LN (remove NOSPAM) wrote:
I'm getting tired of going to the same small pond on my kayak. I am looking
for a good lake to go kayaking/fishing on that won't take all day to get to.
So I'm looking for something within a 1hr radius from Merrimack, NH.

I saw a lake in Goffstown called Glen Lake. Does this have a public
launching area?

Yes, there is access on both the north and south sides. The boat ramp on
the north side is obvious, as there's a parking lot across the street
for vehicles with trailers and parking along the lake side of the street
for swimmers and kayakers. Parking regulations ARE enforced, so don't
park illegally. On hot days, the parking tends to fill up with swimmers.
The south side access is a small beach between boulders near the YMCA.
It's hard to find and unless the Y is closed, you can't use their
parking lot and will have to park at the high school down the street.

The lake is not especially interesting, except for the rapids at the
west end where the river enters. I've seen a lot of people fishing
there, so I assume there must be fish. Occasionally, you'll get some
idiot flying up and down the lake in a grossly overpowered boat, but for
the most part the boat traffic isn't bad. The west end of the lake is
too shallow for larger boats (except for a narrow channel around the
island, so it's pretty much the province of paddlers and other smaller
craft.

We (members of the North Shore Paddler's Network - www.nspn.org) have
run kayak skills sessions there during the week for years, but I'm not
sure if anyone is doing them this year or not. You could post an inquiry
on the message board.

Any other lakes in the area that might be good? I LOVE
Baboosic Lake, but there isn't a public launch area (that I know of).

There are two that I know of. One is at the bridge just south of the
traffic circle on Bypass 28. It gives you access to either side of the
lake. There is a large boat ramp and parking area at the northeastern
end of the lake, just south of the junction of Rt. 121 and Hooksett Rd.

Be aware that Massabesic has some of the stupidest regulations you'll
ever hear of, due to the fact that it's the reservoir for Manchester and
surrounding towns. Essentially, you're not allowed to touch the water.
No swimming, no wading no nothing that involves skin contact with the
water. If the "water cops" are around and they see you step in it
without boots on or get your hands wet, they have a fit. It's OK for
power boats to spew MTBE laden gasoline into it, but heaven forbid that
a kayaker should roll in it! I've gotten harassed for simply stepping
out of my boat with water shoes on in water that was more than ankle deep.

Additionally, you cannot paddle on the western half of the western lake,
since that's the section that's in Manchester. That's also monumentally
stupid, since the water flow in the systems is from east to west.
Everything the gets into the eastern lake ends up in Manchester's water
supply.

In the
spring, I've parked at the swimming area and carried the kayak over to the
beach, but I don't like to do that when the area is full of swimmers.

I know there's a beach area, but I don't think they actually allow
swimming. Here's the regulation:

(h) (9) A person shall not bathe, wade, swim, water ski or perform any
similar water contact activity, as defined in RSA 485.22, in Lake
Massabesic or any pond, reservoir or stream tributary thereto;

....and here's a link to the rest of them:

http://www.manchesternh.gov/CityGov/...hed/Rules.html