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Opechee Bay Reservoir

Laconia, New Hampshire — NH Fish & Game Region 2 (Lakes Region).

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434Surface acres
61 ftMax depth
23 ftAverage depth
OligotrophicTrophic class (NHDES)
Cold / WarmFishery type
4Public 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 Opechee Bay Reservoir is in New Hampshire

The red circle marks Opechee Bay Reservoir.

Fast facts

About Opechee Bay Reservoir

  • County: Belknap
  • Town: Laconia
  • Watershed: Merrimack River basin (NHDES)
  • Type: Natural lake or pond (NHDES)
  • NH Fish & Game: Region 2 (Lakes Region)
  • Distance: about 24 mi from Concord, NH and 84 mi from Boston, straight-line (not driving distance)
  • Access (NHFG): Messer St; Opechee Park; Opechee Bay State Forest

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: 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

Opechee Bay Reservoir shoreline, boat launches & beaches

Messer Street Boat Ramp (Boat launch)1Bond Beach Park (Beach)2Opechee Park (Beach)3Opechee Bay State Forest (Cartop / walk-in)41 mileN

Numbers on the map match the list at rightbelow.

Boat launchCartop / walk-inBeach
  1. 1Messer Street Boat Ramp
    Boat launch · Laconia
  2. 2Bond Beach Park
    Beach · Laconia
  3. 3Opechee Park
    Beach · Laconia
  4. 4Opechee Bay State Forest
    Cartop / walk-in · Laconia

Shoreline: USGS National Hydrography Dataset (NHD Waterbody, Permanent ID 107204611), public domain. 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 (43.5441, -71.4716). The nearest station may be several miles away. NWS forecast for Opechee Bay Reservoir. 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 Opechee Bay Reservoir

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 Opechee Bay Reservoir

    NHDES keeps an ice-in / ice-out record for Opechee Bay Reservoir. See the NHDES ice-out dates for Opechee Bay Reservoir.

    We link to the record instead of copying it here; check the NHDES page for this year's date.

    Fish you can catch

    Rainbow trout ★Smallmouth bassLargemouth bassChain pickerelBrown bullhead (horned pout)White perchBluegillAmerican eelYellow perch

    ★ = stocked in 2026. Species list from NHFG Fishing Guide codes: RT, SMB, LMB, ECP, BBH, WP, BG, AE, YP (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, 1,000 fish in total.

    DateSpeciesFishLbsHatchery
    Apr 30, 2026Rainbow trout (1+ yr)1,000469Powder Mill

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

    Pulled Oct 10, 2026.

    Fishing seasons & limits

    Statewide general rules Opechee Bay Reservoir is not listed as a Lake Trout/Salmon Lake or Trout Pond in the 2026 Digest, so New Hampshire's general lake & pond rules apply to the species found here.

    SpeciesSeason & limits (general rules)
    TroutOpen water (ice-out to ice-in): 5 fish or 5 lb/day, no length limit. Through the ice: 2/day
    Black bassJan 1–May 14: 2/day · May 15–Jun 15: catch-and-release, artificial lures & flies only · Jun 16–Dec 31: 5/day
    Chain pickerelno closed season, 10/day
    Perch, crappie, sunfish & horned poutno closed season, 25/day each, 50 total

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

    Summary only. Check the current Digest before you fish. As of Oct 10, 2026.

    Boat launches & access sites

    4 public access sites listed, 1 with a boat ramp or trailer launch.

    SiteTownOwnerTypeParkingFeeUsesMap
    Messer Street Boat RampLaconiaOther - PSNH / City of LaconiaBoat Launch · Concrete log rampGravelNo feeFishing, Boating, Picnic, Restrooms
    Access: Limited
    43.5369, -71.4685
    Bond Beach ParkLaconiaCity - LaconiaBeachPavedResidents onlyFishing, Swimming, Picnic, Restrooms
    Residents only - parking pass required; Access: Limited
    43.5544, -71.4757
    Opechee Bay State ForestLaconiaState - DNCRCartopUnimprovedNo feeFishing, Boating, Swimming
    Access: Difficult
    43.5580, -71.4844
    Opechee ParkLaconiaCity - LaconiaBeach/PicnicPavedNo feeSwimming, Picnic, Restrooms
    Access: Partial
    43.5366, -71.4758

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

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

    Invasive species

    Documented on Opechee Bay Reservoir

    NHDES control status: Herbicide treatment and hand removal. Infestation reduced. Upstream source.

    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 Opechee Bay Reservoir. 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 surveys1979, 1986, 1999
    Fish consumptionNHDES mercury report for Opechee Bay Reservoir

    NHDES Lake Information Mapper

    Contact & official info

    Lakes & ponds nearby

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