Lake trout Lakes in New York
Found in 14 New York lakes · 3 in Michigan
Rough fish like Lake trout are often associated with eutrophic, nutrient-loaded waters. Their presence — documented in 3 New York lakes — is often a signal of how the rest of the fishery is functioning. Lake 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 Lake trout lake list below against the LakeGrade rubric: lakes with both an A or B grade and Lake trout documented are the best places to start for recreational targeting.
Lake trout Lakes Map
Every New York lake with documented lake trout, colored by water-quality grade.
Best Lake trout Lakes in New York
| Rank | Lake | County | Grade | Clarity | Depth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Blue Mtn Lake | Hamilton | A | 21 ft | - |
| 2 | Canandaigua Lake | Ontario | A | 17.6 ft | - |
| 3 | Lake Bonaparte | Lewis | A | 15.8 ft | - |
| 4 | Mirror Lake | Essex | A | 22.6 ft | - |
| 5 | Canadice Lake | Ontario | A | 18.8 ft | - |
| 6 | Owasco Lake Platform | Cayuga | A | 11 ft | - |
| 7 | Seneca Lake Platform | Seneca | A | 11.5 ft | - |
| 8 | Schroon Lake | Essex | B | 14.1 ft | - |
| 9 | Hemlock Lake | Livingston | B | 12.5 ft | - |
| 10 | Canada Lake | Fulton | B | 13.8 ft | - |
| 11 | Owasco Lake | Cayuga | B | 11 ft | - |
| 12 | Raquette Lake | Hamilton | B | 11.2 ft | - |
| 13 | Lake Pleasant | Hamilton | B | 13.9 ft | - |
| 14 | Cayuga Lake | Tompkins | C | 7.4 ft | - |
Frequently Asked Questions
How many New York lakes have lake trout?
Lake trout are found in 14 lakes in New York. The average water quality grade of these lakes is B (Good).
What are the best lake trout lakes in New York?
The best lake trout lakes in New York by water quality are Blue Mtn Lake, Canandaigua Lake, Lake Bonaparte, Mirror Lake, Canadice Lake.
Fish species from state agency survey, stocking, and public fishing-access records; water-quality grades from the EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys.