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Best rainbow trout lakes in New York

24 New York waters hold rainbow trout, 21 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 Pike
2. Seneca Lake — 700 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Northern Pike
3. Lake George — 187 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Northern Pike, Crappie
4. Canandaigua Lake — 250 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Northern Pike
5. Cannonsville Reservoir — 144 ft max · survey depth data · Smallmouth Bass, Crappie, Rainbow Trout, Yellow Perch
6. Pepacton Reservoir — 182 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Channel Catfish, Rainbow Trout
7. Ashokan Reservoir — 172 ft max · survey depth data · Smallmouth Bass, Rainbow Trout, Yellow Perch
8. Rondout Reservoir — 170 ft max · survey depth data · Smallmouth Bass, Rainbow Trout, Yellow Perch, Lake Trout
9. Kensico Reservoir — 160 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Rainbow Trout, Yellow Perch
10. Hemlock Lake — 80 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Rainbow Trout, Yellow Perch
11. Neversink Reservoir — 166 ft max · survey depth data · Smallmouth Bass, Rainbow Trout
12. Schoharie Reservoir — 132 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Crappie, Bluegill
13. Cross River Reservoir — 112 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Rainbow Trout, Common Carp
14. Amawalk Reservoir — 70 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Crappie, Rainbow Trout
15. Titicus Reservoir — 85 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Crappie, Bluegill, Rainbow Trout
16. Canadice Lake — 80 ft max · survey depth data · Smallmouth Bass, Rainbow Trout, Yellow Perch, Lake Trout
17. Croton Falls Reservoir — 101 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Rainbow Trout, Yellow Perch
18. Diverting Reservoir — 34 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Crappie
19. Bog Brook Reservoir — 64 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Rainbow Trout
20. Delaware River (Upper) — 10 ft max · Smallmouth Bass, Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout
21. West Branch Reservoir — 52 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Walleye, Bluegill, Rainbow Trout
22. Lake Gleneida — 123 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Rainbow Trout, Yellow Perch, Lake Trout
23. Lake Gilead — 113 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Rainbow Trout, Yellow Perch, Lake Trout
24. Ausable River (West Branch) — 5 ft max · Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout, Brook Trout

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 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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