Walleye Lakes in New York
Found in 19 New York lakes · 699 in Wisconsin · 97 in North Dakota · 44 in Michigan · 5 in Indiana
Walleye is a primary New York sport-fishing target. 864 lakes have an official record of the species — the actual population almost certainly extends further, since not every lake gets a full DNR fishery survey every year. With 699 lakes in Wisconsin, 97 in North Dakota, 44 in Michigan, 19 in New York, and 5 in Indiana carrying a documented record, Walleye is one of the more accessible targets in the dataset.
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 Walleye lakes tend to also be the highest-graded — the same water-clarity and nutrient conditions that support the species also produce the higher grades.
Walleye Lakes Map
Every New York lake with documented walleye, colored by water-quality grade.
Best Walleye Lakes in New York
| Rank | Lake | County | Grade | Clarity | Depth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Deruyter Reservoir | Madison | A | 17.6 ft | - |
| 2 | Eaton Reservoir | Madison | A | 18.2 ft | - |
| 3 | Cazenovia Lake | Madison | A | 16.7 ft | - |
| 4 | Sodus Bay Lake | Wayne | B | 8 ft | - |
| 5 | Conesus Lake | Livingston | B | 10.7 ft | - |
| 6 | Butterfield Lake | Jefferson | B | 11.3 ft | - |
| 7 | Canadarago Lake | Otsego | B | 10.3 ft | - |
| 8 | Saratoga Lake | Saratoga | B | 11.3 ft | - |
| 9 | Lake Pleasant | Hamilton | B | 13.9 ft | - |
| 10 | Irondequoit Bay Lake | Monroe | C | 7 ft | - |
| 11 | Chautauqua Lake | Chautauqua | C | 6.7 ft | - |
| 12 | Honeoye Lake | Ontario | C | 9.7 ft | - |
| 13 | Lime Lake | Cattaraugus | C | 7.6 ft | - |
| 14 | Silver Lake | Wyoming | C | 8.5 ft | - |
| 15 | Findley Lake | Chautauqua | C | 8 ft | - |
| 16 | Irondequoit Bay Lake | Monroe | D | 5.3 ft | - |
| 17 | Otisco Lake | Onondaga | D | 5.2 ft | - |
| 18 | Sodus Bay Lake | Wayne | D | 6.2 ft | - |
| 19 | Jamesville Reservoir | Onondaga | D | 5.3 ft | - |
Frequently Asked Questions
How many New York lakes have walleye?
Walleye are found in 19 lakes in New York. The average water quality grade of these lakes is C (Fair).
What are the best walleye lakes in New York?
The best walleye lakes in New York by water quality are Deruyter Reservoir, Eaton Reservoir, Cazenovia Lake, Sodus Bay Lake, Conesus Lake.
Fish species from state agency survey, stocking, and public fishing-access records; water-quality grades from the EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys.