Paugus Bay facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Paugus Bay
Paugus Bay Location in New Hampshire Show map of New Hampshire Paugus Bay Location in the United States Show map of the United States
Location	Belknap County, New Hampshire
Coordinates	43°34′34″N 71°27′33″W / 43.57611°N 71.45917°W / 43.57611; -71.45917
Primary inflows	Lake Winnipesaukee
Primary outflows	Winnipesaukee River
Basin countries	United States
Max. length	4.5 mi (7.2 km)
Max. width	0.8 mi (1.3 km)
Surface area	1,227 acres (4.97 km2)
Average depth	23 ft (7.0 m)
Max. depth	80 ft (24 m)
Surface elevation	504 ft (154 m)
Islands	Plummer Island; Big Island; Little Island
Settlements	Laconia: Weirs Beach, Lakeport

Paugus Bay is a 1,227-acre (4.97 km²) water body located in Belknap County in the Lakes Region of central New Hampshire, United States, in the city of Laconia. A short channel at its north end connects it with Lake Winnipesaukee in the village of Weirs Beach, and a dam on its southern end separates it from Opechee Bay in the village of Lakeport. The bay is named after Chief Paugus, who fought in the Battle of Pequawket during Dummer's War. The 19th-century construction of the dam in Lakeport raised the elevation of Paugus Bay to that of Lake Winnipesaukee. Water flowing out of Paugus Bay travels down the Winnipesaukee River to the Merrimack River.

The bay is classified as a cold- and warmwater fishery, with observed species including brook trout, rainbow trout, lake trout, land-locked salmon, lake whitefish, smallmouth and largemouth bass, chain pickerel, white perch, black crappie, bluegill, and horned pout.