trout (all species combined) 2/day; lake trout 2/day
    • Closed to landlocked salmon
    • 2 ice-fishing devices per person; single hook point with bait

    🌱 Spring · Apr 1–Jun 15

    • Open water: trout, lake trout & salmon open
    • Trout combined 2/day; lake trout 2/day; 15" min for trout, lake trout & salmon
    • No smelt may be taken Mar 15–Jun 15

    ☀ Summer · Jun 16–Sep 30

    • Trout, lake trout, salmon & whitefish open through Sep 30
    • Trout combined 2/day; lake trout 2/day
    • Cusk: no closed season, no limit

    🍂 Fall · Oct 1–Dec 31

    • Closed to trout, lake trout, salmon & whitefish
    • Trolling prohibited
    • No fishing through or from the ice Apr 1–Dec 31

    Additional rule for this water: There is no minimum length for trout. Lake trout minimum length is 15 inches. From April 1 through September 30, the combined daily limit for salmon, and trout is 4 fish, of which no more than 2 fish may be salmon. The daily limit for lake trout is 2 fish.

    2026 NH Freshwater Fishing Digest: Lakes & Ponds with Special Rules · General Rules

    Summary only; other species follow the general rules. As of Oct 10, 2026.

    Boat launches & access sites

    2 public access sites listed, 2 with a boat ramp or trailer launch.

    SiteTownOwnerTypeParkingFeeUsesMap
    Boat RampPittsburgTown - PittsburgTrailer · Gravel rampGravelNo feeFishing, Boating
    Lake trout and salmon; Access: Partial
    45.1022, -71.2864
    First Connecticut Lake Picnic and Launch AreaPittsburgOther - TransCanadaRamp · Concrete log ramp · dock—No feeFishing, Boating, Swimming, Picnic, Restrooms
    Access: Partial/Limited
    45.0907, -71.2875

    NH Access Sites to Public Waters (NH OPD / NHFG)

    Fees, hours and rules change; confirm with the site owner before you go.

    Invasive species

    None documented NHDES lists no known invasive species in First Connecticut Lake.

    Clean, Drain, Dry is NH law. Drain your boat, live wells, bilges and gear when you leave any water, travel with drain plugs out (RSA 487:16-d), and don't carry plants or weeds on your boat, trailer or vehicle (RSA 487:16-c). NH LAKES Lake Host.

    NHDES Lake Information Mapper · RSA 487:16-d · RSA 487:16-c

    As of Oct 10, 2026.

    Safe to swim?

    Toxic algae (cyanobacteria): NHDES statusChecking NHDES…
    Live from the NHDES Healthy Swimming Mapper. NHDES issues warnings May 15–Oct 15.
    Beach bacteria testingNot state-tested
    NHDES: Does not participate in NHDES' Public Beach Inspection Program.

    Check before you swim: the NHDES Healthy Swimming Mapper is updated daily. NHDES history: cyanobacteria notices for First Connecticut Lake. If you see a bloom, stay out of the water, keep pets out, and report it to NHDES.

    Water quality

    Trophic classOligotrophic (clear, low-nutrient)
    Water quality classClass B (NH surface water classification)
    NHDES lake surveys1980, 1994
    Fish consumptionNHDES mercury report for First Connecticut Lake

    NHDES Lake Information Mapper

    Contact & official info

    Lakes & ponds nearby

    Straight-line distance between lake centers. All New Hampshire lakes & ponds · All waters in Pittsburg