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Third 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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231Surface acres
101 ftMax depth
42 ftAverage depth
OligotrophicTrophic class (NHDES)
ColdwaterFishery type
1Public 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 Third Connecticut Lake is in New Hampshire

The red circle marks Third Connecticut Lake.

Fast facts

About Third 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 141 mi from Concord, NH and 199 mi from Boston, straight-line (not driving distance)
  • Getting there (NHFG): W side of Rt 3 1mi S of Canada
  • Access (NHFG): cartop at Connecticut Lakes 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 (Third 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

Third Connecticut Lake shoreline, boat launches & beaches

Connecticut Lakes State Park Cartop Facility (Boat launch)11 mileN

Numbers on the map match the list at rightbelow.

Boat launch
  1. 1Connecticut Lakes State Park Cartop Facility
    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 (45.2390, -71.2004). The nearest station may be several miles away. NWS forecast for Third 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 Third 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.

    Fish you can catch

    Rainbow trout ★Landlocked salmon ★Lake troutCusk (burbot)

    ★ = stocked in 2026. Species list from NHFG Fishing Guide codes: RT, 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

    2 stocking trips in 2026, 1,513 fish in total.

    DateSpeciesFishLbsHatchery
    Apr 24, 2026Rainbow trout (1+ yr)1,000396Milford
    May 14, 2026Landlocked salmon (1+ yr)513125Milford

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

    Pulled Oct 10, 2026.

    Seasons & rules for Third Connecticut Lake

    The 2026 NH Freshwater Fishing Digest lists Third 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: Same as First Connecticut Lake, above.

    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

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

    SiteTownOwnerTypeParkingFeeUsesMap
    Connecticut Lakes State Park Cartop FacilityPittsburgState - DNCRCartop · Gravel rampGravelNo feeFishing, Boating, Restrooms
    Access: Limited
    45.2393, -71.1962

    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 Third 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. 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 surveys1983, 1994, 2015
    Fish consumptionNHDES mercury report for Third 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