Best Fishing Spots In New England

The many rivers and lakes of New England offer some of the best angling experiences in the entire US. From fly fishing in rapids to peaceful days spent out on the boat, New England offers everything you could want in its gorgeous landscapes. Bass, trout, and landlocked Atlantic salmon are lush in the water, and there’s something for everyone in the Northeast.

RVnGO has put together a list of the best fishing spots in New England from popular destinations to hidden gems. So grab your lure and make sure your RV rental is booked, and let us do the rest!

9 Best Fishing Spots In New England

Lake Winnipesaukee

One of New Hampshire’s most popular vacation spots is also an angler’s paradise. Lake Winnipesaukee encompasses over 70 square miles of water with 240 miles of sandy shoreline. Along these beaches are dozens of campgrounds and resorts for everyone to spread out and enjoy the locale in peace.

Lake Winnipesaukee is particularly renowned for its large and smallmouth bass population. You’ll have no trouble bringing in a great haul in any of numerous coves. The only caveat about fishing on Lake Winnipesaukee is to be mindful of popular spots for boating/swimming. But with so many tranquil beaches on the massive lake, you’ll be able to steer clear of the crowds and find your fishing paradise.

Wachusett Reservoir

The second largest body of water in Massachusetts is one of the best kept fishing secrets in New England. The quiet shores are located outside of Worcester, making it an ideal spot if you prefer privacy on your trip. However, the peacefulness of the surroundings are deceptive to how active the reservoir is for fishing.

Creel surveys have reported that approximately 10,000 fish are caught by anglers in an average year at Wachusett Reservoir. Among those 10,000 fish, you’ll find rainbow trout, white perch, smallmouth bass, and more!

If you’re looking for bass, visit the reservoir during the warmer months of spring and summer. For trout or other coldwater fish, visit in the fall.

Watchaug Pond

Despite being the smallest state in the US, Rhode Island’s fishing scene can keep up with its larger neighbors in New England. The fertile waters of Watchaug Pond span over 570 acres of prime fishing real estate. In addition to its population of largemouth bass, Watchaug is also home to a surplus of black crappie and chain pickerel. 

Burlingame State Park has direct access to the pond on three sides. We highly recommend utilizing the campgrounds of state parks during RV trips not only due to their low cost, but because it’s the best way to experience a trip that’s completely immersed in nature. 

Watchaug Pond is located in the southern portion of Rhode Island outside of Charlestown.

Lake Champlain

 

Lake Champlain is to Vermont as Lake Winnipesaukee is to New Hampshire in terms of resort popularity. Champlain is located in northern Vermont on the border with New York, with the furthermost portion of its shores extending into Canada. Although there are numerous towns and cities along the Vermont side of the lake, Burlington is the most popular destination for its charm and surplus of amenities.

It’s not just “Champ” the lake monster that dwells beneath the surface of Lake Champlain. Central and southern Champlain are where you’ll find teeming caches of largemouth bass. 

For the highest chances of success, report to Champlain during the spawning months of April to June. Stick to the lake’s tributaries and creeks and you won’t be disappointed.

Deerfield River

Western Massachusetts into Southern Vermont features numerous rivers and creeks that are lush with fishing opportunities. Among them however, Deerfield River is an exceptionally well stocked route for brown and rainbow trout. Although the summer months are the busiest in the region, fishing trips from April to December will all prove to be successful.

The river itself runs along 76 miles with plenty of quiet stretches and others that are more popular. Tubing, kayaking, and swimming are common in the Shunpike Rest Area region near Charlemont. For camping and fishing, check out the routes along the South River State Forest.

In addition to its thriving trout populations, the Deerfield River is also home to smallmouth bass, dace, walleye, and shad.

Battenkill River

The Battenkill River flows from Vermont to New York as a tributary of the Hudson River. If you’re looking to challenge yourself in fly fishing, it’s an excellent spot to try out. Wild brown and brook trout are the main catches in the river, but you’ll have to work to get them. The waters itself are clear with fast currents and a lack of larger insects that innately draw in fish. For these reasons, we suggest only fishing the Battenkill if you’re an experienced angler— or incredibly determined.

That’s not to say that the entire river is going to be difficult across the board. The tributaries north of Manchester provide an easier experience. Specifically, we recommend Green River and Bromley Brook for a more laid back day.

For the best fishing experience, visit the Battenkill from May to mid-July.

Newfound Lake

While Newfound Lake is overshadowed in New Hampshire by the sprawling Lake Winnipesaukee, you’ll find plenty to love about this lesser known gem. Despite its much smaller size, Newfound Lake is every bit as dreamy with its sandy beaches and clear water shores. What makes it so fun to angle is its diverse fish population.

Trout and landlocked Atlantic salmon are popular within the waters but there’s so much more you’ll find as well. Newfound Lake also has populations of burbot, brown bullhead, chain pickerel, and golden shiners in its serene water. 

Because Newfound Lake is smaller than some of the other lakes in this list, we recommend booking campgrounds by its shores ahead of time. 

Kennebec River

For gorgeous New England wilderness scenery and an amazing angling experience to boot, the Kennebec River of Western Maine is a knockout. Although it’s not the largest of the rivers or lakes in our list, its beautiful landscape and well supplied waters make it a hidden gem within New England’s angling scene.

In its waters you’ll find an incredibly diverse array of fish. Kennebec River is most known for its population of landlocked Atlantic salmon, brook trout, and rainbow trout. If you’re lucky, you’ll also be able to hook shad, river herring, rainbow smelt, striped bass, sturgeon, and more!

Numerous campgrounds surround the shores along the river, so you’ll have no trouble finding a homebase for your RV rental.

Penobscot River

The meandering Penobscot River that passes through Bangor, Maine, isn’t just one of the best fishing spots in New England. It’s not only the holy grail of fly fishing in the Northeast, but one of the best in the entire US.

The Penobscot is famous for having one of the most esteemed landlocked salmon fisheries in the US. In particular, the West Branch of the river that stretches from Seboomook Lake to Ripogenus Dam will offer you one of the finest fly fishing experiences in all of New England. Here, you’ll find whitewater, falls, and sections of deep pools and riffles. And within these waters, scores of salmon and brook trout.

That being said, some of the sections of the Penobscot (including the regions mentioned above) aren’t necessarily the easiest to fish in. Because the river runs for 350 miles through Maine’s wilderness, it has just about every type of water imaginable in its body. For this reason, even novice anglers shouldn’t be dissuaded. There’s something for everyone at the Penobscot, making it one of the top fishing spots in New England.

 

What do you think of our list of the best fishing spots in New England? Where will you RVnGO next?