Lakes, Rivers, and More in the Western Adirondacks
Western Adirondack Fishing, Paddling & Boating
Below are bodies of water that are partially or entirely located in the Western Adirondacks. This includes towns such Inlet, Tupper Lake, and more.
Please note, this list is not exhaustive and is only meant to be a starting point for your Adirondack adventures!
Lakes And Ponds
Horseshoe Lake
Located in the Horseshoe Lake Wild Forest, this lake has plenty of camping as well as a car top boat launch on the southern shore.
Boat Launch: Trailer Unimproved
Fish Species: Largemouth Bass, Sunfish, Yellow Perch, Tiger Musky
Tupper Lake
Named for a surveyor who fell in and drowned in the early 20th century, Tupper Lake remains an excellent place to experience Adirondack beauty. There's not only the water here, the town of Tupper Lake is full of fun stuff to do with the whole family!
Boat Launch: Trailer Improved
Fish Species: Lake Trout, Smallmouth Bass, Largemouth Bass, Sunfish, Yellow Perch, Northern Pike, Walleye
Bridgebrook Pond
A short portage away from Tupper Lake, Bridge brook Pond is a relatively accessible lake that offers an Authentic Adirondack Backwoods feel. You can access it from the bay above Black Bay on Tupper Lake, boat over and then portage though the woods to find this pristine water. Brook Trout and Largemouth Bass can be found here.
Boat Launch: None
Fish Species: Brook Trout
Eighth Lake
Eighth Lake is located along Route 28 in Hamilton County of the Adirondacks. The lake is annually stocked with rainbow trout, lake trout, and landlocked salmon. The most common species for anglers to catch is rainbows. The best time is during the evening hours while trolling the waters. Rocky areas will consist of some smallmouth bass. To access the lake, the DEC campground has a trailer launch for small boats.
Boat Launch: Trailer Improved
Fish Species: Rainbow Trout, Lake Trout, LL Salmon, Smallmouth Bass, Yellow Perch
Limekiln Lake
The waters of Limekiln Lake has a large population of the splake species. Limekiln Lake is mostly known for having a large population of one species of fish, splake. The splake population thrives in the lake and the waters recieve an annual stocking of 2,000 splake. The lake sees more traffic from anglers in the winter than in the summer. There is a state campground with a cartop launch for smaller boats on the north side. Larger boats will need to use the private marina that is close by the campground.
Boat Launch: Hand Launch
Fish Species: Splake
Moshier Reservoir
In the Town of Webb, and just west of its larger sibling the Stillwater Reservoir, the Moshier Reservoir is a great place to paddle! 8 miles of shoreline to view, with a hand launch off of Necessary Dam Road make this an easy place to see. The Reservoir is dammed at both ends.
Boat Launch: Trailer Unimproved
Fish Species: Largemouth Bass, Sunfish, Yellow Perch, Tiger Musky
Piercefield Flow
A section of The Raquette River contained by a dam, the Piercefield Flow is a destination of itself for flatwater paddling and fishing. Head upstream, and be wary of the hydro dam some way downstream!
Boat Launch: Trailer Unimproved
Fish Species: Largemouth Bass, Sunfish, Yellow Perch, Crappie, Northern Pike, Walleye
Little Trout Pond
Little Trout pond is one of three easily portaged lakes in the Horseshoe Lake Wild Forest. Little Trout Pond, Trout Pond, and High Pond are all located quite close to one another and can be accessed from one base camp.
Boat Launch: None
Fish Species: Brook Trout
Pine Pond
The Massawepie Area consists of the great fishing spots of Massawepie Lake, Long Pond, Deer Pond, Town Line Pond, and Pine Pond. The area has brooke trout, lake trout, landlocked salmon, and smallmouth bass. In 1992, A Canton angler caught a state-record brook trout that was 21 inches long, weighed four pounds and 13 ounces, in the Massawepie Area. Fly fishers will primarily use their favorite flies on a sinking line, while spin fishers troll spinners, spoons, or wabblers and worms. Public use is not prohibited from June 15 to August 31, when the Boy Scouts are camping there. To access the waters in the Massawepie Area use the roadside access spots throughout it. Pine Pond is the only exception, which requires a paddle across the lower end of the Massawepie Lake.
Boat Launch: None
Fish Species: Brook Trout
Tooley Pond
A pond on the smaller side, Tooley Pond is accessed off Tooley Pond Road. If you're in the area, consider hiking to the top of nearby Tooley Pond Mountain, a very reasonable hike with the trailhead originating at the pond.
Boat Launch: Trailer Unimproved
Fish Species: Largemouth Bass
Townline Pond
From the large parking area you can locate the trail in the back and follow it to an open shoreline. From the looks of the shore you can tell it gets ample usage. The pond is a much rounder shape than most of the ponds in the Massawepie area which leaves it a bit less sheltered, hence increasing the chances of wavy conditions. However, it is a wonderful paddle and a go to spot for trout fishing and birding.
Boat Launch: Hand Launch
Fish Species: Brook Trout
Big Moose Lake
Big Moose Lake is located north of Fourth Lake, and is the head of the Moose River. Easily accessible from Inlet, Old Forge, and Big Moose, this mid-sized lake is deepest in the east. This 70' max depth allows for a good number of brook trout thrive. There is a boat launch for trailed boats.
Boat Launch: Trailer Improved
Fish Species: Lake Trout, Sunfish, Yellow Perch
Bugg Lake
Bug Lake and neighboring Eagle's Nest Lake are a short hike away from the Eighth Lake Campground. Interestingly, Bug Lake is home to some of the few remaining Kokanee Salmon in New York! The trail will loop between the two lakes, and provide some excellent views of the Adirondack wilderness.
Boat Launch: None
Fish Species: Brook Trout
Cranberry Lake
Cranberry Lake is a lake on the Oswegatchie River in the Adirondack Park in New York in the USA. It is the third largest lake in the Adirondack Park (after Lake George and the Great Sacandaga Lake. About 75 percent of the shoreline is owned by New York State; the 118,000-acre (480 km2) Five Ponds Wilderness Area abuts its south shore, and the Cranberry Lake Wild Forest covers much of its remaining shoreline.
Boat Launch: Trailer Improved
Fish Species: Brook Trout, Smallmouth Bass, Largemouth Bass, Sunfish, Yellow Perch, Crappie, Northern Pike
First Lake
The farthest southwest of the Fulton Chain, First Lake is the closest to Old Forge. The Lake actually is part of a lake complex comprised of First, Second, and Third Lakes. A narrow channel links the main body of the lake to the waterfront of Old Forge.
Boat Launch: Trailer Unimproved
Fish Species: Rainbow Trout, Smallmouth Bass, Largemouth Bass, Sunfish, Yellow Perch, Crappie, Tiger Musky, Northern Pike
Fourth Lake
The largest of the Fulton Chain, Fourth Lake can be accessed by a DEC launch. The northeast end of the lake reaches the waterfront of the Town of Inlet. Anglers can find a variety of fish here, and pleasure boaters will be sure to appreciate the beauty of the lake.
Boat Launch: Trailer Improved
Fish Species: Rainbow Trout, Lake Trout, LL Salmon, Sunfish, Yellow Perch, Northern Pike
Francis Lake
Francis Lake is a great shallow weedy lake off Route 26. Francis Lake has a maximum depth of only 15 feet and is located on the west edge of Lewis County. Anglers should use small jigs or worms suspended below a bobber for panfish. Casting spinners, spoons, plugs, or surface lures are effective for pickerel. You can find both species in the weedlines when fishing from the shore. You can access Francis Lake from the Number Four Road-Stillwater Road off Route 26.
Boat Launch: Hand Launch
Fish Species: Sunfish, Yellow Perch, Chain Pickerel
Lake Lila
Lake Lila is a 1,400 acre (5.6 km2) Lake in the William C. Whitney Wilderness Area, in the town of Long Lake, in the west-central portion of the Adirondack Park. Lake Lila is the largest lake in the Adirondack Park whose shoreline is entirely state-owned; it is the twenty-second largest body of water in the park. The southeastern portion of Lake Lila is an extensive wetland drained by the Shingle Shanty Brook, which feeds the lake; the lake is drained by the Beaver River. The lake is bordered by 2,220-foot (680 m) Mount Frederica.
Boat Launch: None
Fish Species: Lake Trout, Smallmouth Bass, Yellow Perch
Seventh Lake
Seventh Lake is a great fishing spot for trout in the Adirondacks on the western border of Hamilton County. The lake recieves annual stockings of landlocked salmon and has an abundance of rainbow trout and lake trout. Anglers can find smallmouth bass on the north shore's rocky shorelines. There is a DEC launch on the southeastern side of Seventh Lake. Anglers can also travel from the neighboring Fouth Lake and Eighth Lake to reach the waters of Seventh Lake.
Boat Launch: Trailer Improved
Fish Species: Rainbow Trout, Lake Trout, LL Salmon, Smallmouth Bass
Soft Maple Reservoir
Because of several dams in the Beaver River, a number of reservoirs have been developed. The Soft Maple Reservoir is one of them, and it enjoys a reputation as an excellent place to go for smallmouth bass and tiger muskies!
Boat Launch: Hand Launch
Fish Species: Smallmouth Bass, Sunfish, Yellow Perch, Tiger Musky, Chain Pickerel
Star Lake
A smaller lake that is easily accessed and surrounded by homes, Star Lake is a tranquil locale. Interestingly, many residents have "rafts" that they ply the waters with, ready to tie up and make a big deck for an on the water party! Renters are encouraged to be courteous with their boating.
Boat Launch: Hand Launch
Fish Species: Rainbow Trout, Lake Trout, LL Salmon, Smallmouth Bass, Sunfish, Yellow Perch
Stillwater Reservoir
The Stillwater Reservoir, located in the western Adirondacks, offers a multitude of recreational possibilities. They include remote wilderness camping, canoeing, boating, fishing, hunting, snowmobiling, and cross-country skiing. The area receives considerable use during each of the four seasons.
Boat Launch: Trailer Improved
Fish Species: Smallmouth Bass, Sunfish, Yellow Perch
Streeter Lake
Located in a remote part of Aldrich Pond Wild Forest, not far from 5 Ponds Wilderness, Streeter Lake features 2 accessible campsites. There are no picnic tables at these sites, but they have accessible surfaces, one site suitable for tent camping and one for tent camping or a camper. An accessible privy and a fire ring is located at each.
Boat Launch: Hand Launch
Fish Species: Brook Trout
Third Lake
The third of eight lakes (from west to east) in the Fulton Chain of Lakes. This lake is actually part of a lake complex formed of several Fulton Chain lakes, and as such presents varied opportunities for paddling.
Boat Launch: None
Fish Species: Lake Trout
Twitchell Lake
A very well-known lake, much of the shoreline is private, with state land at the boat launch. Other than one other corner of the lake, the shore is mostly camps. Despite this, the lake retains much of its natural beauty and is worth exploring particularly toward the northwest. Be on the lookout for birds too!
Boat Launch: Trailer Improved
Fish Species: Brook Trout, Yellow Perch
Rivers and Streams
South Branch Grass River
Numerous waterfalls line the South Branch Grass River, making this a better spot for expert paddlers and shore based activities. Located in the Grass River Wild Forest, outdoor enthusiasts may also want to check out nearby Lampson Falls, one of the largest vertical drops in the Adirondacks.
Fish Species: Brook Trout, Brown Trout
« Back to the Adirondack Lakes Guide
Sources:
http://www.dec.ny.gov/pubs/103457.html
http://apa.ny.gov/gis/index.html
http://www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/9920.html