When is rainbow trout season in New Hampshire?

Rivers + streams open January 1 – October 15; lakes + ponds open-water season; Designated Trout Ponds fourth Saturday in April – October 15. Combined 5 fish / 5 lb trout limit (brook + brown + rainbow), no length limit. Those are the 2026 New Hampshire dates; always confirm against New Hampshire Fish & Game Department (NHF&G) — Inland Fisheries Division + Marine Fisheries Division before a trip, because an emergency order can shift an opener with little notice.

What is the New Hampshire bag limit for rainbow trout?

The New Hampshire daily bag limit for rainbow trout is 5 fish or 5 pounds (whichever first) combined trout (brook + brown + rainbow); 4-fish combined trout + salmon on designated salmon lakes. The possession limit is Same as daily bag. Some named waters set a different limit — check the water-body overrides above.

What size rainbow trout can you keep in New Hampshire?

The New Hampshire size rule for rainbow trout is No minimum length (combined trout limit by number or weight). Trophy rule: NH state-record rainbow trout 15 lb 7.2 oz (Pemigewasset River, Bristol, 1996, Lance King); holdover rainbows in the Pemigewasset, Saco, and Androscoggin reach 3-5+ lb.

Do you need a license to fish for rainbow trout in New Hampshire?

Yes. New Hampshire requires a valid fishing license to fish for rainbow trout, with the usual exemptions for young children, state free-fishing days, and some senior or disabled-veteran categories. A license is valid only in the state that issued it, so non-residents need a New Hampshire license — compare resident and non-resident New Hampshire fees on the state regulations page below.

Are there gear restrictions for rainbow trout in New Hampshire?

Yes. In New Hampshire, rainbow trout fishing carries these gear rules: Combined 5-fish / 5-lb trout limit shared across brook + brown + rainbow; Trophy Stretch + Trophy Trout Ponds: artificial-lures-only catch-and-release (per listing); NH does NOT issue a separate Trout Stamp — standard freshwater licence covers trout fishing; Felt-soled wading boots banned on NH wild trout reaches since 2011 (whirling disease prevention).

Do specific New Hampshire waters have different rainbow trout rules?

Yes. 5 named New Hampshire waters carry rules that override the statewide rainbow trout regulation, including Pemigewasset River, Saco River, Androscoggin River — Errol to Berlin, and 2 more. See the named water-body overrides above for the exact rule on each.

2026 regulation year

New Hampshire Rainbow trout 2026 — Season, Bag Limit, Size Rules

Oncorhynchus mykiss

Last updated June 3, 2026

Rainbow trout are the backbone of New Hampshire's stocked-trout program — NHF&G releases 350,000+ catchable rainbow, brown, and brook trout annually from the New Hampton, Berlin, Powder Mill, and Milford hatcheries across designated stocked streams + ponds statewide. Rainbows are the most widely stocked of the three and dominate the put-and-take fishery on the Pemigewasset, Saco, Contoocook, Souhegan, Suncook, and Lamprey rivers plus hundreds of stocked ponds. Holdover and river-grown rainbows reach trophy size in the larger rivers — the NH state-record rainbow trout is 15 lb 7.2 oz (35.50 in, Pemigewasset River, Bristol, 1996, Lance King). Rainbows were among the introduced salmonids that displaced the native Sunapee Trout in the early 20th century. Standard regs: a combined trout daily limit of 5 fish OR 5 pounds (whichever is reached first, across brook + brown + rainbow), no minimum length, open January 1 – October 15 on rivers + streams and the open-water season on lakes + ponds; Designated Trout Ponds run the fourth Saturday in April through October 15. On the designated salmon lakes the combined trout + salmon limit drops to 4 fish (no more than 2 salmon). NH does NOT issue a separate Trout Stamp.

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Season

Rivers + streams open January 1 – October 15; lakes + ponds open-water season; Designated Trout Ponds fourth Saturday in April – October 15. Combined 5 fish / 5 lb trout limit (brook + brown + rainbow), no length limit.

Jan 1 – Oct 15Rivers + streams
Brook + brown + rainbow trout open Jan 1 – Oct 15
Apr 25 – Oct 15Designated Trout Ponds
Fourth Saturday in April – October 15

Bag & possession

Daily bag: 5 fish or 5 pounds (whichever first) combined trout (brook + brown + rainbow); 4-fish combined trout + salmon on designated salmon lakes
Possession: Same as daily bag

Size, slot, trophy rules

Size: No minimum length (combined trout limit by number or weight)
Trophy rule: NH state-record rainbow trout 15 lb 7.2 oz (Pemigewasset River, Bristol, 1996, Lance King); holdover rainbows in the Pemigewasset, Saco, and Androscoggin reach 3-5+ lb

Gear restrictions

Combined 5-fish / 5-lb trout limit shared across brook + brown + rainbow
Trophy Stretch + Trophy Trout Ponds: artificial-lures-only catch-and-release (per listing)
NH does NOT issue a separate Trout Stamp — standard freshwater licence covers trout fishing
Felt-soled wading boots banned on NH wild trout reaches since 2011 (whirling disease prevention)

Named water-body overrides

Where statewide rules differ on specific New Hampshire waters:

Pemigewasset River
5 / 5 lb combined trout, no min; NH state-record rainbow trout 15 lb 7.2 oz (Bristol, 1996)
Saco River
5 / 5 lb combined trout, no min; heavily stocked rainbow + brown
Androscoggin River — Errol to Berlin
5 / 5 lb combined trout, no min; premier tailwater; Trophy Stretch C&R reaches
Newfound Lake
Stocked rainbow + brown; combined 4-fish trout + salmon (no more than 2 salmon) on this salmon lake
Contoocook River
5 / 5 lb combined trout, no min; central NH put-and-take rainbow fishery

Official source

New Hampshire Fish & Game Department (NHF&G) — Inland Fisheries Division + Marine Fisheries Division publishes the authoritative 2026 New Hampshirefishing regulations. Always verify the current rule before fishing — emergency closures and in-season changes can override what's published here.

The rainbow trout rules on this page are sourced from New Hampshire Fish & Game Department (NHF&G) — Inland Fisheries Division + Marine Fisheries Division's official rainbow trout regulation page.

Visit official New Hampshire fishing regulations →

Emergency-order channel

Rainbow trout closures, slot-limit changes, and harvest pauses are posted to New Hampshire Fish & Game Department's emergency-order feed — check it before any New Hampshire trip during the active season.

Frequently asked questions

When is rainbow trout season in New Hampshire?: Rivers + streams open January 1 – October 15; lakes + ponds open-water season; Designated Trout Ponds fourth Saturday in April – October 15. Combined 5 fish / 5 lb trout limit (brook + brown + rainbow), no length limit. Those are the 2026 New Hampshire dates; always confirm against New Hampshire Fish & Game Department (NHF&G) — Inland Fisheries Division + Marine Fisheries Division before a trip, because an emergency order can shift an opener with little notice.
What is the New Hampshire bag limit for rainbow trout?: The New Hampshire daily bag limit for rainbow trout is 5 fish or 5 pounds (whichever first) combined trout (brook + brown + rainbow); 4-fish combined trout + salmon on designated salmon lakes. The possession limit is Same as daily bag. Some named waters set a different limit — check the water-body overrides above.
What size rainbow trout can you keep in New Hampshire?: The New Hampshire size rule for rainbow trout is No minimum length (combined trout limit by number or weight). Trophy rule: NH state-record rainbow trout 15 lb 7.2 oz (Pemigewasset River, Bristol, 1996, Lance King); holdover rainbows in the Pemigewasset, Saco, and Androscoggin reach 3-5+ lb.
Do you need a license to fish for rainbow trout in New Hampshire?: Yes. New Hampshire requires a valid fishing license to fish for rainbow trout, with the usual exemptions for young children, state free-fishing days, and some senior or disabled-veteran categories. A license is valid only in the state that issued it, so non-residents need a New Hampshire license — compare resident and non-resident New Hampshire fees on the state regulations page below.
Are there gear restrictions for rainbow trout in New Hampshire?: Yes. In New Hampshire, rainbow trout fishing carries these gear rules: Combined 5-fish / 5-lb trout limit shared across brook + brown + rainbow; Trophy Stretch + Trophy Trout Ponds: artificial-lures-only catch-and-release (per listing); NH does NOT issue a separate Trout Stamp — standard freshwater licence covers trout fishing; Felt-soled wading boots banned on NH wild trout reaches since 2011 (whirling disease prevention).
Do specific New Hampshire waters have different rainbow trout rules?: Yes. 5 named New Hampshire waters carry rules that override the statewide rainbow trout regulation, including Pemigewasset River, Saco River, Androscoggin River — Errol to Berlin, and 2 more. See the named water-body overrides above for the exact rule on each.

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