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Fishing at Merrimack River

New Hampshire · Merrimack County and Hillsborough County · 93 river miles in New Hampshire
State
New Hampshire
Country
USA
Licence
State-issued
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New Hampshire River 93 river miles in New Hampshire Public river — navigable water 🌙 Night fishing

About Fishing at Merrimack River

Merrimack River is a public river in Merrimack County and Hillsborough County, New Hampshire, managed by State of New Hampshire (public / navigable water). You can fish it on a New Hampshire fishing licence; bank access is at bridge crossings, NHFG access points and public parks. New Hampshire riverbeds are private property up to the ordinary high-water mark except on a few federally-declared-navigable reaches, so wading or bank fishing away from a public access point needs the landowner's permission. Public access confirmed via marquee water.

The Merrimack River — New Hampshire's largest river entirely within New England, running from the White Mountains through Manchester and Nashua to Massachusetts. Smallmouth and largemouth bass, chain pickerel, and a restored American shad run.

It runs roughly 93 miles through the Merrimack Valley region. Anglers here mostly fish for smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, chain pickerel, american shad; yellow perch are also on record. Live flow and gauge height come from the Merrimack River At Concord, Nh USGS station shown below. The nearest other mapped waters on PiscaMaps are Goldfish Pond and Dorrs Pond.

County
Merrimack, Hillsborough
Region
Merrimack Valley
Length
93 river miles in New Hampshire
Public access
Public river — navigable water
Managed by
State of New Hampshire (public / navigable water)
Night fishing
Permitted on most waters
Boats
Varies by water

Fish Species at Merrimack River

Species from PiscaMaps water-type profiles, NHFG trout designations and hand research.

Access & Rules at Merrimack River

Night fishing: New Hampshire allows fishing 24 hours a day on most waters; some designated trout ponds are restricted to daylight hours seasonally — check the current NHFG fishing digest for this water.

Boats: Lake Winnipesaukee, Squam, Sunapee and the other big lakes take full-size boats with developed ramps; many smaller ponds have only a hand-carry or cartop access. NH requires boater education for personal watercraft and for operators born after 1 Jan 1988.

Bank & bivvy camping: Camp at New Hampshire state parks (several on Winnipesaukee, Squam and the Connecticut Lakes) and White Mountain National Forest campgrounds along the trout streams.

Tackle: Statewide bass limit is usually 4 (with a closed season in spring on some waters); trout limits vary by water and many streams are catch-and-release or artificial-lures-only; pickerel, perch and horned pout are generous. Check the current NHFG fishing digest for this specific water.

Facilities Near Merrimack River

Boat ramps: 20 mapped — Put-in, Everett Arena Boat Ramp, Boat ramp, Put-in, Boat ramp, Put-in and others nearby.

Camping: 2 sites mapped nearby — Campsite, Salisbury State Park Reservation.

Source: OpenStreetMap contributors.

River Conditions

Loading live flow & gauge height…

Live from USGS gauge 01088400 — Merrimack River At Concord, Nh. Full gauge data →

Fishing Licence for Merrimack River

Anyone 16 or older needs a New Hampshire fishing licence — the resident annual is about $45, the non-resident annual about $73, with non-resident 1-day (~$14) and 7-day (~$47) licences also sold. New Hampshire residents 68 and older need no licence. Buy from NH Fish and Game at wildlife.nh.gov. A New Hampshire fishing licence covers this river under the state's public-trust doctrine for navigable waters.

New Hampshire

New Hampshire Fish and Game Department Resident annual: ~$45 Non-resident annual: ~$73 Non-resident 1-day (~$14) and 7-day (~$47) licences are sold · residents 68+ need no licence Buy: wildlife.nh.gov

Public access

Lakes and ponds here are confirmed public via an NH GRANIT-listed public fishing access site; rivers are public under New Hampshire's public-trust doctrine for navigable water New Hampshire has no separate trout stamp — the standard licence covers every water and species statewide

View Merrimack River on Google Maps →

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Frequently Asked Questions

More Fishing in Merrimack County

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