Cisco Lakes in New York
Found in 4 New York lakes · 1 in North Dakota
Cisco is a cold-water species, so the lakes where it is documented tend to be the deep, well-oxygenated basins that stay cold through the summer. 5 lakes carry a record. Cisco is narrowly distributed — only 4 lakes in New York and 1 in North Dakota have a documented record. The constraint is usually habitat: cold water, specific depth profile, or river connection.
Trout presence is itself a water-quality signal: a New York lake that supports a Cisco population is almost certainly running cold enough and oxygenated enough to also support healthier overall water quality. Trout-supporting lakes are almost universally A- or B-grade — the cold, deep, well-oxygenated conditions trout need produce the higher grades almost as a side effect.
Cisco Lakes Map
Every New York lake with documented cisco, colored by water-quality grade.
Best Cisco Lakes in New York
| Rank | Lake | County | Grade | Clarity | Depth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Keuka Lake | Yates | A | 23.6 ft | - |
| 2 | Sodus Bay Lake | Wayne | B | 8 ft | - |
| 3 | Sodus Bay Lake | Wayne | D | 6.2 ft | - |
| 4 | Lk Ontario Lake | Monroe | D | - | - |
Frequently Asked Questions
How many New York lakes have cisco?
Cisco are found in 4 lakes in New York. The average water quality grade of these lakes is C (Fair).
What are the best cisco lakes in New York?
The best cisco lakes in New York by water quality are Keuka Lake, Sodus Bay Lake, Sodus Bay Lake, Lk Ontario Lake.
Fish species from state agency survey, stocking, and public fishing-access records; water-quality grades from the EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys.