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Ossipee Lake

Ossipee · Freedom · Effingham, 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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3,258Surface acres
73 ftMax depth
27 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 Ossipee Lake is in New Hampshire

The red circle marks Ossipee Lake.

Fast facts

About Ossipee Lake

  • County: Carroll
  • Shore towns: Ossipee, Freedom, Effingham
  • Watershed: Saco River basin (NHDES)
  • Type: Natural lake or pond (NHDES)
  • NH Fish & Game: Region 2 (Lakes Region)
  • Distance: about 45 mi from Concord, NH and 99 mi from Boston, straight-line (not driving distance)
  • Getting there (NHFG): Rt 25 East off Rt 16
  • Access (NHFG): Pine River boat ramp
  • Lake group: Ossipee Lake Alliance

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 (Ossipee 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.

Plan your trip PLACEHOLDER AFFILIATE LINKS

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Lake map

Ossipee Lake shoreline, boat launches & beaches

Lakefront Landing Marina (Boat launch)1Town Beach (Beach)2Constitution Park - Deer Run Trail (Cartop / walk-in)3Ossipee Lake Natural Area (Cartop / walk-in)41 mileN

Numbers on the map match the list at rightbelow.

Boat launchCartop / walk-inBeach
  1. 1Lakefront Landing Marina
    Boat launch · Ossipee
  2. 2Town Beach
    Beach · Freedom
  3. 3Constitution Park - Deer Run Trail
    Cartop / walk-in · Ossipee
  4. 4Ossipee Lake Natural Area
    Cartop / walk-in · Ossipee

Shoreline: USGS National Hydrography Dataset (NHD Waterbody, Permanent ID 129969671), 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 (43.7928, -71.1370). The nearest station may be several miles away. NWS forecast for Ossipee 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 Ossipee 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 Ossipee Lake

    Average ice-outApril 12
    Earliest on recordMarch 25, 2010
    Latest on recordApril 26, 2019
    Most recent (2023)April 13
    Last 10 years, averageApril 14
    average April 12Mar 25Apr 26200820232008: April 232009: April 132010: March 252011: April 202012: March 242013: April 142014: April 222015: April 222016: March 282017: April 182018: April 212019: April 262020: April 52021: April 72022: April 72023: April 13

    16 years of ice-out dates recorded by NHDES (2008–2023). Dates are the day the lake was declared clear of ice.

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

    Fish you can catch

    Rainbow trout ★Landlocked salmon ★Brown troutLake troutSmallmouth bassLargemouth bassChain pickerelBrown bullhead (horned pout)White perchBlack crappieCusk (burbot)Yellow perch

    ★ = stocked in 2026. Species list from NHFG Fishing Guide codes: RT, BT, LLS, LT, SMB, LMB, ECP, BBH, WP, BC, BRB, 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

    3 stocking trips in 2026, 5,684 fish in total.

    DateSpeciesFishLbsHatchery
    May 1, 2026Rainbow trout (1+ yr)1,750920Warren
    May 1, 2026Rainbow trout (1+ yr)1,750920Warren
    May 8, 2026Landlocked salmon (1+ yr)2,184280Milford

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

    Pulled Oct 10, 2026.

    Seasons & rules for Ossipee Lake

    The 2026 NH Freshwater Fishing Digest lists Ossipee 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: The area of the lake that lies within 500 feet of the Bearcamp River shall be closed to all fishing from Oct. 16 through Dec. 31. 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

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

    SiteTownOwnerTypeParkingFeeUsesMap
    Lakefront Landing MarinaOssipeePrivateBoat Ramp · Paved/Gravel ramp · dockGravelFeeBoating, Restrooms
    Access: Partial
    43.7856, -71.1096
    Constitution Park - Deer Run TrailOssipeeTown - OssipeeShorebankGravelNo feeFishing, Picnic, Restrooms
    0.23 mile boardwalk to lake - No Swimming; Access: Partial
    43.7812, -71.1107
    Ossipee Lake Natural AreaOssipeeState - DNCRNatural Area—No feeFishing, Swimming
    Accessible only from lake in designated areas; Access: Difficult
    43.7724, -71.1231
    Town BeachFreedomTown - FreedomBeach/PicnicGravelResidents onlySwimming, Picnic
    Town permit required; Access: Partial/Limited
    43.7871, -71.1123

    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 Ossipee Lake

    The 2026 Fishing Digest also notes: Headway speed in some areas.

    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 Ossipee Lake

    NHDES control status: Herbicide treatment and much diver work. Infestation reduced.

    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 B (NH surface water classification)
    NHDES lake surveys1976, 1987, 2003
    Fish consumptionNHDES mercury report for Ossipee Lake

    NHDES Lake Information Mapper

    Contact & official info

    More trip ideas PLACEHOLDER AFFILIATE LINKS

    Lakes & ponds nearby

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