Guide To Adirondack Fishing Spots, Species, & Tips
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.
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 |
| 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) |
