With opening day of trout season just weeks away, the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department has begun its annual stocking program, releasing thousands of brook, rainbow, and brown trout into rivers, streams, ponds, and lakes across the state.
This year’s program will stock approximately 400,000 trout at more than 200 water bodies statewide, with fish raised at the department’s hatcheries in New Hampton and Twin Mountain. The first deliveries began in mid-March, targeting lower-elevation waters in the southern part of the state where ice-out has already occurred.
“There’s something about opening day of trout season that captures the imagination of anglers of all ages,” said Fish and Game fisheries chief Dianne Timmins. “Our stocking program ensures that fishing opportunities are accessible to everyone, whether you’re a seasoned fly fisher or a kid with their first rod.”
The department’s hatchery trucks are a familiar spring sight on New Hampshire roads, and their arrival at local fishing spots often draws small crowds of excited anglers eager to scout conditions. This year’s trout are averaging eight to ten inches, with a number of larger “trophy” fish exceeding 14 inches mixed into select stockings.
Popular stocking destinations include the Souhegan River in southern New Hampshire, Profile Lake in Franconia Notch, and Echo Lake in North Conway. The department publishes a stocking schedule on its website, though specific daily locations are not announced in advance to prevent crowding.
“We try to spread the fish across a wide range of waters so that nobody has to drive too far to find good fishing,” Timmins said.
In addition to hatchery fish, the department manages wild trout populations in many of the state’s coldwater streams. These waters, managed under special regulations that often include catch-and-release or artificial-lure-only rules, support naturally reproducing populations of native brook trout.
Fishing licenses for the 2026 season are available online through the department’s website and at authorized retailers throughout the state. A standard freshwater fishing license costs $35 for residents and $63 for non-residents. Youth under 16 may fish for free with a licensed adult.
Opening day of the regular trout season is the fourth Saturday in April.
