Ice Fishing in New York
19 New York lakes hold species targeted through the ice, and every one carries an A–F water quality grade from EPA and state agency sampling. Below: what swims where, winter depths and techniques by species, and the lakes that rank highest on water quality.
Updated 2026-07-20T13:08:09.728Z · Ice thickness guidelines →
What to Target Through the Ice in New York
Winter holding depth and technique by species, with how many New York lakes hold each.
| Species | Lakes | Winter depth | Where they hold | Technique |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Walleye | 19 | 8–25 ft | first breaks off structure, dusk feeding windows | jigging spoons and rattle baits, deadstick minnows |
| Brown Trout | 3 | 5–25 ft | deep clear lakes / stocked ice fishery | jigging spoons, minnows |
| Cisco | 2 | 15–40 ft | suspended over the basin | tiny spoons and jigs — a fun ice target |
| Brook Trout | 1 | 5–20 ft | stocked-lake ice fishery | small jigs, spoons, waxworms |
| Rainbow Trout | 1 | 5–25 ft | clear lakes / stocked ice fishery | small jigs, spoons, PowerBait |
| Lake Trout | 1 | 30–80 ft | deep basin | jigging tubes and spoons through the ice |
| Panfish | 1 | 8–25 ft | basin holes and deep weed edges | tungsten ice jigs with waxworms/minnows |
New York Ice-Fishing Lakes by Water Quality
Ranked by A–F grade, then by how many ice-target species the lake holds.
| # | Lake | County | Grade | Ice species | Max depth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Deruyter Reservoir | Madison | A | 1 | — |
| 2 | Eaton Reservoir | Madison | A | 1 | — |
| 3 | Cazenovia Lake | Madison | A | 1 | — |
| 4 | Sodus Bay Lake | Wayne | B | 1 | — |
| 5 | Conesus Lake | Livingston | B | 1 | — |
| 6 | Butterfield Lake | Jefferson | B | 1 | — |
| 7 | Canadarago Lake | Otsego | B | 1 | — |
| 8 | Saratoga Lake | Saratoga | B | 1 | — |
| 9 | Lake Pleasant | Hamilton | B | 1 | — |
| 10 | Irondequoit Bay Lake | Monroe | C | 1 | — |
| 11 | Chautauqua Lake | Chautauqua | C | 2 | — |
| 12 | Silver Lake | Wyoming | C | 1 | — |
| 13 | Findley Lake | Chautauqua | C | 1 | — |
| 14 | Lime Lake | Cattaraugus | C | 1 | — |
| 15 | Honeoye Lake | Ontario | C | 1 | — |
| 16 | Otisco Lake | Onondaga | D | 1 | — |
| 17 | Jamesville Reservoir | Onondaga | D | 1 | — |
New York Fishing Licence
Ice fishing uses the same licence as open water in New York. A resident annual licence is $25, non-resident $50. Fish-house tagging and shelter-removal deadlines are separate rules — check New York State Department of Environmental Conservation.
We do not measure ice
Nothing on this page tells you whether the ice is safe. We hold no thickness data for any lake and never estimate it. Agency guidance is that no ice is ever completely safe, and that thickness varies widely across a single lake. Read the ice thickness guidelines, measure as you go, and call a local bait shop for current conditions.
Where to stay for ice fishing in New York
Cabins, lodges, and rentals near New York's hard-water lakes — live availability and prices for your ice-fishing trip.
Top-rated places to stay near New York ice-fishing lakes
Availability and prices from Stay22 partners (Booking.com, Vrbo, Expedia). We may earn a commission from bookings, at no extra cost to you.
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Sources: state DNR fish surveys; EPA Water Quality Portal for grades.