Brown trout Lakes in New York
Found in 21 New York lakes · 3 in Michigan
Brown trout is a rough-fish species — typically common in productive, nutrient-rich lakes, sometimes treated as a management nuisance by anglers targeting game-fish. 3 lakes carry documentation. Brown trout is narrowly distributed — only 3 lakes in Michigan have a documented record. The constraint is usually habitat: cold water, specific depth profile, or river connection.
Rough-fish-dominant lakes are worth checking the grade on: a rough-fish-heavy fishery often reflects an underlying nutrient-loading problem in the watershed. Cross-reference the Brown trout lake list below against the LakeGrade rubric: lakes with both an A or B grade and Brown trout documented are the best places to start for recreational targeting.
Brown trout Lakes Map
Every New York lake with documented brown trout, colored by water-quality grade.
Best Brown trout Lakes in New York
| Rank | Lake | County | Grade | Clarity | Depth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brant Lake | Warren | A | 16.4 ft | - |
| 2 | Canandaigua Lake | Ontario | A | 17.6 ft | - |
| 3 | Eagle Lake | Essex | A | 24.3 ft | - |
| 4 | Glen Lake | Warren | A | 16 ft | - |
| 5 | Lake Bonaparte | Lewis | A | 15.8 ft | - |
| 6 | Lake Luzerne | Warren | A | 17.1 ft | - |
| 7 | Brant Lake | Warren | A | 16.4 ft | - |
| 8 | Eaton Reservoir | Madison | A | 18.2 ft | - |
| 9 | Canadice Lake | Ontario | A | 18.8 ft | - |
| 10 | Queechy Lake | Columbia | A | 18.1 ft | - |
| 11 | Owasco Lake Platform | Cayuga | A | 11 ft | - |
| 12 | Seneca Lake Platform | Seneca | A | 11.5 ft | - |
| 13 | Seneca Lake | Yates | B | 10.3 ft | - |
| 14 | Guilford Lake | Chenango | B | 13.8 ft | - |
| 15 | Canada Lake | Fulton | B | 13.8 ft | - |
| 16 | Owasco Lake | Cayuga | B | 11 ft | - |
| 17 | Lake Pleasant | Hamilton | B | 13.9 ft | - |
| 18 | Cayuga Lake | Tompkins | C | 7.4 ft | - |
| 19 | Otisco Lake | Onondaga | D | 5.2 ft | - |
| 20 | Beaver Lake | Broome | D | 5.5 ft | - |
| 21 | Lk Ontario Lake | Monroe | D | - | - |
Frequently Asked Questions
How many New York lakes have brown trout?
Brown trout are found in 21 lakes in New York. The average water quality grade of these lakes is B (Good).
What are the best brown trout lakes in New York?
The best brown trout lakes in New York by water quality are Brant Lake, Canandaigua Lake, Eagle Lake, Glen Lake, Lake Bonaparte.
Fish species from state agency survey, stocking, and public fishing-access records; water-quality grades from the EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys.