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.
Bass Lake is a 10-acre pocket water in the Saranac Lake region — small enough that it doesn't pull crowds, but large enough to hold a canoe for an hour or two of quiet paddling. No fish species data on record, which may mean it's unstocked, under-surveyed, or both; local knowledge tends to be the only reliable intel on waters this size. The lake sits in rolling forested terrain west of the village, part of the sprawl of small ponds and wetlands that define the St. Regis Canoe Area periphery. Access details vary widely for lakes this size — check DEC or local outfitters for current put-in options.
Clear Lake — 31 acres just outside Saranac Lake village limits — occupies a quiet middle ground between the mapped public waters of the High Peaks corridor and the private shoreline character of the Tri-Lakes developed zone. No official fish stocking records and no documented public access trail, which typically signals mixed ownership or landlocked status; local anglers may know a put-in, but this isn't a DEC-signed trailhead water. The name shows up on USGS quads and older maps, often confused with nearby Clear Pond (which has different acreage and a different shoreline shape). Worth a phone call to the Region 5 DEC office in Ray Brook if you're planning a visit — they'll confirm current access status and whether a cartop launch exists.
Lake Clear spans 1,010 acres in the Saranac Lake region and reaches 99 feet at its deepest — cold water that holds lake trout, brook trout, and yellow perch. Public access; the fishery rewards patience and the clarity lives up to the name.
Lake Flower is a 175-acre impoundment in the center of Saranac Lake village with a public boat launch at the beach. The lake hosts in-village paddling, winter ice-fishing, and serves as the site for the Winter Carnival ice palace.
Lake Kushaqua covers 375 acres north of Loon Lake, with a public launch on Route 3. Lake trout and smallmouth bass hold in relatively undeveloped water — most of the shoreline remains wooded, bordered by private camps and the old Stony Wold sanatorium property.
Loon Lake is a 19-acre water in the Saranac Lake region — small enough to paddle in an afternoon, large enough to feel private once you're on it. The lack of fish stocking records suggests it's either holding wild brook trout or fishless, which in the Adirondacks usually means the latter — shallow basin, possible winterkill, or marginal pH. Access details aren't widely documented, which often signals private shoreline or a rough unmaintained approach; if you're headed there, confirm access locally before you load the canoe. Worth noting: "Loon Lake" appears multiple times on Adirondack maps, so double-check coordinates if you're navigating by name alone.
Lower Saranac Lake spans 2,214 acres with a maximum depth of 67 feet — the most accessible link in the Saranac chain. Smallmouth bass dominate the fishery, with northern pike, walleye, and yellow perch holding in numbers that support year-round angling.
Middle Saranac Lake covers 1,376 acres and reaches 53 feet deep — the middle link in the three-lake Saranac chain. A public launch and calmer water than Upper Saranac make it a practical start for families; smallmouth bass, northern pike, and yellow perch under standard NYSDEC limits.
Spring Lake is a 13-acre water in the Saranac Lake region — small enough to feel contained, large enough to paddle without circling back every ten minutes. No fish stocking records on file, which typically means wild brookies or nothing, though the DEC database has gaps in coverage for ponds this size. The lake sits in a cluster of similarly scaled waters that define the mid-density residential zone south and west of the village — more neighborhood access than trailhead drama. Worth checking local knowledge on put-in points if you're boat-shopping the area.
Upper Saranac Lake covers 5,088 acres and reaches 90 feet deep — the largest in the Saranac chain. Multiple public launches serve paddlers and anglers targeting lake trout, smallmouth bass, northern pike, and salmon across its considerable expanse.
A 390-acre lake at the northern end of the historic St. Regis chain. Famous for the Gilded Age "Great Camps" along its shores — including Topridge, the former Marjorie Merriweather Post estate. Connected to Spitfire Lake by short carry.
