10 Best Trout Fishing Lakes in New York
Lake Ontario
Lake Ontario is the largest of New York's Finger Lakes and also one of the best places to fish in the state. It's a great lake for beginners and experienced anglers alike, as well as those who prefer fishing from a boat or shoreline. The lake can be fished year-round, but fall through spring tend to have better weather conditions for fishermen. There are several species that live within its waters: lake trout (also called mackinaw) and brown trout are among them. If you're looking to cast a line for these fish, it's best to begin at either end of the lake—especially if you plan on camping at any point during your trip!
St. Regis Canoe Area
St. Regis Canoe Area is a great place to fish in the Adirondacks if you’re looking for a lake that’s easy to access and has a lot of fish species. Unlike some lakes, you can actually drive right up to this one. It’s pretty small (2 acres), but it has plenty of trout, walleye and northern pike in it.
There are some good spots that you can easily get to by driving there in your car or truck, like Little Stony Creek Road at the south end of Lake St. Regis where there is boat launch on the east side of Route 28N just before it crosses over from Essex County into Franklin County (you will see signs for this). If you want to get away from everyone else though, then try hiking about 2 miles up through 2 streams (Little Stony Creek & Walker Brook) or 3 miles down from North Pond Road near French Point Campground following either stream until they join together at their confluence before going across Kinney Pond Road bridge over Blueberry River then uphill another mile past Hermitage Lakes Resort until reaching Kinney Pond Dam where Rainbow Trout were stocked last year accordingto one angler who went out this way recently!
Seneca Lake
Seneca Lake, the largest of the Finger Lakes and second largest lake in New York State, is a popular destination for trout fishing. The lake has over 100 miles of shoreline and it's surrounded by thousands of acres of public land.
The lake was formed about 14,000 years ago when glaciers receded from the region. Seneca Lake is 618 feet deep at its deepest point, making it one of the deepest lakes in New York State.
Cayuga Lake
Cayuga Lake is the longest of the Finger Lakes. The lake has an average depth of 40 feet and a maximum depth of 145 feet. It's a great place for trout fishing, both ice and open water. Brown trout, rainbow trout, and lake trout are all prevalent in this lake.
The most popular way to fish Cayuga Lake is by ice fishing with jigs or minnows through holes in the ice at night during winter months. In some areas access may be difficult due to private land ownership so be sure to check with local officials before heading out!
If you're looking for something more accessible year-round, try trolling lures behind boats on summer afternoons while casting spinners along shorelines in early spring mornings when water temperatures are still cold enough (around 35-45 degrees) but air temperatures are warmer than usual; it's easier on your body this way!
Ashokan Reservoir
Ashokan Reservoir is the perfect fishing lake. It has great fishing, beautiful scenery, and easy access. This lake is great for fly fishing, ice fishing and boat fishing. Ashokan Reservoir is also a good spot to go kayak fishing and wading. Finally you can bank fish or shore fish at this reservoir as well as float tube fish it!
Lake Placid
One of the best trout fishing lakes in New York is Lake Placid. Trout can be a little harder to find here than in some of the other lakes on this list, but they're there if you know where to look. The lake's most common species of trout include browns, rainbows, and brookies.
The best time to fish Lake Placid is during the winter months when temperatures are coldest and ice covers most of the lake surface. These conditions make it easier for anglers to cast their lines into deeper waters without having their line snag on rocks or weeds below them. The lake also boasts several boat launches and fishing piers that help make it accessible for beginners as well as experienced anglers looking for new challenges.
Skaneateles Lake
Skaneateles Lake is located in the Finger Lakes region of upstate New York, and it is one of the best trout fishing lakes in New York State. It has a lot of trout that can be caught by anglers looking to get into the sport or just enjoy some time outdoors with family or friends.
The lake has two public access points along Route 34, which makes it easy to reach from almost anywhere in Central New York. In addition to these two public accesses, there are also several boat launches on Skaneateles Lake where you can launch a boat if you have one at home (or rent one).
There are plenty of other resources available for anglers who want to learn more about fishing at this lake:
The NYS DEC provides information on fishing season dates and species;
There's also information on methods used by fishermen at Skaneateles Lake; and
The DEC website has useful tips for beginning anglers.
Cranberry Lake
When to fish: The best fishing season at Cranberry Lake is early spring.
At a glance: This lake is located in Jefferson County, New York and covers more than 700 acres of water. Fishing licenses are not required for any species of fish here; however, there are restrictions on the number of trout you can keep per day. You'll need a NYS fishing license if you want to try your luck with bass or walleye as well.
Fishing tips: There's little difference between fly-fishing and casting a line into this body of water—the same goes for spin-casting or bait casting. If you're new to fly-fishing, consider bringing along an experienced friend who can show you how it's done!
Fish species in the lake: Bluegill, brown bullhead catfish, smallmouth bass (up to 18"), largemouth bass (up to 26"), rainbow trout (up 10 lbs), northern pikeminnow
Owasco Lake
Owasco Lake is the sixth largest lake in New York State, and it’s a popular fishing spot for brown trout. In fact, there are 1.5 million brown trout that call Owasco home.
Owasco Lake is also known as "The Big Duck" because of its abundance of ducks, geese and other migratory birds that migrate through this area every year. Fishing on Owasco Lake is open all year round with a variety of species available for anglers to catch including largemouth bass, crappie, northern pike and even muskie!
Allen Lake
Allen Lake is a beautiful, well-stocked lake that’s perfect for trout fishing. The lake is fairly small, with an average depth of only 5 feet, but it’s home to more than 50 species of fish including bass, pickerel, perch and walleye—all which are great eating if you catch them! If you do want to try your hand at catching the elusive tiger muskie (a hybrid between the northern pike and muskellunge), be sure to bring along your state-approved net. This lake is stocked with rainbow trout every fall through April so there's plenty of action for anglers looking for a challenge in all seasons.
The best time to visit Allen Lake is from early spring through late summer when most fish are in their prime spawning season—but don't worry if you can't make it during those months: many locals believe that this is actually the best time because fewer people are on site than in other seasons! To increase your chances of success even further, consider bringing along some live bait like night crawlers or leeches since these tend to attract larger predators such as bass during mating season (which occurs between March through September). Not only does using live bait provide an extra challenge but it also helps keep our lakes clean by reducing chemical pollution caused by artificial baits like lures or plugs which can harm water quality over extended periods."
