Lake Colby is located just north of the Village of Saranac Lake. The lake's physical features are four bays and four shoreline points. The outlet bay is bisected by railroad tracks, making Little Colby Pond. Little Colby Pond is small and shallow. The lake has a mixed assemblage of public and private lands. There are three primitive campsites on the lake. There is a DEC education camp on the lake, which is not open to the general public. The Village of Saranac Lake has a public beach off of Route 86.
Physical Features:
Elevation: 1558 ft
Area: 286 acres
Shoreline Length: 3.5 miles
Length: approximately 1.5 miles
Maximum depth: 46 ft
Mean depth: 23 ft
Maximum width: approximately 1 mile
Thermocline: ~ 25 ft
County and Town: Franklin County, Town of Harrietstown
Access:
DEC fishing access site has a hand launch off of Route 86. There is parking for 30 cars. The lake has a 10 hp limit for motors which is strictly enforced.
For more information on this launch including Google Maps driving directions, visit the Boat Launch Sites for Franklin County page.
Accessible Features
From the Lake Colby Parking Area, wheelchair accessible features include the:
- Hand boat launch; and
- Privy
Visit the DEC Accessible Recreation Destinations web page for additional accessible recreation opportunities.
Fish Species:
Rainbow trout, brown trout, landlocked salmon, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, yellow perch, rock bass, brown bullhead, and pumpkinseed.
Fishing:
Trolling christmas tree rigs works great for rainbow trout. Trolling minnow imitations are popular for landlocked salmon and brown trout. Night fishing for trout and salmon has a dedicated following. During the spring and fall, anglers wade off the beach next to the DEC launch and cast for trout and salmon. Trout and salmon are usually suspended underneath the ice, so tip-ups fished just underneath the ice with minnows are effective. Bass can be caught all around the lake but especially in the outlet bay and Little Colby pond. Bullhead fishing can be good off the causeway between Lake Colby and Little Colby Pond in the spring.
Ice Fishing:
Permitted
Regulations:
Special Fishing Regulations Apply.
Fisheries Management:
Lake Colby is managed as a two-story fishery. Yellow perch and golden shiners are the main forage base. The lake is stocked annually with rainbow trout. Roughly one hundred 21" landlocked salmon brood stock are released in the fall after the Adirondack Fish Hatchery egg take is done. Tagged fish may be present from derby releases.
