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Best brook trout lakes in New York

56 New York waters list brook trout (official records or labelled estimates), 54 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 native char of cold ponds and streams. Needs the coldest, cleanest water in the lake.

1. Black Lake — 10 ft max · real survey depth contours · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Northern PikeWhy #1: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 2 public access sites, 1 carry-in or shore-oriented
2. Long Lake — 38 ft max · real survey depth contours · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Northern Pike, Yellow PerchWhy #2: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
3. Cranberry Lake — 38 ft max · real survey depth contours · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Northern Pike, Yellow PerchWhy #3: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 2 public access sites
4. Indian Lake — 88 ft max · real survey depth contours · Smallmouth Bass, Northern Pike, Yellow Perch, Lake TroutWhy #4: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 3 public access sites, 2 carry-in or shore-oriented
5. Raquette Lake — 95 ft max · real survey depth contours · Smallmouth Bass, Yellow Perch, Lake Trout, Brook TroutWhy #5: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site, 1 carry-in or shore-oriented
6. Forked Lake — 74 ft max · real survey depth contours · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Yellow Perch, Lake TroutWhy #6: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 2 public access sites
7. Woodhull Lake — 80 ft max · real survey depth contours · Yellow Perch, Lake Trout, Brook Trout, SplakeWhy #7: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site, 1 carry-in or shore-oriented
8. Chazy Lake — 78 ft max · real survey depth contours · Smallmouth Bass, Rainbow Trout, Yellow Perch, Lake TroutWhy #8: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
9. Lower Chateaugay Lake — 30 ft max · real survey depth contours · Rainbow Trout, Yellow Perch, Brown Trout, Brook TroutWhy #9: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · no verified access record attached
10. Upper Chateaugay Lake — 70 ft max · real survey depth contours · Smallmouth Bass, Rainbow Trout, Yellow Perch, Lake TroutWhy #10: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · no verified access record attached
11. Newcomb Lake — 80 ft max · real survey depth contours · Lake Trout, Brook Trout, Pumpkinseed, Brown BullheadWhy #11: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · no verified access record attached
12. Blue Mountain Lake — 100 ft max · real survey depth contours · Smallmouth Bass, Yellow Perch, Lake Trout, Brook TroutWhy #12: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · no verified access record attached
13. Loon Lake — 30 ft max · real survey depth contours · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Northern PikeWhy #13: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site, 1 carry-in or shore-oriented
14. Eagle Lake — 40 ft max · real survey depth contours · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Northern Pike, CrappieWhy #14: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
15. South Lake — 60 ft max · real survey depth contours · Lake Trout, Brook Trout, Brown BullheadWhy #15: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site, 1 carry-in or shore-oriented
16. Pharaoh Lake — 100 ft max · real survey depth contours · Lake Trout, Brook Trout, Rock Bass, PumpkinseedWhy #16: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · no verified access record attached
17. Beaverkill — 6 ft max · Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout, Brook TroutWhy #17: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · no verified access record attached
18. Middle Branch Reservoir — 55 ft max · real survey depth contours · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Crappie, Common CarpWhy #18: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · no verified access record attached
19. St. Regis Pond — 30 ft max · real survey depth contours · Lake Trout, Brook Trout, Splake, PumpkinseedWhy #19: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · no verified access record attached
20. Quaker Lake — 40 ft max · real survey depth contours · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Northern Pike, BluegillWhy #20: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
21. Silver Lake — 35 ft max · real survey depth contours · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Northern PikeWhy #21: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
22. Trout Pond — 60 ft max · real survey depth contours · Lake Trout, Brook Trout, Pumpkinseed, Brown BullheadWhy #22: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · no verified access record attached
23. Lake Lila — 60 ft max · real survey depth contours · Smallmouth Bass, Yellow Perch, Lake Trout, Brook TroutWhy #23: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site, 1 carry-in or shore-oriented
24. Horseshoe Lake — 10 ft max · real survey depth contours · Walleye, Muskellunge, Brook TroutWhy #24: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site, 1 carry-in or shore-oriented
25. Otter Lake — 10 ft max · real survey depth contours · Largemouth Bass, Walleye, Northern Pike, BluegillWhy #25: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · no verified access record attached

…plus 31 more New York waters holding brook trout.

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When to fish brook trout in New York

• Spring 2–15 ft — Ice-out scatters brookies along shorelines and inflow mouths, feeding on the first insect activity.
• Summer 10–30 ft — Brookies hold where the coldest water is — spring holes, deep basin edges and inflow plumes.
• Fall 2–15 ft — Fall is the show: brilliant spawning colors on gravel shoals and inflow gravel.
• Winter 3–20 ft — A classic ice-fishing target — active all winter in shallow to mid-depth water.

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