FishableWaters

Species

Landlocked Salmon

On record in 135 waters across 4 states

Landlocked salmon are Atlantic salmon that got cut off from the ocean thousands of years ago and adapted to live their whole life in freshwater lakes, mostly across Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, and a handful of other northeastern states. Their whole world revolves around smelt — where smelt populations are healthy, landlocked salmon fisheries thrive, and where smelt crash, so does the salmon fishing.

Landlocked Salmon are on record in 135 waters across 4 states, most heavily in Maine, New York, New Hampshire and Vermont. FishableWaters tracks every landlocked salmon stocking from state agency reports — use the state links and most-stocked list below to find waters near you.

Landlocked Salmon
Timothy Knepp / USFWS

By state

Most-stocked waters

How to catch them

Trolling streamers or smelt-imitating spoons near the surface in spring, when salmon feed on smelt schools in open water shortly after ice-out, is the classic approach. As water warms through summer, salmon follow baitfish deeper, and techniques shift toward deeper trolling or jigging.

Smelt-pattern streamers and small spoons trolled behind lead core or downriggers are standard. Live smelt, where legal, is one of the most effective baits available for landlocked salmon.

Know your fish

Silvery body with an olive-brown back and scattered black spots, similar in build to a lean, streamlined trout. Landlocked salmon are more slender and torpedo-shaped than lake trout or brook trout sharing the same water.

Ice-out through late spring is the prime window, when salmon feed aggressively near the surface before summer heat pushes them deep. Fall brings another good bite as water cools and salmon feed heavily again before winter.

Freshest landlocked salmon stockings

Jun 18, 2026Lake WinnipesaukeeNH18,000
Jun 11, 2026Togue PondME250
Jun 9, 2026Scraggly LakeME300
Jun 2, 2026Lower Shin PondME250
Jun 2, 2026Upper Shin PondME200
Jun 1, 2026Lower Wilson PondME500
Jun 1, 2026Silver LakeNH346
May 29, 2026Lake WentworthNH1,466
May 28, 2026Upper Jo-Mary LakeME800
May 28, 2026Cedar LakeME200
May 28, 2026Tea PondME100
May 28, 2026Lake TarletonNH1,495
May 28, 2026Stinson LakeNH300
May 28, 2026Schoodic LakeME600
May 28, 2026Endless LakeME400

Landlocked Salmon — FAQ

Where can I catch landlocked salmon?+

Landlocked Salmon are stocked across 4 states, led by Maine, New York, New Hampshire and Vermont. Pick a state below to see every water stocked with landlocked salmon.

What's the best bait for landlocked salmon?+

Smelt-pattern streamers and small spoons trolled behind lead core or downriggers are standard. Live smelt, where legal, is one of the most effective baits available for landlocked salmon.

When is the best time to catch landlocked salmon?+

Ice-out through late spring is the prime window, when salmon feed aggressively near the surface before summer heat pushes them deep. Fall brings another good bite as water cools and salmon feed heavily again before winter.

How many waters are stocked with landlocked salmon?+

135 waters across 4 states hold landlocked salmon on record, updated daily from agency stocking reports.