Free Resource · Updated 2026
The Contoocook River drains a large watershed in central New Hampshire, flowing through Peterborough, Hillsborough, and Concord before joining the Merrimack. It is a varied river with sections ranging from quick freestone runs to slower spring creek-like stretches. The Contoocook has one of the more diverse hatch calendars of any river in central NH.
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Contoocook River Hatch Calendar at a Glance
The Contoocook offers something different depending on where you fish it. The headwater sections around Peterborough are tighter and hold wild brook trout. The middle river through Antrim and Hillsborough has more volume and better pools for larger browns.
The hatch calendar is broad. Quill Gordons and Hendricksons open the spring season. March Browns and Light Cahills follow into June. Sulphurs and Tricos extend the summer fishing on slower sections. Isonychia and fall BWOs close out the season.
The Contoocook is largely overlooked by destination fly fishers who head north to the White Mountains. This works in favor of those who know it well. Pressure is light and fish respond better to a well-presented fly.
See the full New Hampshire Fly Hatch Chart for hatch timing across all of New Hampshire's top trout streams.
Check Conditions Near Contoocook RiverWhat to Fish
Ephemerella subvaria
A reliable hatch across the Contoocook system. Afternoons with cloud cover and temperatures in the 50s produce the best emergence and surface activity.
Recommended: Hendrickson #14
Ephemerella dorothea
Evening Sulphur hatches on slower Contoocook sections are excellent in early summer. The flatter water demands more precise presentations than the pocket water.
Recommended: Sulphur Parachute #16
Isonychia bicolor
Isonychia hatches on the Contoocook are a highlight of fall fishing. The big Slate Drake pulls up larger browns that have been less visible through summer.
Recommended: Slate Drake #12
Baetis spp.
Spring and fall BWOs are the anchors of the Contoocook hatch calendar. Particularly good in overcast conditions in both April and October.
Recommended: BWO Parachute #18-20
Common Questions
The Peterborough to Hillsborough stretch is generally considered the best for both hatches and fish populations. The water has more character and the trout are more numerous than the lower river.
Yes, particularly in the upper reaches around Peterborough where wild brook trout are present. The middle river holds some wild browns along with stocked fish. Holdovers become quite large.
Yes, if you focus on the right sections. Evening Sulphur and Trico fishing on slower stretches can be productive in summer. Avoid the lower river during heat waves when temperatures rise.
Live readings from USGS gages on the river.
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