Back Lake
Fly fishing in New Hampshire · Intermediate · Best seasons: Summer, Fall
Target Species
Brook Trout, Landlocked Salmon
About This Water
Pittsburg lake with brook trout and salmon. Good fly fishing.
Fishing Recommendations
Welcome to the "North Country." As a guide in the Connecticut Lakes Region, I can tell you that Back Lake in Pittsburg, New Hampshire, is one of the most storied fly fishing destinations in the Northeast. It is a quintessential "dry fly" lake that offers a unique blend of accessibility and wild northern beauty.
Here is your comprehensive guide to fishing Back Lake.
🎣 Location Overview
Back Lake is a 348-acre water body located in the legendary Connecticut Lakes region of northern New Hampshire. Unlike the much larger and deeper First, Second, and Third Connecticut Lakes, Back Lake is relatively shallow, with an average depth of about 7 feet and a maximum depth of around 15 feet.
What makes it special is its productivity. Because it is shallow, it warms up faster than the big lakes, leading to incredible insect biomass. It is famous for its "Hexagenia limbata" (Giant Mayfly) hatch, which draws anglers from across the country. The lake is surrounded by classic sporting camps, giving it a timeless, "old-school" New England fishing atmosphere.
🐟 Target Species & Behavior
- Brook Trout: The star of the show. Back Lake is heavily managed for Brookies. You’ll find plenty of "stockies," but because of the high insect activity, these fish grow quickly and can become "holdovers" with brilliant colors and fierce attitudes. They cruise the shallow flats and weed edges looking for nymphs.
- Landlocked Salmon: While Salmon are typically deep-water fish, they frequent Back Lake, especially in the cooler months or when the baitfish (smelt) are active in the shallows. They are acrobatic and much more aggressive than the trout.
- Behavior: In this shallow environment, fish are very "structure-oriented." They hold near submerged logs, rock piles, and the edges of lily pads. During a hatch, they will move from the deeper center holes into the 3–5 foot flats to feed.
📅 Best Times to Fish
Summer (June – August)
- The Prime Window: Late June through mid-July is the legendary Hex Hatch. This is the most famous time to fish Back Lake.
- Time of Day: During the Hex hatch, the best fishing happens at dusk and into the dark. During the day, fish go deep to escape the sun, so focus on "first light" or "last light."
- Conditions: Overcast, humid days are excellent for mid-day hatches of smaller mayflies.
Fall (September – October)
- The Prime Window: Late September through October 15th (season close).
- Behavior: As water temperatures drop, fish become extremely active and aggressive before the spawn. Brook trout take on their magnificent spawning colors (flaming orange bellies).
- Time of Day: Full sun is actually your friend in the fall, as it warms the water and triggers activity. Mid-day fishing is highly productive.
🪰 Recommended Flies & Techniques
The Hexagenia (The Essential)
If you are there in early summer, you must have:
- Dry: Hexagenia Spinner or Cripple (#6–#8).
- Nymph: Large, light-colored burrowing mayfly nymphs (#6–#10). Fish these on a sinking tip line just before dark.
Other Essential Patterns
- Dry Flies: Usual Suspects (#14-18), Adams Continental, and Elk Hair Caddis. For the fall, use Terrestrials (Ants and Beetles) along the shoreline.
- Nymphs: Pheasant Tail (#14-18), Zebra Midges (Black or Red), and Prince Nymphs.
- Streamers: This is a "smelt" lake. Use Grey Ghosts, Black Ghosts, or Hornbergs. In the fall, a Mickey Finn or a Woolly Bugger (Olive or Black) stripped slowly near the inlets is deadly.
Presentation Tips
- The Float Tube: Back Lake is the "Float Tube Capital" of NH. A tube or kayak allows you to stealthily approach rising fish without the hull slap of a motorboat.
- Long Leaders: The water can be clear and the surface flat. Use 9–12 foot leaders tapered to 5X or 6X for dry flies to avoid spooking fish.
- The "Slow Strip": When fishing streamers, use an erratic "strip-strip-pause" retrieve to mimic a wounded smelt.
💡 Pro Tips & Local Knowledge
- The "Log Haven" Area: Focus your attention on the western shore and the area near the various sporting camps where submerged timber provides cover.
- The "Inlet" Secret: Even in the heat of summer, there are small, cold-water seeps and inlets around the lake. Find the cold water, and you’ll find the Brookies.
- Fish the Dark: During the Hex hatch, do not leave when the sun goes down. The biggest fish often wait until it is pitch black to rise. Bring a headlamp with a red light setting to keep your night vision.
- The "Back Lake Special": Talk to the folks at Lopstick or Tall Timber. They often have custom-tied "local" variations of the Hex nymph that outperform commercial flies.
⚠️ Important Information
- Access: There is a public boat launch on the southern end off Back Lake Road. Most anglers stay at the local sporting camps which provide private dock access.
- Regulations: Back Lake is Fly Fishing Only. Motorboats are allowed, but most anglers respect the "quiet" nature of the lake.
- Permits: A valid New Hampshire fishing license is required. You can purchase these online or at several local shops in Pittsburg.
- Winds: The lake is shallow, meaning even a moderate wind can create a "chop" that makes fly casting difficult. Always check the morning forecast before heading out in a float tube.
- Catch & Release: While some harvest is allowed, most guides strongly encourage catch and release for Brook Trout to maintain the quality of the fishery.
Guide’s Final Word: “If you can time the Hex hatch on Back Lake, you’ll see the water literally boil with trout. It’s some of the most exciting visual fly fishing in the United States. Just don't forget the bug spray—the mosquitoes are as big as the fish!”
Bug Hatches & Matching Flies
| Hatch | Type | Peak months | Time of day | Hook sizes | Matching flies |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hexagenia (The Hex) Hexagenia limbata | mayfly | June, July | Dusk/Night | #6-10 | Hexagenia Spinner #6-8, Hex Nymph #8-10, Wiggle Hex #8 |
| Alderfly Sialis hastata | terrestrial | May, June | Afternoon | #10-14 | Alder Fly #10-12, Black Zulu #12-14, Woolly Bugger (Black) #10-14 |
| White Miller Ephoron leucon | mayfly | August | Late Evening | #12-14 | White Wulff #12-14, White Miller Spinner #14, Light Cahill #14 |
| Chironomids (Midges) Chironomidae | midge | May, September | All Day | #18-24 | Zebra Midge #18-22, Ice Midge #20, Griffith's Gnat #18-22 |
| Damselfly Enallagma | terrestrial | June, July, August | Morning/Afternoon | #10-14 | Marabou Damsel Nymph #12-14, Adult Blue Damsel #12-14 |
| Blue-Winged Olive Baetis | mayfly | May, September, October | Afternoon | #18-22 | BWO Sparkle Dun #18-20, RS2 #20-22, Pheasant Tail #18-20 |
| Spotted Sedge Hydropsyche | caddis | June, July | Evening | #14-16 | Elk Hair Caddis (Tan) #14-16, LaFontaine's Deep Sparkle Pupa #14-16, Godzilla Caddis #14 |
| Light Cahill Stenacron canadense | mayfly | June, July | Evening | #12-14 | Light Cahill #12-14, Gold Ribbed Hare's Ear #12-14 |