Tiger Muskellunge Lakes in New York
Found in 13 New York lakes · 1 in North Dakota
Tiger Muskellunge is one of the headline game-fish species in New York — the kind of catch that anchors fishing trips, cabin weekends, and the regional fishing economy. 14 lakes in our dataset have documented Tiger Muskellunge. Tiger Muskellunge is narrowly distributed — only 13 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.
Game-fish presence on a New York lake also signals enough water-quality stability to support the prey species the game fish depend on — perch, alewife, ciscoes — which themselves require reasonably oxygenated, clear water. On the LakeGrade rubric, the cleanest Tiger Muskellunge lakes tend to also be the highest-graded — the same water-clarity and nutrient conditions that support the species also produce the higher grades.
Tiger Muskellunge Lakes Map
Every New York lake with documented tiger muskellunge, colored by water-quality grade.
Best Tiger Muskellunge Lakes in New York
| Rank | Lake | County | Grade | Clarity | Depth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chenango Lake | Chenango | A | 16.6 ft | - |
| 2 | Lincoln Pond | Essex | A | 15.1 ft | - |
| 3 | Lake Moraine | Madison | A | 20.3 ft | - |
| 4 | Conesus Lake | Livingston | B | 10.7 ft | - |
| 5 | Canadarago Lake | Otsego | B | 10.3 ft | - |
| 6 | Lime Lake | Cattaraugus | C | 7.6 ft | - |
| 7 | Cossayuna Lake | Washington | C | 8.8 ft | - |
| 8 | Lake Como | Cayuga | C | 9.4 ft | - |
| 9 | Duck Lake | Cayuga | D | 4.3 ft | - |
| 10 | Otisco Lake | Onondaga | D | 5.2 ft | - |
| 11 | Kinderhook Lake | Columbia | D | 6.1 ft | - |
| 12 | Stissing Pond | Dutchess | D | 5.9 ft | - |
| 13 | Jamesville Reservoir | Onondaga | D | 5.3 ft | - |
Frequently Asked Questions
How many New York lakes have tiger muskellunge?
Tiger Muskellunge are found in 13 lakes in New York. The average water quality grade of these lakes is C (Fair).
What are the best tiger muskellunge lakes in New York?
The best tiger muskellunge lakes in New York by water quality are Chenango Lake, Lincoln Pond, Lake Moraine, Conesus Lake, Canadarago Lake.
Fish species from state agency survey, stocking, and public fishing-access records; water-quality grades from the EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys.