Rainbow trout Lakes in New York
Found in 22 New York lakes · 14 in Michigan
Rough fish like Rainbow trout are often associated with eutrophic, nutrient-loaded waters. Their presence — documented in 14 New York lakes — is often a signal of how the rest of the fishery is functioning. Rainbow trout is narrowly distributed — only 14 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 Rainbow trout lake list below against the LakeGrade rubric: lakes with both an A or B grade and Rainbow trout documented are the best places to start for recreational targeting.
Rainbow trout Lakes Map
Every New York lake with documented rainbow trout, colored by water-quality grade.
Best Rainbow trout Lakes in New York
| Rank | Lake | County | Grade | Clarity | Depth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brant Lake | Warren | A | 16.4 ft | - |
| 2 | Lake George | Warren | A | 26.7 ft | - |
| 3 | Lake Placid | Essex | A | 23.1 ft | - |
| 4 | Glen Lake | Warren | A | 16 ft | - |
| 5 | Skaneateles Lake | Onondaga | A | 27.4 ft | - |
| 6 | Mirror Lake | Essex | A | 22.6 ft | - |
| 7 | Lake Luzerne | Warren | A | 17.1 ft | - |
| 8 | Brant Lake | Warren | A | 16.4 ft | - |
| 9 | Eaton Reservoir | Madison | A | 18.2 ft | - |
| 10 | Millsite Lake | Jefferson | A | 27.9 ft | - |
| 11 | Queechy Lake | Columbia | A | 18.1 ft | - |
| 12 | Owasco Lake Platform | Cayuga | A | 11 ft | - |
| 13 | E Caroga Lake | Fulton | B | 10.5 ft | - |
| 14 | W Caroga Lake | Fulton | B | 11.3 ft | - |
| 15 | East Caroga Lake | Fulton | B | 13.6 ft | - |
| 16 | Guilford Lake | Chenango | B | 13.8 ft | - |
| 17 | Canada Lake | Fulton | B | 13.8 ft | - |
| 18 | Little Long Pond | Suffolk | B | 10 ft | - |
| 19 | West Caroga Lake | Fulton | B | 12.9 ft | - |
| 20 | Owasco Lake | Cayuga | B | 11 ft | - |
| 21 | Lk Ontario Lake | Monroe | D | - | - |
| 22 | Greenwood Lake | Orange | F | 3.1 ft | - |
Frequently Asked Questions
How many New York lakes have rainbow trout?
Rainbow trout are found in 22 lakes in New York. The average water quality grade of these lakes is B (Good).
What are the best rainbow trout lakes in New York?
The best rainbow trout lakes in New York by water quality are Brant Lake, Lake George, Lake Placid, Glen Lake, Skaneateles Lake.
Fish species from state agency survey, stocking, and public fishing-access records; water-quality grades from the EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys.