US lakes & pondsUS lakes & pondsSource: NH Fish & Game NH Freshwater Fishing Guide layer (2026; depth/area/trophic from NHDES). Depth map: NHFG bathymetry map (PDF).
The red circle marks Paugus Bay.
Towns and counties: NHFG, NHDES and U.S. Census town boundaries.
As of 2026-10-10. Check the official source before you go.
Numbers on the map match the list at rightbelow.
Shoreline: USGS National Hydrography Dataset (NHD Waterbody, Permanent ID 107204653), public domain. State outline: U.S. Census Bureau TIGERweb. Points: NH Access Sites to Public Waters (NH OPD / NHFG). The outline is the one USGS maps for Winnipesaukee Lake; the red marker shows where NHFG places Paugus Bay. Interactive map: Leaflet with © OpenStreetMap contributors. Not for navigation.
Live from the National Weather Service API for the lake's coordinates (43.6034, -71.3241). The nearest station may be several miles away. NWS forecast for Paugus Bay. No live water-temperature sensor is shown because we haven't found a public one for this lake.
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.
Species list from NHFG Fishing Guide codes: RT, LLS, LT, LW, SMB, LMB, ECP, BBH, WP, BC, BG, RB, BRB (names decoded by us; NHFG does not publish the legend with the layer). NHFG fishery type: Cold/Warm.
Statewide general rules Paugus Bay 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.
| Species | Season & limits (general rules) |
|---|---|
| Trout | Open water (ice-out to ice-in): 5 fish or 5 lb/day, no length limit. Through the ice: 2/day |
| Lake trout | Jan 1–Sep 30: 2/day, 15" min |
| Landlocked salmon | Apr 1–Sep 30: 2/day, 15" min |
| Black bass | Jan 1–May 14: 2/day · May 15–Jun 15: catch-and-release, artificial lures & flies only · Jun 16–Dec 31: 5/day |
| Chain pickerel | no closed season, 10/day |
| Perch, crappie, sunfish & horned pout | no closed season, 25/day each, 50 total |
| Rock bass | no closed season, no limit |
| Cusk | no closed season, no limit |
| Lake whitefish | Jan 1–Sep 30: 2/day |
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.
1 public access site listed.
| Site | Town | Owner | Type | Parking | Fee | Uses | Map |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paugus Bay State Forest | Laconia | State - DNCR | Walk-in | — | No fee | Fishing, Boating Access: Undetermined | 43.5917, -71.4715 |
NH Access Sites to Public Waters (NH OPD / NHFG)
Fees, hours and rules change; confirm with the site owner before you go.
Documented on Paugus Bay
NHDES control status: Herbicide application and DASH.
NHDES Lake Information Mapper · RSA 487:16-d · RSA 487:16-c
As of Oct 10, 2026.
Check before you swim: the NHDES Healthy Swimming Mapper is updated daily. NHDES history: cyanobacteria notices for Paugus Bay. If you see a bloom, stay out of the water, keep pets out, and report it to NHDES.
| Trophic class | Oligotrophic (clear, low-nutrient) |
| Water quality class | Class B (NH surface water classification) |
| NHDES lake surveys | 1979, 1986, 1990, 2000 |
| Fish consumption | NHDES mercury report for Paugus Bay |
Straight-line distance between lake centers. All New Hampshire lakes & ponds · All waters in Laconia