Rivers & Streams: General Fishing Rules

Black Bass

(Smallmouth Bass &
Largemouth Bass)

January 1 to May 14 and June 16 to June 30

2 fish daily limit.

May 15 to June 15

Catch and release only.

Artificial lures and flies only.

July 1 to October 15

5 fish daily limit.

January 1 to March 31

2 fish daily limit; only 1 fish >16 inches.

Brook Trout, Brown Trout, Rainbow Trout and their hybrids

January 1 to October 15

5 fish or 5 pounds daily limit, whichever is reached first; no length limit.

Lake Trout

January 1 to September 30

2 fish daily limit for lake trout and salmon combined (2 lake trout, 2 salmon, or 1 of each); minimum length 18 inches.

Combined daily limit applies only during salmon season, April 1 – Sept. 30.

Landlocked Salmon

April 1 to September 30

2 fish daily limit for lake trout and salmon combined (2 lake trout, 2 salmon, or 1 of each); minimum length 15 inches.

Salmon may not be taken in any water body after September 30 and before April 1. Salmon may not be taken through the ice.

Pickerel

January 1 to October 15

10 fish daily limit; no length or weight limits.

See illustration.

Northern Pike

January 1 to October 15

1 fish daily limit; minimum length 28 inches.

See illustration.

Walleye

January 1 to October 15

2 fish daily limit; minimum length 18 inches; no weight limit.

White & Yellow Perch, Black Crappie, Sunfish, Horned Pout

January 1 to October 15

25 fish each species daily limit; no more than 50 fish total combined; no length or weight limits.

Rock Bass

January 1 to October 15

No daily limit; no length or weight limits.

Carp

January 1 to October 15

No daily limit; no length or weight limits.

Carp may be taken in the Merrimack River and Mascoma Lake by bow and arrow with cord attached.

Cusk

January 1 to October 15

No daily limit; no length or weight limits.

American Shad

January 1 to October 15

2 fish daily limit; no length or weight limits.

Shad (Whitefish)

January 1 to October 15

2 fish daily limit; no length or weight limits.

Smelt

For smelt angling rules and waterbodies open to the taking of this species by dip net, see Freshwater Smelt.

Suckers

January 1 to October 15

No daily limits; no length or weight limits.

Suckers may be taken for personal use with two traps, not more than 50 inches long, 30 inches wide, with an opening no smaller than 3½ inches in diameter.
All traps or holding boxes will have the name and address of the owner.

March 1 to May 31

No daily limits; no length or weight limits.

Suckers may be taken by hand dip nets not over 18 inches in diameter, drop nets not over 48 inches in diameter, spears or bow and arrow with cord attached. Suckers taken by spear or bow and arrow must not be left in, or adjacent to, the body of water.