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Best rainbow trout lakes in New York

97 New York waters list rainbow trout (official records or labelled estimates), 91 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 stocked cold-water trout. Depth is everything: rainbows follow the temperature layer they like.

1. Lake Champlain — 392 ft max · real survey depth contours · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Northern PikeWhy #1: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 15 public access sites, 3 carry-in or shore-oriented
2. Cayuga Lake — 435 ft max · real survey depth contours · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Northern Pike, CrappieWhy #2: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 9 public access sites, 1 carry-in or shore-oriented
3. Great Sacandaga Lake — 78 ft max · real survey depth contours · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Northern PikeWhy #3: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 4 public access sites
4. Seneca Lake — 618 ft max · real survey depth contours · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Northern PikeWhy #4: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 8 public access sites
5. Keuka Lake — 187 ft max · real survey depth contours · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Northern Pike, CrappieWhy #5: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 2 public access sites, 1 carry-in or shore-oriented
6. Lake George — 187 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Northern Pike, CrappieWhy #6: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · 4 public access sites
7. Skaneateles Lake — 300 ft max · real survey depth contours · Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Bluegill, Rainbow TroutWhy #7: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 2 public access sites
8. Canandaigua Lake — 250 ft max · real survey depth contours · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Northern PikeWhy #8: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 3 public access sites
9. Allegheny Reservoir — 180 ft max · Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Northern Pike, Rainbow TroutWhy #9: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · 2 public access sites
10. Cannonsville Reservoir — 144 ft max · real survey depth contours · Smallmouth Bass, Crappie, Rainbow Trout, Yellow PerchWhy #10: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · no verified access record attached
11. Pepacton Reservoir — 182 ft max · real survey depth contours · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Channel Catfish, Rainbow TroutWhy #11: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 3 public access sites
12. Owasco Lake — 177 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. Ashokan Reservoir — 172 ft max · real survey depth contours · Smallmouth Bass, Rainbow Trout, Yellow Perch, Brown TroutWhy #13: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · no verified access record attached
14. Rondout Reservoir — 170 ft max · real survey depth contours · Smallmouth Bass, Rainbow Trout, Yellow Perch, Lake TroutWhy #14: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
15. Muscoot Reservoir — 34 ft max · real survey depth contours · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Crappie, BluegillWhy #15: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · no verified access record attached
16. Upper Saranac Lake — 92 ft max · real survey depth contours · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Northern Pike, Rainbow TroutWhy #16: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 2 public access sites, 1 carry-in or shore-oriented
17. Brant Lake — 70 ft max · real survey depth contours · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Northern PikeWhy #17: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
18. Fourth Lake — 80 ft max · real survey depth contours · Rainbow Trout, Yellow Perch, Lake Trout, Landlocked SalmonWhy #18: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 3 public access sites, 2 carry-in or shore-oriented
19. Kensico Reservoir — 160 ft max · real survey depth contours · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Rainbow Trout, Yellow PerchWhy #19: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · no verified access record attached
20. Hemlock Lake — 80 ft max · real survey depth contours · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Rainbow Trout, Yellow PerchWhy #20: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 2 public access sites
21. Lake Placid — 140 ft max · real survey depth contours · Smallmouth Bass, Rainbow Trout, Yellow Perch, Lake TroutWhy #21: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
22. Neversink Reservoir — 166 ft max · real survey depth contours · Smallmouth Bass, Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout, Landlocked SalmonWhy #22: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · no verified access record attached
23. Chazy Lake — 78 ft max · real survey depth contours · Smallmouth Bass, Rainbow Trout, Yellow Perch, Lake TroutWhy #23: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
24. Lake Pleasant — 60 ft max · real survey depth contours · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Rainbow TroutWhy #24: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
25. Lower Chateaugay Lake — 30 ft max · real survey depth contours · Rainbow Trout, Yellow Perch, Brown Trout, Brook TroutWhy #25: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · no verified access record attached

…plus 72 more New York waters holding rainbow trout.

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When to fish rainbow trout in New York

• Spring 5–20 ft — Post-ice-out trout roam shallow; fish inflows and windblown shorelines.
• Summer 8–30 ft — Rainbows hold near cold inflows, current seams and the thermocline — find the cool water and you've found the fish.
• Fall 10–35 ft — Fall feeding on rock shoals, current and channel edges as water cools.
• Winter 8–40 ft — Trout are comfortable in cold water — one of the best winter targets; streams and tailwaters fish shallow, deep lakes hold on basin edges.

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