How thick does ice need to be to fish on in New York?

Public guidance: at least 4 inches of clear, solid new ice to walk on. White ice is about half as strong. Follow your state agency's advice and check the ice yourself.

What are good ice-fishing lakes in New York?

Start with Oneida Lake, Seneca Lake and Lake George.

Ice fishing in New York: 10 lakes and how to stay safe

Ice fishing in New York: 10 lakes with walleye, perch, pike, panfish or trout under the ice, and the safety rules that come first.

Ice first

Those figures are for clear, solid new ice. White or snow ice is about half as strong, so double them. Ice is never the same thickness across a lake: check it with a spud or auger every few steps, stay away from inlets, outlets, springs and pressure ridges, and follow your state agency's advice.

Clear new ice	What it can hold (public guidance)
Under 4 in	Stay off
4 in	Walking, ice fishing on foot
5 to 7 in	Snowmobile or ATV
8 to 12 in	Small car or light pickup
12 to 15 in	Medium truck

1. Oneida Lake

At 50,900 acres of water, Oneida Lake is a huge piece of water. It holds walleye, yellow perch, smallmouth bass and largemouth bass. It goes down to about 55 ft. Its bed shows three steep ledges and an upper arm worth a first look. Under the ice, walleye: cold. Slow jigs on deep structure.

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

2. Seneca Lake

At 42,800 acres, Seneca Lake is a big lake. It holds lake trout, trout, yellow perch and smallmouth bass. It goes down to about 618 ft. The lake bed gives you three point drop-offs and a sheltered cove to work. Under the ice, lake trout: cool surface. They come shallower; try shore points.

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

3. Lake George

At some 28,800 acres, Lake George is a big lake. Lake trout, yellow perch, smallmouth bass and largemouth bass are the draw. At about 196 ft deep, it stays cooler below the surface well into summer. Under the ice, lake trout: cool surface. They come shallower; try shore points.

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

4. Cayuga Lake

Cayuga Lake is a natural lake of some 42,800 acres. It lies right by Union Springs. It holds lake trout, trout, northern pike and crappie. At about 435 ft deep, it stays cooler below the surface well into summer. Under the ice, lake trout: cool surface. They come shallower; try shore points.

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

5. Great Sacandaga Lake

Great Sacandaga Lake spreads over 20,600 acres of water. The lake is within an easy drive of Schenectady (about 22 miles). Conklingville Dam holds it on the Sacandaga River. The fish here are walleye, northern pike, trout and yellow perch. At about 70 ft deep, it stays cooler below the surface well into summer. On the 3-D map the bed has four steep ledges: good places to start. Great Sacandaga Lake was created in 1930 when the Conklingville Dam impounded the Sacandaga River to help control Hudson River flooding. Under the ice, walleye: cold. Slow jigs on deep structure.

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

6. Chautauqua Lake

At some 13,400 acres, Chautauqua Lake is a big lake. It lies about 31 miles west of Erie. Walleye, crappie, yellow perch and bluegill are the draw. 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. Under the ice, walleye: cold. Slow jigs on deep structure.

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

7. Keuka Lake

At 11,700 acres of water, Keuka Lake is a big lake. The lake is next to Keuka Park. Expect lake trout, trout, yellow perch and smallmouth bass. It goes down to about 187 ft. Its bed shows three point drop-offs and an upper arm worth a first look. Keuka Lake is the only Y-shaped Finger Lake, with two long arms meeting at Penn Yan. Under the ice, lake trout: cool surface. They come shallower; try shore points.

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

8. Canandaigua Lake

Canandaigua Lake spreads over some 10,800 acres. It lies next to Canandaigua. Trout, lake trout, yellow perch and bluegill are the draw. It goes down to about 276 ft. The lake bed gives you three point drop-offs and an upper arm to work. It is a clear lake, so long casts and a quiet approach pay off. Under the ice, trout: cold. Slow and near the surface on sunny days.

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

9. Skaneateles Lake

Skaneateles Lake covers 8,800 acres of water. It lies about 16 miles northeast of Syracuse. Expect trout, lake trout, yellow perch and bluegill. The deepest water is around 315 ft. It is a clear lake, so long casts and a quiet approach pay off. Under the ice, trout: cold. Slow and near the surface on sunny days.

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

10. Black Lake

At 7,860 acres of water, Black Lake is a good-sized lake. You will find it near Ogdensburg. Walleye, northern pike, crappie and bluegill are the draw. The deepest water is around 40 ft. The lake bed gives you three point drop-offs and two sheltered coves to work. Black Lake is the largest lake located entirely within St. Lawrence County, New York, and drains into the Oswegatchie River. Under the ice, walleye: cold. Slow jigs on deep structure.

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

What to bring

Ice picks around your neck and a throw rope
A spud bar or auger to test as you walk
A flotation suit or life jacket on early and late ice
A friend, and someone on shore who knows where you went
Small jigs and spoons tipped with a minnow or waxie