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During northern New York's cold winter months, it is not uncommon to see ice anglers with their tip-ups and ice shanties dotting the region's many frozen lakes and rivers. A person doesn't have to travel very far to find a place to ice fish and many folks will come in from afar to avail themselves of the plentiful ice fishing opportunities. From small ponds, some rivers and the Barge Canal, to shallow bays on Lake Ontario and the St. Lawrence River, the variety of fish species and locations can keep the most avid of ice angler busy all winter.
Ice Safety
When deciding if ice is safe, it is always best to err on the side of caution. Since ice thickness can vary on a lake, check the ice periodically to stay safe. It is also a good idea to talk to the local people about areas that traditionally have thin ice conditions due to springs or moving water, i.e. the mouth of a tributary. View more on ice safety.
Places to Go (by County)
Herkimer || Jefferson || Lewis || Oneida || St. Lawrence
Herkimer County
| Water | Town | Species | Access | Contour Map Available (PDF) | Regulations |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beardsley Lake/East Canada Lake | Manheim | Brown Trout, Rainbow Trout, Yellow Perch, Rock Bass, Pumpkinseed | Beardsley Reservoir Fishing Access Site off Beardsley Road | No | Special Fishing Regulations Apply |
| First Lake | Webb | Yellow Perch, Northern Pike, Lake Trout | Access through chain of lakes | Yes | |
| Fourth Lake | Webb | Yellow Perch, Lake Trout, Rainbow Trout, Landlocked Salmon | Fourth Lake Day Use Area off Petrie Road; Fourth Lake Fishing Access Site off NYS Route 28 | No | Special Fishing Regulations Apply |
| Hinckley Reservoir | Multiple | Brown Trout, Rainbow Trout, Yellow Perch, Black Crappie, Pumpkinseed | NY Power Authority Boat Launch off NYS Route 365 | No | |
| Limekiln Lake | Ohio | Splake | DEC Campground and Day Use Area off Limekiln Road | Yes | Special Fishing Regulations Apply |
| Mohawk River/ Barge Canal | Multiple | Yellow Perch, Walleye, Northern Pike, Tiger Muskellunge | Multiple access points | No | Statewide Fishing Regulations Apply |
| Moshier Reservoir | Webb | Brown Bullhead, Pumpkinseed, Rock Bass, Yellow Perch | Moshier Reservoir Fishing Access Site off Necessary Dam Road | No | Special Fishing Regulations Apply |
| North Lake | Ohio | Tiger Muskellunge, Yellow Perch | North Lake Fishing Access Site off South Lake Road | No | |
| Old Forge Pond | Webb | Yellow Perch | Municipal Land | No | |
| Prospect Reservoir | Multiple | Brown Trout, Rainbow Trout, Yellow Perch | Prospect Reservoir Boat Launch off NYS Route 365 | No | |
| Second Lake | Webb | Yellow Perch | Access through chain of lakes | Yes | |
| Stillwater Reservoir | Webb | Splake, Brook Trout | Stillwater Reservoir Boat Launch Site off Stillwater Road | Yes | |
| Third Lake | Webb | Yellow Perch, Lake Trout, Rainbow Trout | Access through chain of lakes | Yes | |
| Weaver Lake | Warren | Black Crappie, Brown Bullhead, Pumpkinseed, Rock Bass, Yellow Perch | Weaver Lake Fishing Access Site off NYS Route 20 | No | Statewide Fishing Regulations Apply |
Jefferson County
| Water | Town | Species | Access | Contour Map Available (PDF) | Regulations |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Black River Bay | Multiple | Northern Pike, Yellow Perch, Walleye | Multiple access points | No | Special Fishing Regulations Apply |
| Butterfield Lake | Alexandria | Walleye, Northern Pike, Yellow Perch | Butterfield Lake Boat Launch Site off NYS Route 37 on Butterfield Lake Road | Yes | |
| Chaumont Bay/ Guffin Bay | Multiple | Northern Pike, Yellow Perch, Walleye | State Parks and DEC Fishing Access Sites off NYS Route 12E and State Park Road | No | |
| Colwell Pond | Ellisburg | Northern Pike, Yellow Perch | South Colwell Pond Fishing Access Site on Lakeview WMA | No | |
| Grass Lake | Theresa | Northern Pike, Yellow Perch, Tiger Muskellunge, Walleye | Grass Lake Fishing Access Site off Burns Road | No | |
| Henderson Bay | Henderson | Northern Pike, Yellow Perch, Brown Trout, Rainbow Trout | Municipal Launch off NYS Route 178 | No | |
| Hyde Lake | Theresa | Walleye, Tiger Muskellunge, Northern Pike, Black Crappie, Yellow Perch, Bluegill, Brown Bullhead | Hyde Lake Fishing Access Site off NYS Route 26 | Yes | |
| Lake of the Isles | Orleans | Northern Pike, Yellow Perch, Bluegill, Pumpkinseed | DeWolf State Park, Wellesley Island | No | |
| Lake of the Woods | Theresa | Lake Trout, Whitefish, Northern Pike, Landlocked Salmon, Rainbow Trout | Lake of the Woods Fishing Access Site off Fauteau Road | Yes | |
| Lakeview Pond | Ellisburg | Yellow Perch, Northern Pike, Bluegill, Brown Bullhead, Black Crappie, Pumpkinseed | Lakeview Pond Fishing Access Site off Pierrepont Road | No | |
| Millsite Lake | Theresa | Northern Pike, Cisco, Smelt, Rainbow Trout, Landlocked Salmon | Millsite Lake Fishing Access Site off Cottage Hill Road | Yes | |
| Moon Lake | Theresa | Northern Pike, Walleye, Yellow Perch, Black Crappie | Moon Lake Fishing Access Site off Moon Lake Road | Yes | |
| Payne Lake | Antwerp | Walleye, Yellow Perch, Northern Pike | Payne Lake Fishing Access Site off Jefferson Co. Route 22 | Yes | |
| Perch Lake | Orleans | Northern Pike, Yellow Perch, Black Crappie | Perch Lake WMA off Perch Lake Road | No | |
| Red Lake | Theresa | Walleye, Northern Pike, Yellow Perch | Red Lake Fishing Access Site off Red Lake Road | Yes | |
| Sandy Pond | Ellisburg | Northern Pike, Yellow Perch, Panfish | North Sandy Pond Fishing Access Site off Stanley Road | No | |
| Sixberry Lake | Theresa | Walleye, Lake Trout, Landlocked Salmon, Rainbow Trout | Sixberry Lake Fishing Access Site off Sears Road | Yes | |
| Sixtown Pond | Henderson | Walleye, Northern Pike, Yellow Perch | Sixtown Pond Fishing Access Site off NYS Route 178 | No |
Lewis County
| Water | Town | Species | Access | Contour Map Available (PDF) | Regulations |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Francis Lake | Watson | Yellow Perch, Chain Pickerel | Francis Lake Fishing Access Site off Stillwater Road | Yes | Special Fishing Regulations Apply |
| Lake Bonaparte | Diana | Northern Pike, Walleye, Brown Trout, Yellow Perch, Lake Trout | Lake Bonaparte Fishing Access Site off North Shore Road | Yes | |
| Soft Maple Reservoir | Croghan/Orion | Tiger Muskellunge | Soft Maple Reservoir Fishing Access Site off Soft Maple Road | Yes | |
| Whetstone Marsh | Martinsburg | Tiger Muskellunge | Whetstone Gulf State Park Boat Launch Site off Houseville Gulf Road | No |
Oneida County
| Water | Town | Species | Access | Contour Map Available (PDF) | Regulations |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chittning Pond | Sangerfield | Chain Pickerel, Black Crappie, Bluegill, Brown Bullhead, Pumpkinseed, Yellow Perch | Chittning Pond Fishing Access Site off NYS Route 20 | No | Statewide Fishing Regulations Apply |
| Delta Reservoir | Western | Walleye, Yellow Perch, Northern Pike, Black Crappie | Delta Lake State Park off NYS Route 46 | Yes | |
| Kayuta Lake | Forestport | Chain Pickerel, Tiger Muskellunge, Yellow Perch, Brown Bullhead | Kayuta Lake Fishing Access Site off State Dam Road | Yes | |
| Oneida Lake | Multiple | Walleye, Yellow Perch, Northern Pike, Brown Bullhead, Pumpkinseed, Bluegill, Chain Pickerel | Multiple access points | Yes (East and West) | |
| Hinckley Reservoir | Multiple | Brown Trout, Rainbow Trout, Yellow Perch, Black Crappie, Pumpkinseed | NY Power Authority Boat Launch off NYS Route 365 | No | Special Fishing Regulations Apply |
| Prospect Reservoir | Multiple | own Trout, Rainbow Trout, Yellow Perch | Prospect Reservoir Boat Launch off NYS Route 365 | No |
St. Lawrence County
| Water | Town | Species | Access | Contour Map Available (PDF) | Regulations |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Black Lake | Morristown | Northern Pike, Yellow Perch, Black Crappie, Walleye, Bluegill, Brown Bullhead | Black Lake Boat Launch Site off St. Lawrence Co. Route 6 and Town of Macomb Boat Launch off Rollaway Bay Road | Yes | Special Fishing Regulations Apply |
| Blake Falls Reservoir | Parishville | Walleye, Yellow Perch, Northern Pike | Brookfield Boat Launch Site off Raquette River Road | Yes | |
| Carry Falls Reservoir | Colton | Walleye, Yellow Perch, Northern Pike | Brookfield Boat Launch Site off Carry Falls Road | Yes | |
| Cranberry Lake | Clifton | Northern Pike, Yellow Perch, Black Crappie | Cranberry Lake Boat Launch Site off Columbian Road | Yes | |
| Higley Falls Reservoir | Colton | Walleye, Northern Pike, Yellow Perch, Brown Bullhead | Higley Flow State Park off Campbell Point Road | Yes | |
| Horseshoe Lake | Piercefield | Tiger Muskellunge, Walleye, Yellow Perch | Horseshoe Lake Fishing Access Site off NYS Route 421 | Yes | |
| Lake Ozonia | Hopkinton | Rainbow Trout, Landlocked Salmon, Yellow Perch | Lake Ozonia Fishing Access Site off Old Road | Yes | |
| Norwood Reservoir | Norwood/Orion | Walleye, Yellow Perch, Black Crappie, Rock Bass, Brown Bullhead | Brookfield Boat Launch Site off Outer Maple Street | Yes | |
| Piercefield Flow | Piercefield | Northern Pike, Walleye, Yellow Perch, Black Crappie | Municipal launch off NYS Route 3 | Yes | |
| Pleasant Lake | Macomb | Northern Pike, Walleye, Yellow Perch, Black Crappie, Bluegill | Municipal launch off North Shore Road | Yes | |
| Rainbow Falls Reservoir | Parishville | Walleye, Yellow Perch, Northern Pike, Brown Bullhead | Rainbow Falls Boat Launch off Raquette River Road | Yes | |
| South Colton Reservoir | Colton/Orion | Walleye, Yellow Perch, Northern Pike | South Colton Reservoir Boat Launch off Raquette River Road | Yes | |
| Star Lake | Fine | Rainbow Trout, Lake Trout, Landlocked Salmon | Star Lake Fishing Access Site off Youngs Road | Yes | |
| Stark Falls Reservoir | Colton/Orion | Walleye, Yellow Perch, Northern Pike | Stark Falls Boat Launch off Joe Indian Road | Yes | |
| Sylvia Lake | Fowler | Rainbow Trout, Lake Trout, Yellow Perch | Sylvia Lake Fishing Access Site off Pumphouse Road | Yes | |
| Tupper Lake | Piercefield | Lake Trout, Northern Pike, Panfish, Landlocked Salmon, Yellow Perch | Municipal Park, Tupper Lake Fishing Access Site off NYS Route 30 | No | |
| Yellow Lake | Rossie | Northern Pike, Yellow Perch, Tiger Muskellunge, Black Crappie | Yellow Lake Fishing Access Site off St. Lawrence Co. Route 10 on Liscum/Hall Road | Yes |
