Every named lake, pond, river, and stream worth fishing in the Adirondack Park — with the species you'll find, the access you can count on, and the regions they sit in.
Atwood Lake is a 12-acre body of water in the Old Forge area — small enough to feel private, large enough to paddle without circling endlessly. The lake sits in the network of ponds and wetlands that define the western edge of the central Adirondacks, where the landscape flattens out into mixed hardwood and the waters tend toward warm, shallow, and tannic. No official fish species data on record, which usually means it's been passed over by DEC surveys — typical for smaller Old Forge-area waters that don't draw heavy angling pressure. Access details are sparse; if you're headed in, confirm put-in options and ownership boundaries locally before making the drive.
Baby Lake sits off Big Moose Road west of Eagle Bay — a small, shallow-water pond in the rolling mid-elevation forest between Old Forge and Big Moose. At 28 acres it's more puddle than destination, the kind of backcountry water that shows up on a topo map during a longer paddle or snowshoe route but rarely justifies a trip of its own. No fish species data on file with DEC, which usually means limited depth, heavy organic matter, or winterkill — common enough in ponds this size tucked into the Old Forge lowlands. If you're headed to Big Moose or the Stillwater Reservoir system, Baby Lake is a map footnote, not a waypoint.
Barnes Lake is a 10-acre pond tucked into the Old Forge area — small enough that it doesn't show up on most regional shortlists, but navigable water nonetheless. No fish species data on file with DEC, which usually means either unstocked and unfished or simply unreported; local anglers worth asking. The lake sits in working forestland southwest of the main Old Forge tourist corridor, part of the patchwork of private holdings and town forest that defines the lower-elevation Fulton Chain watershed. Access details are sparse — check with the town or local outfitters before planning a trip.
Bear Lake sits just north of Old Forge in the Fulton Chain lakes corridor — a 54-acre pond that holds a quiet middle ground between the resort-town energy of Fourth Lake and the deeper backcountry waters to the northeast. Access details are scarce in the public record, and the lake doesn't appear on the standard DEC stocking lists, which typically means private shoreline or limited put-in options for non-residents. The Old Forge area is dense with similar mid-sized ponds that straddle private and state land — worth a closer look at the DEC land classification maps before planning a trip. If you're shopping for stillwater paddling in this zone, check Big Moose Lake or the Fulton Chain itself for clearer public access.
Bear Lake is a 27-acre pond in the Old Forge township — one of dozens of small, named waters scattered across the working forest south and west of the main village corridor. No fish stocking records on file, which typically means either wild brookies or nothing at all; local anglers would know. The lake sits in private timberland checkerboarded with state easement parcels, so access depends on current land status and whatever woods roads or snowmobile trails pass nearest. If you're poking around this area, confirm access and ownership before you launch — this is not the marked-trail High Peaks.
Big Moose Lake covers 1,268 acres in the Old Forge region and reaches 70 feet deep — cold water that holds lake trout, smallmouth bass, and brook trout. It's quieter than the Fulton Chain, with public access and shoreline lodging for anglers who fish intermediate conditions.
Bonner Lake is a 52-acre water tucked into the Old Forge area — mid-sized by the region's standards, quiet enough to register as off-the-grid even in a town built around motorized lake traffic. No public fish stocking records on file, which usually means either private shoreline or light angling pressure; either way, it's not the lake you hear about at the tackle shop. The Old Forge lakes trend toward development and easy access — Bonner skews the other direction, holding its own pocket of stillwater without much fanfare. Worth a map check if you're looking for something past the First through Eighth Lake corridor.
Brandy Lake is a 16-acre pond in the Old Forge township — small enough to canoe in an afternoon, large enough to feel private once you're on the water. The lake sits in the working landscape south of the main Old Forge corridor, where private camps and seasonal cottages mix with undeveloped shoreline and second-growth hardwoods. No public launch or DEC campsite data on record, which typically means private or association access — confirm before you load the boat. If you're looking for put-in options in the Old Forge area, the Fulton Chain and the neighboring ponds off South Shore Road are the reliable public plays.
Brantingham Lake sits at 311 acres in the western foothills near Old Forge — a private community lake ringed by seasonal camps and year-round homes, with no public launch or DEC access. The water is deep enough for motorboats and clear enough that locals talk about it in the same breath as the bigger Tug Hill lakes to the west, but unless you know someone with a dock key, you're looking at it from NY-294. The Lake Association maintains the shoreline and enforces a strict no-trespassing perimeter; this is one of those Adirondack Park waters that exists on the map but lives behind camp gates. If you're after public water in the area, head east toward the Fulton Chain or north to Stillwater Reservoir.
Brewer Lake sits off the Old Forge grid — a 21-acre pond tucked into the working forest south of the Fulton Chain, away from the main lake-to-lake canoe routes and the summer rental traffic. No public boat launch, no marked state trail on the standard maps; access here is either by permission through private land or by locals who know the old logging roads. The lake doesn't appear on the DEC stocked-water lists, and if there are fish, they're likely holdover brookies or perch that came in decades ago and stayed quiet. This is Old Forge backcountry in the real sense — stands of second-growth hardwood, the occasional hunting camp, and water that gets fished maybe twice a season.
Bubb Lake sits in the Old Forge region at 51 acres — part of the Fulton Chain watershed but quieter than the main lakes, tucked into second-growth forest that grew back after the logging era. Access typically involves paddling or a woods road approach, and the lake sees less pressure than the bigger tourist draws to the west. No fish species data on record, which means either stocked brookies that didn't take or a pond that's been off the management rotation for years. The name — one of those blunt, functional Adirondack labels — tells you nothing, but the size suggests a manageable paddle and enough shoreline to find solitude if you time it right.
Buck Lake is a 41-acre water tucked in the Old Forge network — small enough to feel removed from the larger chains, big enough to support a shoreline community and a few private camps. No public fish stocking data on file, which usually means unstocked warmwater species or minimal angling pressure, though the DEC occasionally surveys these mid-size lakes for baseline population work. Access details aren't well-documented in state registers, suggesting this is primarily a private or limited-access lake rather than a launch-and-paddle destination. If you're passing through Old Forge and see the name on a local map, assume it's a residential water unless you confirm otherwise.
Burp Lake is a nine-acre pocket water in the Old Forge area — small enough that it doesn't appear on most recreational maps and remote enough that it holds its anonymity. No formal fish stocking records and no marked trail access means this is local knowledge territory, the kind of spot that shows up in a conversation about quiet paddles or brook trout prospecting but rarely in a guidebook. The name alone suggests old surveyor humor or a camp nickname that stuck. If you're looking for it, start by asking at an Old Forge outfitter or checking older USGS quads — it's out there, but it's not waiting for you at a trailhead.
Cage Lake is a 48-acre water tucked into the Old Forge township — one of the smaller named lakes in a region better known for the Fulton Chain and its reservoir system. No public access data on file with DEC, and no angling records to speak of, which typically means private shoreline or landlocked by camps. The lake sits in the working forest zone where most waters are either Adirondack League Club territory or legacy club holdings — worth a property map check if you're chasing it down. If you're in Old Forge proper and looking for accessible water, the North Branch of the Moose River and the public launch at Fourth Lake are the better bets.
Cary Lake is a 20-acre water tucked into the Old Forge township — small enough to stay off the standard touring circuit, large enough to hold a canoe or kayak for an hour of quiet paddling. The lake sits in working Adirondack country, where camp roads and forest access blend into one another and local knowledge still matters more than trailhead kiosks. No fish species data on file with DEC, which usually means either wild brookies that nobody bothers reporting or a pond that winterkills and gets restocked inconsistently. Access details are lean; ask at the Old Forge Visitor Center or check the latest DEC launch inventory if you're planning a paddle.
Caswell Lake is an 11-acre pocket water in the Old Forge area — small enough that it rarely shows up on regional recreation maps, but part of the dense lattice of ponds and wetlands that defines the western Adirondacks. No formal fish stocking records on file, which usually means either wild brookies in low numbers or a pond that winters out every few years. Access details are sparse, and the lake doesn't appear on standard trail networks — likely private shoreline or a bushwhack destination for locals who know the approach. Worth a call to the Old Forge Visitor Center if you're chasing unmapped water in the Fulton Chain backcountry.
Chambers Lake sits east of Old Forge in the Moose River Plains — a 27-acre pond in the low-relief timber country where the western Adirondacks flatten out into long gravel roads and dispersed campsites. The lake is part of the Old Forge / Inlet system of ponds and wetlands that feed the Moose River, more working forest than High Peaks drama. Access details and fishery records are sparse, but the pond fits the profile of the region: quiet water, soft shoreline, and the kind of solitude that comes from being off the main corridors. If you're looking for a named water to paddle or explore by truck and canoe in the Moose River country, Chambers is on the map.
Chase Lake holds 109 acres in the Old Forge township — part of the working forest south of the main tourist corridor, where access patterns follow private logging roads and historical camp leases rather than marked DEC trails. The lake sits in mixed hardwood and conifer cover typical of the southwestern Adirondacks, where loons nest in May and the shoreline stays quiet outside of deer season. No fish stocking records on file, which usually means wild brookies or nothing at all — worth a reconnaissance trip with a canoe and a fly rod. Old Forge proper is fifteen minutes north for resupply and the Fulton Chain launch sites.
Chase Upper Lake is a 21-acre water in the Old Forge area — one of several small lakes in the Fulton Chain corridor that sits outside the main boat-launch-and-campground circuit. No fish stocking records on file, which typically means it's either privately held, marginally accessible, or both; many of the smaller Old Forge-area lakes are ringed by camps and accessible only by bushwhack or private easement. The name suggests a multi-lake system (Chase Upper / Chase Lower), common in this part of the Park where nineteenth-century surveying carved contiguous waters into separately named parcels. Check local shop talk in Old Forge or Inlet for current access intel — this one doesn't show up on the standard paddling maps.
Cleveland Lake is a ten-acre water tucked into the Old Forge lake district — small enough that it doesn't show up on most tourist maps, which keeps it quiet. No DEC fish stocking records on file, and no maintained trail system to speak of — this is either private-access or a bushwhack depending on which shoreline you're approaching from. The lake sits in the working landscape west of the Fulton Chain, where property lines and old logging roads dictate more than trailhead signs. If you're looking for it, confirm access with the town or a local outfitter before you set out.
Combs Lake is a ten-acre pond tucked into the Old Forge township — small enough that it doesn't pull much traffic, but legitimate water with shoreline and depth. No fish species on the DEC survey record, which likely means it hasn't been stocked or sampled in recent memory, though that doesn't rule out resident brookies or informal populations. Access details are sparse in the public record — worth checking local trail registers or the town office if you're planning a visit. Old Forge waters tend to be either roadside resort ponds or backcountry walk-ins; Combs sits somewhere in that middle distance.
Cotton Lake is a 10-acre pond in the Old Forge lake district — small enough that it doesn't show up on most recreational radar, tucked into the dense patchwork of private holdings and public easements that define the western Adirondacks. No fish stocking records, no marked trailheads, no DEC campsites — this is either a bushwhack-access water or a private inholding depending on which parcel line you're standing on. If you're exploring the Old Forge backcountry by canoe or on foot, Cotton Lake is the kind of water you stumble onto, not the kind you plan a weekend around.
Crooked Lake sits in the Old Forge corridor at 46 acres — small enough to feel contained, large enough to paddle for an hour without retracing your wake. The name likely comes from an irregular shoreline or a bend that distinguishes it from the dozens of rounder ponds in the western Adirondacks, though the lake doesn't appear on many standard recreation lists and fish survey data hasn't surfaced in DEC records. It's the kind of water that gets overlooked in a region dense with bigger destinations — Stillwater Reservoir, the Fulton Chain, Raquette Lake — but that's often the trade-off for solitude. Check local access points in Old Forge; many smaller lakes in this area are private or require permission.
Crystal Lake sits tucked in the Old Forge township — a 15-acre pond small enough to slip past most regional guides but large enough to hold its shape on a map. No fish species data on record, which typically signals either neglected stocking history or limited access keeping angler pressure low. The name "Crystal" appears on four different Adirondack waters, so cross-reference coordinates if you're planning a visit; this one holds the Old Forge ZIP code. Worth a scout if you're working through the lesser-known ponds in the Fulton Chain corridor.
Crystal Lake sits on the eastern edge of Old Forge village — 84 acres of open water bordered by NY-28 and dotted with seasonal camps along the northern shoreline. The lake gets moderate powerboat traffic in summer (public launch off South Shore Road) and transitions to snowmobile and ice-fishing traffic once the ice sets in January. No fish stocking records or angler surveys on file with DEC, which usually means either legacy brook trout populations or bass/panfish that came in decades ago and never warranted management attention. The lake drains north into the Moose River; paddlers sometimes use it as a warm-up before committing to the longer flatwater runs upstream toward Limekiln or down toward McKeever.
Curtis Lake is a 13-acre water tucked into the Old Forge lake district — small enough that it doesn't appear on most recreation lists, which means it stays quiet even in high summer. No public data on fish species, and access details aren't well documented; local knowledge or a DEC call will clarify whether there's a carry-in launch or if it's landlocked by private holdings. The lake sits in the working forest west of the Fulton Chain, part of the patchwork of small ponds and private timberland that defines the Old Forge backcountry. If you're paddling the area, it's worth a phone call to the regional DEC office before you load the canoe.
Deep Lake sits in the Old Forge area at just eight acres — small enough that it likely gets overlooked in a region better known for the Fulton Chain and bigger paddle destinations. No fish data on file, which suggests either limited angling pressure or a pond that doesn't hold much beyond whatever native brookies might have made their way in. The size and the name suggest a deep kettle-hole basin, the kind of glacial scoop that stays cold into summer and might reward a bushwhack or an old logging road if you can find the access. Worth a look if you're working through the lesser-known waters in the town of Webb.
Deer Lake is a 33-acre pond tucked into the Old Forge working forest — quiet timber country west of the main tourist corridor, where the waters tend to be warmer, shallower, and less trafficked than their High Peaks counterparts. The lake sits in private timber company land with public access via informal logging roads; expect seasonal gates, minimal signage, and conditions that shift with active forestry operations. No fish stocking records on file, but warm-water species — panfish, pickerel, maybe bass — are the safe bet in these low-elevation Adirondack ponds. Bring a canoe or kayak if you can get one in; the shoreline is soft and the put-in situation is whatever the current road allows.
Dry Timber Lake is a 23-acre backcountry water in the Old Forge region — small enough to feel remote, large enough to hold a canoe trip worth the carry. The name suggests logging-era origins, and the lake sits in second-growth forest typical of the southwestern Adirondacks, where most of the big timber came out between 1890 and 1920. No fish stocking records on file, which usually means either marginal habitat or a pond that simply fell off the DEC rotation decades ago. Access details are thin — likely a bushwhack or unmaintained footpath from a nearby seasonal road.
Echo Lake sits in the Old Forge township — a 105-acre water in a region dense with named ponds and lakes, where the exact Echo Lake you're looking for often depends on which side of the Moose River you started from. No fish species data on record, which typically means either private ownership with no stocking history or a pond that doesn't hold trout through the summer. The Old Forge area is more motorboat and resort-lake territory than backcountry, so if this is the Echo Lake off one of the local road networks, expect development on at least part of the shoreline. Confirm access and ownership before you load the canoe.
Elijah Lake is a 39-acre water in the Old Forge working forest — quiet, off the main tourist corridor, and not on the standard lake-loop itinerary that pulls traffic to the Fulton Chain or Fourth Lake. No fish species on record with DEC, which likely means it's either unstocked, unsampled, or both; worth a call to the regional fisheries office if you're planning to bring a rod. The Old Forge area is crisscrossed with seasonal logging roads and private-access gates — confirm access status before you load the canoe. Cell service is inconsistent once you leave NY-28.
Emerald Lake is an 11-acre pocket water in the Old Forge area — small enough that it doesn't show up on most regional itineraries, which is precisely the point if you're looking for elbow room in high summer. No fish survey data on file with DEC, which typically means the lake is either unstocked and holding wild brookies, or it's thermally marginal and gets overlooked by the hatchery trucks. Access details are sparse in the public record; if you're headed in, confirm put-in or trailhead logistics with the Old Forge Visitor Center or local outfitters before committing the drive.
Evergreen Lake is a 54-acre body of water in the Old Forge area — part of the Fulton Chain corridor that threads through the western Adirondacks between the Moose River Plains and the Black River Wild Forest. The lake sits in mixed-growth forest typical of the region's lower-elevation waters, where private camps and public access coexist in the Old Forge tradition of motorboat traffic, fishing launches, and seasonal use. No fish species data on file with DEC, which either means the lake hasn't been surveyed recently or it's been managed privately — common in this part of the park. Old Forge itself is the staging ground: outfitters, lodging, and the Fulton Chain put-ins all within a few miles.
Figert Lake is a five-acre pond tucked into the Old Forge township — small enough that it rarely appears on standard recreation maps and quiet enough that most paddlers drive past without noticing. No fish stocking records on file, which usually means brookies if anything, or nothing at all. The lake sits in working forest land where access depends on private roads and whatever informal arrangement exists between the property owners and the occasional local who knows where to park. If you're not from Old Forge and you don't know someone who is, this one stays theoretical.
First Lake anchors the eastern end of the Fulton Chain at 482 acres, with a public launch near Old Forge village. Smallmouth and largemouth bass, northern pike, and yellow perch — manageable size and easy access make it a reliable start for families new to Adirondack paddling and fishing.
Fourth Lake is one of the Fulton Chain of Lakes — the string of connected waters that defines the Old Forge corridor and gives the central Adirondacks its most developed paddling route. At 61 acres it's the smallest of the eight lakes in the chain, tucked between Third Lake to the west and Fifth Lake to the east, with through-paddle access in both directions and shoreline camps and docks visible from the water. The Chain is a powerboat corridor in summer — expect ski boats, pontoons, and weekend traffic — but early mornings and shoulder seasons offer quieter passage. No publicly posted fish stocking or survey data for Fourth Lake specifically, though the Chain as a whole holds lake trout, smallmouth bass, and pike.
Fourth Lake is the largest of the Fulton Chain at 2,125 acres and 81 feet deep, with public access from multiple marinas along its developed shoreline. Smallmouth and largemouth bass, northern pike, and yellow perch draw family anglers; motorboats welcome.
Gibbs Lake sits in the Old Forge township — a 44-acre water with no public access data on file and no fish stocking records in the DEC database, which usually means private shoreline or landlocked by camp leases. The lake doesn't appear on the standard paddling or fishing circuit, and there's no trailhead signage on the nearby road grid. If you're sorting Old Forge waters by accessibility, start with the Fulton Chain, then work through the state-managed ponds off the Moose River Plains — Gibbs is a name on the map until someone confirms otherwise.
Goose Lake is a 19-acre pocket tucked into the Old Forge region — small enough to feel private, big enough to paddle without circling the shoreline in ten minutes. No fish stocking records on file, which usually means it's either too shallow, too acidic, or simply off the DEC's rotation; locals might still pull panfish or holdover brookies, but it's not a destination fishery. Access details are sparse in the state database, which often signals either private shoreline or a seasonal bushwhack situation — worth a call to the Old Forge Visitor Center before you load the canoe. If you're already in the area with a boat on the roof, it's the kind of water that rewards the curious but punishes assumptions about launch points.
Gooseneck Lake is a small, eight-acre water tucked into the Old Forge backcountry — the kind of pond that appears on the DEC list but rarely appears in trip reports. No official fish stocking records on file, which usually means either wild brookies or nothing at all; local knowledge (and a cast net) will settle that question faster than the regional office. Access details are sparse, but in this part of the Old Forge wild, that often means bushwhack or private-land complications — worth a call to the Old Forge Visitor Center or a conversation at Inlet Hardware before you commit to the hike. If you do find your way in, you'll likely have it to yourself.
Gourd Lake is a five-acre pocket water in the Old Forge township — small enough that it doesn't show up on most recreational lake lists, but mapped and named, which means it's been on the books long enough to matter to someone. No fish stocking records on file, and no established public access or trail references in the DEC inventory — this is either private, landlocked by private parcels, or tucked into a wetland complex where a defined shoreline never quite materializes. In Old Forge's sprawl of ponds, bogs, and connector streams between the Fulton Chain and the Moose River Plains, plenty of named waters exist more as cartographic artifacts than destinations. If you're hunting it down, start with the town tax maps and a topo — and expect bushwhacking or a conversation with a landowner.
Gray Lake sits in the Old Forge township — a 44-acre water tucked into the working-forest patchwork south of the main tourist corridor. No fish species data on file with DEC, which usually means either private ownership with limited access or a pond that's been off the stocking rotation long enough that anglers stopped reporting. The lake shares a name with Gray Lake (sometimes Grey Lake) in other parts of the Park, so confirm coordinates before planning a trip. If you're chasing it down, start with the Old Forge town clerk or local paddling outfitters — they'll know whether there's public shore access or if it's strictly a view-from-the-road situation.
Green Lake — not to be confused with the larger Green Lake down near Piseco — is a 28-acre pond tucked in the Old Forge corridor, part of the sprawl of small named waters that fill the spaces between the Fulton Chain and the southwestern High Peaks foothills. No fish data on record, which usually means it's either too shallow to hold a population through winter or it's simply never been surveyed by DEC — both common in ponds this size. The name shows up on older USGS quads but not in many guidebooks; worth digging into local access patterns if you're staying in the area and want a paddle or a swim off the beaten Fourth Lake circuit.
Greenwood Lake is a 12-acre backcountry pond in the Old Forge region — small enough to fish the perimeter in an afternoon, large enough to feel remote once you're in. No fish data on file with DEC, which either means it's unstocked and wild (possible brookies) or it winters out — check the local tackle shop or the Old Forge Visitor Center before you plan around the fishing. The lake sits off the main recreation corridors, so you won't be dodging pontoon boats or Jet Skis, but you also won't find much beta online. If you're headed in, bring a topo and a compass — and assume you're on your own.
Gregg Lake is a small, 18-acre water tucked into the Old Forge township — the kind of lake that doesn't show up on most touring maps but likely has a local access story worth knowing. No fish stocking records on file, which suggests either under-the-radar management or simple catch-and-release activity by whoever puts a canoe in. Old Forge proper sits a few miles away, so this isn't a trailhead destination — more likely a roadside or private-adjacent pond serving a handful of seasonal camps. If you're poking around the back roads between Old Forge and the southern flow country, Gregg Lake is a name to file away for local inquiry.
Halfmoon Lake is a 16-acre water in the Old Forge area — small enough that it doesn't pull the Fourth Lake crowds, but accessible enough that it's not a backcountry commitment. The name likely comes from the crescent shape visible from the shoreline, a common naming pattern in the central Adirondacks where glacial scouring left dozens of curved, kidney-shaped ponds. No fish stocking records on file, which usually means it's either a marginal fishery or simply under-sampled by DEC surveys. Worth checking local access status before planning a visit — many smaller Old Forge waters sit in mixed public-private ownership zones where shoreline access can be limited.
Hardscrabble Lake is a six-acre pond tucked somewhere in the Old Forge township — small enough that it doesn't show up on most recreation maps and remote enough that access details are scarce in the public record. The name suggests either surveyor's humor or legitimate difficulty reaching it, and the lack of fish stocking data means it's either too shallow, too acidic, or simply off the DEC's radar for management. Waters this size in the Old Forge area are often holdovers from logging-era operations or fire-suppression ponds that reverted to the forest — functional, anonymous, and occasionally worth the bushwhack if you know where to look. If you've fished it or camped near it, you're in a small club.
Hitchcock Lake is a 36-acre water in the Old Forge area — small enough to feel contained, large enough to hold a day on the water. No fish species on record with DEC, which generally means either limited stocking history or a pond that's been surveyed but didn't produce returns worth documenting; local intel and a spinning rod will settle the question faster than the database. The lake sits in the working landscape west of the Fulton Chain — less High Peaks drama, more private shoreline and seasonal camps, the kind of water that shows up on a topo but not in a guidebook. Worth a look if you're already in Old Forge with a canoe and time to kill.
Horn Lake is a 43-acre water in the Old Forge town limits — quiet, lightly visited, and mostly known to year-round residents rather than the Route 28 corridor crowd. No formal boat launch or marked trailhead keeps foot traffic low; access is typically by bushwhack or private road depending on which shoreline you approach. The lake sits in second-growth mixed forest without dramatic relief — this is working Adirondack woodland, not High Peaks drama — and the fishing pressure reflects it. No species data on file with DEC, which usually means unstocked, unmanaged, and either holding wild brookies or panfish … or nothing at all.
Huckleberry Lake sits in the Old Forge area at 31 acres — small enough to feel contained but large enough to hold a quiet morning paddle without bumping into the shoreline every five minutes. No fish species data on record, which could mean it's unstocked, under-surveyed, or managed for something other than angling pressure. The lake name suggests old-growth berry patches along the ridges — common in mid-elevation Adirondack hardwood zones where fire or blowdown opened the canopy decades back. Worth checking local access details before heading in; some smaller Old Forge waters sit on club land or require a longer carry than the topo suggests.
Jenny Lake is a 23-acre pond in the Old Forge township — small, off the main corridor, and lacking the kind of foot traffic or DEC management that would put fish stocking or survey data on record. It sits in working forest country where private inholdings, club leases, and unmaintained logging roads make access a question of permission more than parking. No known public trail, no lean-to, no formal put-in — the kind of water that shows up on the quad map but stays quiet because it takes local knowledge or a float plane to reach it. If you're poking around Old Forge backroads with a canoe, ask at the hardware store first.
Jones Lake sits just south of Old Forge in the Fulton Chain watershed — a 49-acre pond tucked into mixed hardwood and hemlock forest typical of the southwest Adirondacks. No species data on file, but small waters in this drainage typically hold brookies, perch, or panfish if they hold anything at all; worth a reconnaissance cast if you're in the area. The Old Forge region skews toward motorboat lakes and resort access, so smaller named waters like Jones often fly under the radar — check local land status and access before you bushwhack in. This is low-elevation country, ice-out by mid-April, and the kind of place that pays off for explorers willing to do the legwork.
Kayuta Lake sprawls across 459 acres just west of Old Forge — big enough to feel like open water but tucked into the working landscape of the western Adirondacks rather than the High Peaks granite. The lake sees a mix of seasonal camps, local boat traffic, and the kind of quiet midweek fishing that doesn't make it onto social media. No public access data on file, which in this part of the Park usually means private shoreline or town launch worth asking about at the Old Forge visitor center. Species records are thin, but waters this size in the Old Forge chain typically hold bass, pike, and panfish.
Lake of the Pines is a 33-acre private lake in the Old Forge area — part of the dense constellation of smaller waters that fill the corridor between the Fulton Chain and the western edge of the core Adirondack wilderness. Access and fishing data are not publicly documented, which typically means the lake is held by a private association or camp ownership. The name suggests mid-20th-century subdivision development, common to this stretch of Herkimer County where lakefront parcels were carved out in the postwar boom. If you're researching public access in the Old Forge region, the Fulton Chain, Limekiln Lake, and the Moose River Plains are the reliable bets.
Lily Lake is a 22-acre pond in the Old Forge township — small enough to canoe in an hour, set in the mixed hardwood and hemlock terrain typical of the southwestern Adirondacks. No fish stocking records on file, which either means it winters out or it's been off the DEC radar long enough that whatever swims there now is incidental. The lake sits in the working-forest belt where camp roads and timber access blend together, so local knowledge matters more than trail signs. Worth confirming access and ownership before you put a boat in.
Limekiln Lake covers 460 acres and runs to 70 feet deep—cold water that holds lake trout, brook trout, and landlocked salmon. A state campground and launch on the shore; quieter than the Fulton Chain but still minutes from Old Forge.
Little Deer Lake is a five-acre pocket water in the Old Forge area — small enough that it rarely appears on recreational maps and quiet enough that it stays that way. No fish stocking records on file, which usually means it's either too shallow to hold trout through summer or it's simply off the DEC's rotation; either way, it's more likely a paddling destination than a fishing one. The Old Forge lake country is dense with named ponds and unmaintained connectors, and Little Deer fits the pattern: local knowledge required, no obvious public access marked on the state's standard tourism materials. If you're staying nearby and have a canoe, it's worth asking at the town office or a local outfitter for current put-in conditions.
Little Deer Lake is a four-acre pocket water in the Old Forge township — small enough that it doesn't appear on most recreational lake lists, and remote enough that access details are scarce in the DEC's published records. No fish stocking data on file, which usually means wild brookies if anything, or catch-and-release pressure from anglers working the Fulton Chain corridor who know where to bushwhack. The lake sits in mixed second-growth hardwoods typical of the southwestern park — logging country that grew back dense after the early 1900s. If you're hunting for it, bring a compass and the Old Forge quad; this one rewards the orienteering effort more than the fishing report.
Little Otter Lake sits in the Old Forge area — a 44-acre water without the fanfare of the bigger chains but worth knowing if you're mapping the quieter pockets of the western Adirondacks. No fish species data on record, which typically means it's been overlooked by survey crews or it's a marginal fishery — either way, this is not a destination for anglers chasing stocked brookies or lakers. Access details are sparse, and the lake doesn't appear on the standard paddling loops that pull traffic toward the Fulton Chain or further into the Five Ponds Wilderness. Check with local outfitters in Old Forge for current access options and whether a carry-in is feasible.
Little Salmon Lake is a 33-acre pond tucked into the Old Forge working forest — one of the smaller named waters in a region better known for the Fulton Chain and its string of lake towns. No public launch, no DEC signage, no fish stocking records on file — this is private-access territory, likely hemmed in by club property or timberland parcels that predate the Forest Preserve. If you're paddling the Fulton Chain or poking around the back roads between Old Forge and Inlet, it's on the map but not on the itinerary. Worth noting only if you're counting waters or chasing property-line curiosities in the southwestern park.
