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Best bluegill lakes in New York

19 New York waters hold bluegill, 19 mapped with real state-agency depth surveys. Ranked below by size and depth-data quality — 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 · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Northern Pike, Crappie
2. Skaneateles Lake — 300 ft max · survey depth data · Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Bluegill, Yellow Perch
3. Otsego Lake — 166 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Bluegill
4. Muscoot Reservoir — 34 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Crappie, Bluegill
5. Otisco Lake — 76 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Crappie
6. Conesus Lake — 65 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Northern Pike
7. Saratoga Lake — 95 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Northern Pike
8. Cazenovia Lake — 50 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Crappie
9. Honeoye Lake — 30 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Northern Pike
10. Schoharie Reservoir — 132 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Crappie, Bluegill
11. Cuba Lake — 44 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Northern Pike
12. Titicus Reservoir — 85 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Crappie, Bluegill, Rainbow Trout
13. Waneta Lake — 30 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Crappie
14. Goodyear Lake — 33 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Crappie
15. Findley Lake — 35 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Crappie, Bluegill, Yellow Perch
16. Lamoka Lake — 45 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Crappie, Bluegill
17. Kinderhook Lake — 33 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Bluegill, Yellow Perch, Chain Pickerel
18. West Branch Reservoir — 52 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Walleye, Bluegill, Rainbow Trout
19. Kirk Lake — 24 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Crappie, Bluegill

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.

Also in New York: best largemouth bass lakes · best smallmouth bass lakes · best walleye lakes · best northern pike lakes · best crappie lakes · best channel catfish lakes · best rainbow trout lakes · best yellow perch lakes · best common carp lakes · best chinook salmon lakes · best steelhead lakes · best lake trout lakes · best brown trout lakes · best brook trout lakes · best landlocked salmon lakes · best chain pickerel lakes · best rock bass lakes · best white perch lakes · best pumpkinseed lakes · best brown bullhead lakes

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