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Best rainbow trout lakes in New York

72 New York waters hold rainbow trout, 67 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 stocked cold-water trout. Depth is everything: rainbows follow the temperature layer they like.

1. Lake Champlain — 392 ft max · survey depth data · 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. Seneca Lake — 618 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Northern PikeWhy #2: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 8 public access sites
3. Lake George — 187 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Northern Pike, CrappieWhy #3: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · 4 public access sites
4. Canandaigua Lake — 250 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Northern PikeWhy #4: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 3 public access sites
5. Allegheny Reservoir — 180 ft max · Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Northern Pike, Rainbow TroutWhy #5: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · 2 public access sites
6. Cannonsville Reservoir — 144 ft max · survey depth data · Smallmouth Bass, Crappie, Rainbow Trout, Yellow PerchWhy #6: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · no verified access record attached
7. Pepacton Reservoir — 182 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Channel Catfish, Rainbow TroutWhy #7: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 3 public access sites
8. Ashokan Reservoir — 172 ft max · survey depth data · Smallmouth Bass, Rainbow Trout, Yellow PerchWhy #8: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · no verified access record attached
9. Rondout Reservoir — 170 ft max · survey depth data · Smallmouth Bass, Rainbow Trout, Yellow Perch, Lake TroutWhy #9: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
10. Upper Saranac Lake — 92 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Northern Pike, Rainbow TroutWhy #10: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 2 public access sites, 1 carry-in or shore-oriented
11. Fourth Lake — 80 ft max · survey depth data · Rainbow Trout, Yellow Perch, Lake Trout, Landlocked SalmonWhy #11: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 3 public access sites, 2 carry-in or shore-oriented
12. Kensico Reservoir — 160 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Rainbow Trout, Yellow PerchWhy #12: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · no verified access record attached
13. Hemlock Lake — 80 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Rainbow Trout, Yellow PerchWhy #13: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 2 public access sites
14. Lake Placid — 140 ft max · survey depth data · Smallmouth Bass, Rainbow Trout, Yellow Perch, Lake TroutWhy #14: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
15. Neversink Reservoir — 166 ft max · survey depth data · Smallmouth Bass, Rainbow TroutWhy #15: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · no verified access record attached
16. Lake Pleasant — 60 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Rainbow TroutWhy #16: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
17. Lower Chateaugay Lake — 30 ft max · survey depth data · Rainbow Trout, Yellow Perch, Brown Trout, Brook TroutWhy #17: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · no verified access record attached
18. Upper Chateaugay Lake — 70 ft max · survey depth data · Smallmouth Bass, Rainbow Trout, Yellow Perch, Lake TroutWhy #18: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · no verified access record attached
19. West Branch Reservoir — 52 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Walleye, Bluegill, Rainbow TroutWhy #19: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · no verified access record attached
20. Taylor Pond — 90 ft max · survey depth data · Rainbow Trout, Lake TroutWhy #20: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
21. Rushford Lake — 100 ft max · survey depth data · Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Bluegill, Rainbow TroutWhy #21: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · no verified access record attached
22. Schoharie Reservoir — 132 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Crappie, BluegillWhy #22: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
23. Sacandaga Lake — 50 ft max · survey depth data · Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Rainbow Trout, Yellow PerchWhy #23: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
24. Cross River Reservoir — 112 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Rainbow Trout, Common CarpWhy #24: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · no verified access record attached
25. Amawalk Reservoir — 70 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Crappie, Rainbow TroutWhy #25: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · no verified access record attached

…plus 47 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.

Also in New York: best largemouth bass lakes · best smallmouth bass lakes · best walleye lakes · best northern pike lakes · best crappie lakes · best bluegill lakes · best channel catfish lakes · best muskellunge lakes · best striped bass lakes · best yellow perch lakes · best freshwater drum 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 lake whitefish lakes · best rock bass lakes · best white perch lakes · best cisco (lake herring) lakes · best splake lakes · best pumpkinseed lakes · best brown bullhead lakes · best summer flounder (fluke) lakes · best bluefish lakes · best black sea bass lakes · best tautog (blackfish) lakes

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