Guide To Adirondack Fishing Spots, Species, & Tips

Q: Are Catfish Present in the Adirondacks?

Yes, the Adirondacks host various catfish species:Channel Catfish: Found in larger lakes and rivers such as Lake Champlain, Black Lake, and the Mohawk River.Brown and Yellow Bullhead: Common in ponds, shallow lakes, and slow-moving streams.Stonecat: Prefers rocky streams and rivers with clear water.

Q: Are Salmon Species Found in the Adirondack Waters?

Yes, the Adirondacks are home to several salmon species:Chinook Salmon: Known for their size and strength, found in larger lakes and rivers.Coho Salmon: Smaller than Chinook but offer exciting fights, found in similar areas.Atlantic Salmon: Thriving in lakes like Lake George and Big Moose Lake.

This ultimate Adirondack fishing guide has been meticulously compiled to offer insights into the Adirondack Mountain region’s (ADK) best fishing hot spots. With approximately 1,950 named lakes and ponds scattered over its 5,000 square miles. Adirondack rivers, creeks, and streams, spanning over 1,200 miles, offer varied fishing for beginner and experienced fishermen alike. Adirondack park is a 6.1 million-acre sanctuary, making up 18% of New York State’s land. It encompasses the entire Adirondack Mountain region and is a protected paradise, ensuring the conservation of the Adirondacks’ natural wonders. See other NY State top fishing spots.

At a glance

Region: Northern NY & Adirondacks
Water types covered: Lakes, ponds, rivers, streams, and creeks across the Adirondack region
Best use of this page: Start here to compare waters by species, size, access, and setting
Common targets: Trout, bass, walleye, pike, muskie, salmon, perch, and panfish
Last reviewed: February 2026

How to use this guide

Start with the table to compare waters by species and setting.
Use the notes column to narrow down by access, season, or fishery type.
Use the article links below for deeper topic coverage.
Check the FAQ and source sections at the bottom when you need a broader Adirondack overview.

Fishing in the Adirondacks: A Spot for Every Angler

Below is a curated list of prime fishing spots, perfect for both novices and experts. Our commitment is to provide accurate, current information, enhancing your every fishing vacation or day trip. Complete table but no organized alphabetically

Body of Water (County)	Species	Notes	Depth (ft)	Length (mi)	Width (mi)	Elevation (ft)
Ausable River (Essex & Clinton)	Brown Trout, Salmon	Popular fly-fishing destination	3-15	45	0.25-1	400-1,500
Big Moose Lake (Herkimer)	Bass, Trout	Deepest Adirondack lake	264	8	2.5	1,768
Big Tupper Lake (Franklin & St. Lawrence)	Muskie, Lake Trout, Walleye	Largest lake entirely within the Adirondack Park	113	10	4	1,650
Black Pond (Clinton)	Walleye, Crappie	Popular for ice fishing & crappie “splashies”	55	1.5	1	420
Black River (Lewis, Jefferson, Herkimer)	Steelhead Trout, Bass, Walleye	Longest river entirely within New York State	3-40	157	50-200	1850-246
Blue Mountain Lake (Hamilton)	Pike, Walleye	Scenic setting, great boat access	140	3.5	1.5	1,735
Boquet River (Essex)	Brown Trout, Rainbow Trout	Scenic river with gorges and meadows	5-10	15	0.2-0.5	500-1,500
Buckhorn Lake (Franklin)	Pike, Bass, Crappie	Popular for family outings and ice fishing	40	2.5	1	920
Chazy Lake (Clinton)	Largemouth & Smallmouth Bass, Perch	Known for its annual Chazy Lake Bass Derby	30	3	1	360
Cranberry Lake (St. Lawrence & Hamilton)	Muskie, Walleye, Pike	Hosts the Cranberry Lake Muskie Madness Tournament	60	10	3	1,550
Eagle Lake (Franklin)	Muskie, Pike, Walleye	Popular for houseboating and stunning scenery	40	3	1.5	1,420
Eagle Nest Lake (Franklin)	Lake Trout, Bass, Walleye	Popular for early and thick ice formation	85	4	1	1,540
East Branch Ausable River (Essex)	Brown Trout	Smaller branch of the Ausable River	2-4	25	0.1-0.25	1,500-2,000
Eighth Lake (Hamilton)	Lake Trout, Brook Trout	Popular for trout fishing	80	1.5	0.25	1,759
Fifth Lake (Herkimer)	Smallmouth Bass, Yellow Perch	Small lake in the Fulton Chain	45	1	0.25	1,744
First Lake (Herkimer)	Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass	Part of the Fulton Chain of Lakes	52	1.5	0.5	1,700
Fourth Lake (Herkimer)	Bass	Surrounded by the Fourth Lake Wilderness Area	45	3	1	1,740
Grass River (St. Lawrence & Jefferson)	Bass, Pike, Muskie	Diverse sections for fishing and paddling	5-15	50	0.2-0.5	500-1,500
Great Chazy River (Clinton)	Walleye, Pike, Smallmouth Bass	Scenic river flowing to Lake Champlain	5-10	25	0.2-0.4	400-1,000
Great Sacandaga Lake (Warren & Saratoga)	Bass, Walleye, Pike	Created by a dam project, popular for boating and fishing tournaments	50	15	2	773
Hinckley Lake (Herkimer)	Muskie, Walleye, Pike	Popular for trophy fish, former reservoir	80	2	1	1,260
Indian Creek (Hamilton)	Brook Trout	Small wilderness stream for fly-fishing	1-2	5	0.1	1,500-2,000
Indian Lake (Hamilton)	Muskie, Walleye, Trout	Legend of a mysterious “water panther”	180	5	2	1,650
Indian River (Lewis, Jefferson)	Walleye, Muskellunge, Pike	Flows through the Tug Hill Plateau	5-15	75	75-300	Varies
Jessup River (Hamilton)	Brook Trout	Scenic river in the heart of the Adirondacks	2-4	15	0.1-0.2	1,500-2,000
Lake Bonaparte (Jefferson)	Walleye, Muskie, Pike	Hosts annual “Thousand Islands Muskie Classic”	36	11	3	473
Lake Champlain (Clinton, Essex, Grand Isle, & Chittenden)	Largemouth & Smallmouth Bass, Perch, Pike	Hosts “Ice Fishing Derby Capital of the World” in February	400	125	12	95
Lake George (Warren & Washington)	Bass, Perch, Walleye	Popular for boating	196	32	3	397
Lake Placid (Essex)	Lake Trout, Bass, Perch	Hosted Winter Olympics in 1932	164	3	1	1,597
Lake Rondaxe (Franklin)	Walleye, Muskellunge, Perch	Features a unique “swimming island”	40	2	1	1,620
Little Tupper Lake (Franklin)	Lake Trout, Bass, Walleye	Known for crystal-clear waters and secluded bays	50	3	1	1,680
Loon Lake (Essex)	Lake Trout, Bass, Walleye	Secluded wilderness lake with abundant loons	50	2	0.5	1,630
Lower Saranac Lake (Franklin)	Bass, Pike, Walleye	More secluded than Upper Saranac	60	5	2	1,530
Lower St. Regis Lake (Essex)	Bass, Pike, Crappie	Smaller and quieter than Upper St. Regis	35	2	1	1,540
Middle Saranac Lake (Franklin)	Bass, Pike, Walleye	Peaceful paddle with connecting channels	40	2	1	1,530
Mirror Lake (Essex)	Smallmouth Bass, Perch	Crystal-clear waters, scenic mountain views	60	2	0.5	1,548
Moose River (Herkimer & St. Lawrence)	Bass, Walleye, Pike	Mighty river system with whitewater and calmer sections	10-40	40	0.4-1	400-1,500
Moss Lake (Herkimer)	Largemouth Bass, Yellow Perch	Smaller, more secluded lake	40	0.8	0.3	2,090
Newcomb Lake (Essex)	Lake Trout, Brook Trout	Site of historic Camp Santanoni; accessible via a five-mile foot trail; six campsites and two leantos maintained by the state	Not specified	1.5	0.5	1,525
Old Forge Pond (Herkimer)	Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass	Part of the Fulton Chain of Lakes, popular for kayaking	30	1.5	0.5	1,709
Oswegatchie River (St. Lawrence)	Walleye, Pike, Smallmouth Bass	Tributary of the St. Lawrence River	5-15	40	0.2-0.5	1,000-1,500
Pecks Lake (Fulton)	Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike	Privately owned, with public access	65	3.5	0.75	1,560
Rainbow Lake (Franklin)	Pike, Perch, Crappie	Once hosted a resort with a dance hall and casino	40	1.5	0.5	1,200
Raquette Lake (St. Lawrence)	Muskie, Walleye, Trout	Largest wilderness lake in Adirondacks	137	18	4	1,550
Raquette River (Hamilton, St. Lawrence, Franklin)	Smallmouth Bass, Northern Pike	Long river with multiple sections popular for fishing	150	146	Varies	1,771
Round Lake (Hamilton)	Largemouth & Smallmouth Bass, Panther Martin	Named for its circular shape	80	1.5	1	1,640
Round Pond (Franklin)	Muskie, Walleye, Crappie	Known for its circular shape and excellent fishing	50	1	0.5	1,530
Sacandaga River (Warren & Saratoga)	Bass, Walleye, Pike	Scenic river near Lake George	5-10	20	0.2-0.4	500-1,000
Saint Lawrence River (St. Lawrence, Jefferson, Franklin)	Muskellunge, Walleye, Smallmouth Bass	Major river, boundary between the U.S. and Canada	250	744	Varies	243
Saranac Lake Chain (Franklin & Essex)	Bass, Pike, Walleye, Muskie	Interconnected lakes, popular for ice fishing	50	22	1.5	1,530
Saranac River (Franklin & Essex)	Brown Trout, Bass	Flows through Saranac Lake Chain	5-10	30	0.2-0.4	1,500-1,800
Schroon Lake (Essex)	Bass, Walleye, Pike	Scenic setting with islands and bays	134	6	3	1,380
Schroon River (Essex)	Bass, Walleye, Pike	Scenic river flowing to Schroon Lake	5-10	20	0.2-0.4	500-1,000
Second Lake (Herkimer)	Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass	Part of the Fulton Chain of Lakes	55	1.2	0.4	1,730
Sixth Lake (Herkimer)	Smallmouth Bass, Yellow Perch	Part of the Fulton Chain of Lakes	50	1	0.25	1,781
St. Regis Pond (Franklin)	Bass, Pike, Crappie	Hosts the St. Regis Canoe Race	45	3	1	1,520
St. Regis River (Franklin)	Walleye, Pike, Muskie	Flows through St. Regis Pond	5-10	20	0.2-0.4	1,500-1,800
Stony Creek Pond (Franklin)	Walleye, Crappie, Pike	Known for exceptional crappie fishing	42	2	1	1,217
Third Lake (Herkimer)	Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Yellow Perch	Part of the Fulton Chain of Lakes, popular for fishing and boating	45	2	0.4	1,720
Upper & Lower Ausable Lakes (Essex)	Lake Trout, Bass, Pike	Upper Ausable has a unique “floating island”	75	3	1	1,440
Upper Saranac Lake (Franklin)	Bass, Pike, Walleye, Muskie	Popular for fishing tournaments and scenic tours	70	3	1	1,530
Upper St. Regis Lake (Essex)	Lake Trout, Bass, Walleye	Offers excellent canoeing and fishing opportunities	50	4	1	1,540
West Branch of the Sacandaga River (Hamilton)	Brown Trout, Brook Trout	Scenic river with deep gorges and waterfalls	3-30	25	20-50	1,800-1,200
West Canada Creek (Hamilton & Herkimer)	Steelhead Trout, Brown Trout	Popular fly-fishing river	3-10 (varies depending on section)	30-40	0.15-0.4	500-1,500 (varies depending on section)

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FAQs About Adirondack Fishing

Is Fishing Allowed in the Adirondacks?

Yes, fishing is a popular activity in the Adirondacks, which features a rich variety of aquatic environments. Anglers can explore thousands of lakes, ponds, and rivers, targeting species such as trout, bass, walleye, pike, salmon, and perch. A New York State fishing license is required for fishing in the Adirondacks.

Which Adirondack Lakes are Best for Catching Walleye?

Walleye fisherman will find several lakes in the Adirondacks with healthy populations:

Lake Champlain: Known for its excellent walleye fishing, particularly in the northern basin and around islands.
Black Lake: Renowned for abundant walleye, especially during spring and fall.
Saranac Lake: Offers good-sized walleye near islands and drop-offs.
Big Moose Lake: A year-round walleye fishing destination.
Tupper Lake: Known for walleye, especially in deeper waters.

Are Catfish Present in the Adirondacks?

Yes, the Adirondacks host various catfish species:

Channel Catfish: Found in larger lakes and rivers such as Lake Champlain, Black Lake, and the Mohawk River.
Brown and Yellow Bullhead: Common in ponds, shallow lakes, and slow-moving streams.
Stonecat: Prefers rocky streams and rivers with clear water.

Are Northern Pike Native to the Adirondack Region?

Northern pike are not native to the Adirondacks. They were introduced in the early 20th century. Now established, they are found in several lakes, including Big Tupper Lake (notable for large pike), Fourth Lake, Raquette Lake, and Saranac Lake.

What Variety of Fish Can Be Found in the Adirondacks?

The Adirondacks contain a diverse fish population, including trout (brook, brown, lake, and rainbow), bass (largemouth and smallmouth), walleye, pike, salmon (Chinook, coho, and Atlantic), perch (yellow and white), and various panfish like crappie, sunfish, and bluegill.

Are Salmon Species Found in the Adirondack Waters?

Yes, the Adirondacks are home to several salmon species:

Chinook Salmon: Known for their size and strength, found in larger lakes and rivers.
Coho Salmon: Smaller than Chinook but offer exciting fights, found in similar areas.
Atlantic Salmon: Thriving in lakes like Lake George and Big Moose Lake.

What Types of Fish Inhabit Lake Placid in New York?

Lake Placid is home to various fish species, including lake trout (noted for deep-water fishing), smallmouth bass (abundant near rocky areas), walleye (prefer deeper regions), yellow perch, and ciscoes (lake herring) (popular among ice anglers).

Editorial note

FishNY.com is a publisher/editor–led site. We curate and update pages like this using FishNY archives and primary references where available. If you spot an access change, regulation update, or broken link, please contact us so we can review and update this page.

Last reviewed: February 2026

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