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Best bluegill lakes in New York

92 New York waters list bluegill (official records or labelled estimates), 88 mapped with survey or official-chart depth data. Ranked below by size and depth-data quality, leading with the waters in our reviewed search catalog — open any water to see exactly where to fish it: depth contours, scored spots with plain-English reasons, seasonal windows and bait picks. The classic panfish. Shallow cover in summer, deeper weed edges otherwise.

1. Cayuga Lake — 435 ft max · real survey depth contours · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Northern Pike, CrappieWhy #1: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 9 public access sites, 1 carry-in or shore-oriented
2. Black Lake — 10 ft max · real survey depth contours · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Northern PikeWhy #2: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 2 public access sites, 1 carry-in or shore-oriented
3. Skaneateles Lake — 300 ft max · real survey depth contours · Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Bluegill, Rainbow TroutWhy #3: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 2 public access sites
4. Otsego Lake — 166 ft max · real survey depth contours · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, BluegillWhy #4: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 2 public access sites, 1 carry-in or shore-oriented
5. Muscoot Reservoir — 34 ft max · real survey depth contours · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Crappie, BluegillWhy #5: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · no verified access record attached
6. Tomhannock Reservoir — 50 ft max · real survey depth contours · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, CrappieWhy #6: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · no verified access record attached
7. Conesus Lake — 65 ft max · real survey depth contours · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Northern PikeWhy #7: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 4 public access sites, 3 carry-in or shore-oriented
8. Onondaga Lake — 63 ft max · real survey depth contours · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Northern PikeWhy #8: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
9. Otisco Lake — 76 ft max · real survey depth contours · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, CrappieWhy #9: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site, 1 carry-in or shore-oriented
10. Saratoga Lake — 95 ft max · real survey depth contours · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Northern PikeWhy #10: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
11. West Branch Reservoir — 52 ft max · real survey depth contours · Largemouth Bass, Walleye, Bluegill, Rainbow TroutWhy #11: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · no verified access record attached
12. Butterfield Lake — 40 ft max · real survey depth contours · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Northern PikeWhy #12: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
13. Rushford Lake — 100 ft max · real survey depth contours · Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Bluegill, Rainbow TroutWhy #13: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · no verified access record attached
14. Schoharie Reservoir — 132 ft max · real survey depth contours · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, CrappieWhy #14: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
15. Whitney Point Reservoir — 20 ft max · real survey depth contours · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, CrappieWhy #15: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 2 public access sites
16. Titicus Reservoir — 85 ft max · real survey depth contours · Largemouth Bass, Crappie, Bluegill, Rainbow TroutWhy #16: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · no verified access record attached
17. Honeoye Lake — 30 ft max · real survey depth contours · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Northern PikeWhy #17: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 2 public access sites, 1 carry-in or shore-oriented
18. Cazenovia Lake — 50 ft max · real survey depth contours · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, CrappieWhy #18: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 3 public access sites, 2 carry-in or shore-oriented
19. Goodyear Lake — 33 ft max · real survey depth contours · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, CrappieWhy #19: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 2 public access sites, 2 carry-in or shore-oriented
20. Millsite Lake — 70 ft max · real survey depth contours · Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike, Bluegill, Rainbow TroutWhy #20: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
21. DeRuyter Reservoir — 50 ft max · real survey depth contours · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, CrappieWhy #21: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · no verified access record attached
22. Quaker Lake — 40 ft max · real survey depth contours · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Northern Pike, BluegillWhy #22: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
23. Lamoka Lake — 45 ft max · real survey depth contours · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Crappie, BluegillWhy #23: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · no verified access record attached
24. Silver Lake — 35 ft max · real survey depth contours · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Northern PikeWhy #24: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
25. Copake Lake — 33 ft max · real survey depth contours · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Crappie, BluegillWhy #25: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · no verified access record attached

…plus 67 more New York waters holding bluegill.

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When to fish bluegill in New York

• Spring 1–6 ft — Bedding colonies on sandy shallow flats — sight-fish the light spots.
• Summer 4–15 ft — Weed edges and dock shade; bigger 'gills hold slightly deeper.
• Fall 6–18 ft — Schools tighten on remaining green weeds and first drops.
• Winter 10–25 ft — Soft-bottom basins with invertebrates; finesse presentations.

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