Best fishing lakes in New York: 12 lakes and what bites

The lakes at a glance

1. Seneca Lake

At 42,800 acres, Seneca Lake is a big lake. Lake trout, trout, smallmouth bass and yellow perch are the draw. At about 618 ft deep, it stays cooler below the surface well into summer.

Seneca Lake today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

2. Lake George

At some 28,800 acres, Lake George is a big lake. It holds smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, lake trout and yellow perch. The deepest water is around 196 ft. On the 3-D map the bed has three point drop-offs and two sheltered coves: good places to start.

Lake George today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

3. Oneida Lake

At 50,900 acres of water, Oneida Lake is a huge piece of water. The fish here are walleye, yellow perch, smallmouth bass and largemouth bass. The deepest water is around 55 ft. Its bed shows three steep ledges and an upper arm worth a first look.

Oneida Lake today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

4. Cayuga Lake

Cayuga Lake covers 42,800 acres. It lies next to Union Springs. The fish here are lake trout, trout, smallmouth bass and largemouth bass. At about 435 ft deep, it stays cooler below the surface well into summer. On the 3-D map the bed has three point drop-offs and a sheltered cove: good places to start. Cayuga Lake is the longest of New York's Finger Lakes.

Cayuga Lake today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

5. Chautauqua Lake

At some 13,400 acres, Chautauqua Lake is a big lake. The lake is next to Lakewood. Expect walleye, muskie, largemouth bass and smallmouth bass. It goes down to about 44 ft. The lake bed gives you three point drop-offs and an upper arm to work. Chautauqua Lake drains south via the Chadakoin River toward the Allegheny River rather than toward the Great Lakes.

Chautauqua Lake today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

6. Black Lake

At 7,860 acres, Black Lake is a good-sized lake. The lake is near Ogdensburg. It holds largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, walleye and northern pike. At about 40 ft at its deepest, it warms quickly in spring. On the 3-D map the bed has three point drop-offs and two sheltered coves: good places to start. Black Lake is the largest lake located entirely within St. Lawrence County, New York, and drains into the Oswegatchie River.

Black Lake today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

7. Owasco Lake

At some 6,780 acres, Owasco Lake is a good-sized lake. It lies right by Melrose Park. It holds lake trout, trout, largemouth bass and smallmouth bass. At about 177 ft deep, it stays cooler below the surface well into summer. Its bed shows three point drop-offs and an upper arm worth a first look. Owasco Lake is one of the eleven Finger Lakes in central New York and has the largest watershed of any of them.

Owasco Lake today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

8. Canandaigua Lake

Canandaigua Lake covers 10,800 acres of water. It lies next to Canandaigua. Trout, lake trout, largemouth bass and smallmouth bass are the draw. The deepest water is around 276 ft. The lake bed gives you three point drop-offs and an upper arm to work. Canandaigua Lake is the sole source of drinking water for the city of Canandaigua, New York. It is a clear lake, so long casts and a quiet approach pay off.

Canandaigua Lake today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

9. Great Sacandaga Lake

At some 20,600 acres, Great Sacandaga Lake is a big lake. You will find it within an easy drive of Schenectady (about 22 miles). Conklingville Dam holds it on the Sacandaga River. Expect walleye, northern pike, smallmouth bass and trout. It goes down to about 70 ft. Great Sacandaga Lake was created in 1930 when the Conklingville Dam impounded the Sacandaga River to help control Hudson River flooding.

Great Sacandaga Lake today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

10. Saratoga Lake

Saratoga Lake is a natural lake of 4,030 acres. The lake is within an easy drive of Schenectady (about 15 miles). The fish here are walleye, smallmouth bass, crappie and yellow perch. The deepest water is around 95 ft. Its bed shows three point drop-offs and an upper arm worth a first look. Saratoga Lake drains north into the Hudson River via Fish Creek.

Saratoga Lake today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

11. Keuka Lake

At 11,700 acres, Keuka Lake is a big lake. It lies right by Keuka Park. Expect lake trout, trout, smallmouth bass and largemouth bass. At about 187 ft deep, it stays cooler below the surface well into summer. On the 3-D map the bed has three point drop-offs and an upper arm: good places to start. Keuka Lake is the only Y-shaped Finger Lake, with two long arms meeting at Penn Yan.

Keuka Lake today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

12. Cranberry Lake

Cranberry Lake is a natural lake raised by a dam of 6,980 acres. The lake is near Tupper Lake. Smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, northern pike and trout are the draw. At about 38 ft at its deepest, it warms quickly in spring. Its bed shows three point drop-offs and two sheltered coves worth a first look. Cranberry Lake is the third-largest lake located entirely within the Adirondack Park.

Cranberry Lake today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

New York lakes by fish

A lake appears under a fish when it holds it, by the record or by the type of lake.

• Bass: Seneca Lake, Lake George, Oneida Lake and Cayuga Lake
• Walleye: Oneida Lake, Chautauqua Lake, Black Lake and Owasco Lake
• Trout: Seneca Lake, Lake George, Cayuga Lake and Owasco Lake
• Crappie: Cayuga Lake, Chautauqua Lake, Black Lake and Saratoga Lake
• Pike and muskie: Cayuga Lake, Chautauqua Lake, Black Lake and Owasco Lake
• Catfish: Chautauqua Lake, Raquette Pond, Ashokan Reservoir and Stillwater Reservoir

The fishing year

• Spring: walleye are usually at their best. Prime range. Low light is best, on reefs and weed edges.
• Summer: walleye are usually fair. Warm surface. They go deep in the day; try evenings.
• Fall: walleye are usually at their best. Prime range. Low light is best, on reefs and weed edges.
• Winter: walleye are usually fair. Cold. Slow jigs on deep structure.

Before you go

A New York fishing licence covers every lake here; the state fish and wildlife agency publishes the limits and any special rules lake by lake. Each lake page on LakeScope shows today's water temperature, the wind, the best bite times and a 3-D view of the bed, so check it the morning you go.