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Little Squam Lake

Ashland · Holderness, New Hampshire — NH Fish & Game Region 2 (Lakes Region). Listed as a Lake Trout and/or Salmon in the 2026 Fishing Digest.

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454Surface acres
OligotrophicTrophic class (NHDES)
Cold / WarmFishery 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 Little Squam Lake is in New Hampshire

The red circle marks Little Squam Lake.

Fast facts

About Little Squam Lake

  • County: Grafton
  • Shore towns: Ashland, Holderness
  • Watershed: Merrimack River basin (NHDES)
  • Type: Natural lake or pond (NHDES)
  • NH Fish & Game: Region 2 (Lakes Region)
  • Distance: about 36 mi from Concord, NH and 98 mi from Boston, straight-line (not driving distance)
  • Getting there (NHFG): Rt 3
  • Access (NHFG): boat ramp on Squam channel

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 (Little Squam 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.

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Lake map

Little Squam Lake shoreline, boat launches & beaches

Squam River Boat Ramp (Boat launch)1Edward Doggett Beach (Beach)21 mileN

Numbers on the map match the list at rightbelow.

Boat launchBeach
  1. 1Squam River Boat Ramp
    Boat launch · Ashland
  2. 2Edward Doggett Beach
    Beach · Ashland

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 (43.7183, -71.6086). The nearest station may be several miles away. NWS forecast for Little Squam 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 Little Squam 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.

    Fish you can catch

    Rainbow trout ★Landlocked salmonLake troutLake whitefishSmallmouth bassLargemouth bassChain pickerelBrown bullhead (horned pout)White perchBlack crappieCusk (burbot)American eel

    ★ = stocked in 2026. Species list from NHFG Fishing Guide codes: RT, LLS, LT, LW, SMB, LMB, ECP, BBH, WP, BC, BRB, AE (names decoded by us; NHFG does not publish the legend with the layer). NHFG fishery type: Cold/Warm.

    NHFG NH Freshwater Fishing Guide layer

    2026 stocking

    1 stocking trip in 2026, 500 fish in total.

    DateSpeciesFishLbsHatchery
    May 6, 2026Rainbow trout (1+ yr)500238Warren

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

    Pulled Oct 10, 2026.

    Seasons & rules for Little Squam Lake

    The 2026 NH Freshwater Fishing Digest lists Little Squam 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
    • Bass (smallmouth & largemouth): 2/day Jan 1–May 14

    🌱 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
    • Bass: catch-and-release only May 15–Jun 15, artificial lures & flies only

    ☀ Summer · Jun 16–Sep 30

    • Trout, lake trout, salmon & whitefish open through Sep 30
    • Trout combined 2/day; lake trout 2/day
    • Bass: 5/day Jun 16–Dec 31
    • Chain pickerel: no closed season, 10/day
    • Perch, crappie, sunfish & horned pout: no closed season, 25/day each, 50 total
    • 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
    • Bass: 5/day Jun 16–Dec 31

    Additional rule for this water: When trolling to take fish: Only one artificial bait, one fly, one tandem fly or one bait shall be used per rod; and, Only one hook with a single hook point shall be used with bait.

    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, 1 with a boat ramp or trailer launch.

    SiteTownOwnerTypeParkingFeeUsesMap
    Squam River Boat RampAshlandTown - AshlandRamp · Concrete rampRoadsideNo feeFishing, Boating
    On Squam River; connects to lake; Access: Limited
    43.7062, -71.6280
    Edward Doggett BeachAshlandTown - AshlandBeachGravelFeeSwimming, Picnic, Restrooms
    Access: Accessible
    43.7184, -71.6180

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

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

    Boating rules on Little Squam Lake

    The 2026 Fishing Digest also notes: Speed and other restrictions.

    NH State Police Marine Patrol, Restricted Bodies of Water

    These are the restrictions listed for this water. Statewide boating laws (RSA 270, Saf-C 400) also apply. As of Oct 10, 2026.

    Invasive species

    Documented on Little Squam Lake

    NHDES control status: Herbicide treatment and hand removal and suction harvesting. Reduced growth.

    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. 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 A (NH surface water classification)
    NHDES lake surveys1979, 1994, 2009
    Fish consumptionNHDES mercury report for Little Squam Lake

    NHDES Lake Information Mapper

    Contact & official info

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    Lakes & ponds nearby

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