Best Ice Fishing Lakes in New York

Short answer: NY DEC calls Oneida Lake "outstanding" for walleye and yellow perch. For walleye and crappie, add Chautauqua Lake. For northern pike, DEC points to Cross Lake and the Sandy Ponds. For lake trout and chain pickerel, look at Lake George, Skaneateles Lake and the Finger Lakes. In the north, Black Lake in St. Lawrence County lists pike, perch, crappie and walleye. Saratoga Lake and Great Sacandaga Lake in Saratoga County list walleye, pike and perch.

Every pick below comes from NY DEC pages. We give no catch rates and no records.

No ice is ever 100% safe. Check it yourself.

Quick list by species

• Walleye: Oneida Lake, Chautauqua Lake, Great Sacandaga Lake, Saratoga Lake, Black Lake, Cross Lake.
• Yellow perch: Oneida Lake, Chautauqua Lake, Saratoga Lake, Great Sacandaga Lake, Black Lake, Sandy Ponds.
• Northern pike: Cross Lake, Sandy Ponds, Black Lake, Saratoga Lake, Great Sacandaga Lake.
• Pickerel: Cayuga Lake, Skaneateles Lake, Seneca Lake, Lake George, Great Sacandaga Lake.
• Lake trout: Lake George, Skaneateles Lake, Owasco Lake, Seneca Lake.
• Crappie: Chautauqua Lake, Black Lake, Lake George.

Ice safety first

This section uses the NY DEC ice safety chart. The agency says a minimum of three to four inches of solid ice is the general rule. It also says ice thickness is not the same across any body of water, so check the ice again as you move.

The DEC chart for new, clear ice reads like this:

DEC adds three limits on that chart:

• It is for new, clear ice on non-running water only.
• Slush ice is about 50 percent weaker. Clear ice over running water is about 20 percent weaker. Double the numbers for white ice.
• Many ice anglers do not like to fish on less than five inches, and do not like to drive a pickup on less than 15 inches.

DEC also says to watch for dock "bubblers," which can leave thin ice some distance away. Be alert near shore, over moving water, and where streams enter and leave lakes. Use the buddy system, as DEC advises. Measure the ice at every spot. An and belong in your kit.

No ice is ever 100% safe. Check it yourself.

1. Oneida Lake (Oswego, Onondaga and Oneida counties)

DEC lists Oneida Lake at 51,000 acres and describes the ice fishing as "outstanding" for walleye and yellow perch. DEC county pages also list northern pike, chain pickerel and panfish. Statewide regulations apply, and DEC lists multiple access points.

2. Chautauqua Lake (Chautauqua County)

DEC lists 13,156 acres. The ice species list includes walleye, black crappie, white crappie, yellow perch, white perch and bluegill. DEC names several public sites: Mayville Lakeside Park, Prendergast Point Launch, Midway State Park, Long Point State Park, Bemus Point Launch and Lakewood Community Park. DEC marks Prendergast Point, Midway State Park, Long Point State Park, Bemus Point and Lakewood Community Park as plowed. Start there for crappie and perch.

3. Great Sacandaga Lake (Saratoga County)

DEC lists walleye, northern pike, yellow perch, brown trout, rainbow trout and chain pickerel. The lake sits in the towns of Day, Edinburg and Hadley.

4. Saratoga Lake (Saratoga County)

DEC lists walleye, northern pike, yellow perch, bluegill, rock bass, pumpkinseed and chain pickerel. Our pick for an angler who wants walleye, pike and perch in one lake.

5. Lake George (Warren, Washington and Essex counties)

DEC lists lake trout, landlocked salmon, rainbow trout, brown trout, northern pike, chain pickerel, black crappie, yellow perch and smelt. DEC puts it in Warren, Washington and Essex county lists, as public and private water. DEC says special fishing regulations apply in all three county listings, so read the regulations before you drill.

6. Black Lake (St. Lawrence County)

DEC lists northern pike, yellow perch, black crappie, walleye, bluegill and brown bullhead. It names two boat launches for access: the Black Lake Boat Launch Site off St. Lawrence County Route 6 and the Town of Macomb launch off Rollaway Bay Road. DEC also lists a contour map for this lake.

7. Finger Lakes: Cayuga, Seneca, Skaneateles and Owasco

DEC says Finger Lakes and Tributaries regulations apply.

• Cayuga Lake: 42,496 acres. DEC lists panfish, pickerel and northern pike. Most ice fishing is on the north end, with limited ice at the south end.
• Seneca Lake: DEC lists lake trout, brown trout, rainbow trout, pickerel, yellow perch and bass, with several access points.
• Skaneateles Lake: 8,960 acres. DEC lists panfish, pickerel and lake trout, with ice fishing at the north and south ends.
• Owasco Lake: 6,592 acres. DEC lists panfish, northern pike and lake trout, mainly at the north and south ends.

8. Cross Lake (Cayuga and Onondaga counties)

DEC lists 2,176 acres and says it is good for northern pike. It also lists panfish and walleye. Special regulations apply.

9. Sandy Ponds (Oswego County)

DEC says North and South Sandy Ponds offer good ice fishing for yellow perch and northern pike. Great Lakes and Tributaries regulations apply.

10. Lake Champlain and the north shore waters

DEC lists Lake Champlain as open to ice fishing in its Clinton, Essex and Washington county pages. It says Lake Champlain and Tributaries special fishing regulations apply. DEC does not list species for the lake on those pages, so we give none.

Farther west, DEC Region 6 says the region's ice fishing runs from small ponds and the Barge Canal to shallow bays on Lake Ontario and the St. Lawrence River. In Jefferson County, DEC lists Black River Bay and Chaumont Bay and Guffin Bay for northern pike, yellow perch and walleye. DEC also says ice fishing is permitted in all waters of Jefferson County.

Before you go

1. Check the ice yourself at every spot.
2. Mark your shanty on the outside with your name and address, in letters at least 3 inches high (DEC rule).
3. Take your shanty off by March 15. DEC requires it on all waters.
4. Check the NY freshwater fishing regulations for the water you picked. DEC says ice fishing is allowed on many waters, but not all.
5. Use certified disease-free baitfish. Never dump bait water in a lake.
6. Use the buddy system. DEC says it saves lives.

DEC county lists mark some waters as private, so check the ownership column before you go.

No ice is ever 100% safe. Check it yourself.

FAQ

What is the best ice fishing lake in New York?

It depends on the fish. DEC calls Oneida Lake "outstanding" for walleye and yellow perch. For crappie, Chautauqua Lake lists both black and white crappie. For lake trout, look at Lake George and the Finger Lakes.

How thick does ice need to be in New York?

The NY DEC chart says 4 inches of new, clear ice for activities on foot, and a general rule of three to four inches of solid ice as a minimum. Slush ice is about 50 percent weaker. Double the numbers for white ice. Check the ice yourself, at every spot.

Where can I ice fish for walleye in New York?

DEC lists walleye on Oneida Lake, Chautauqua Lake, Great Sacandaga Lake, Saratoga Lake, Black Lake and Cross Lake, among others.

Where are plowed access sites?

On Chautauqua Lake, DEC marks Prendergast Point, Midway State Park, Long Point State Park, Bemus Point and Lakewood Community Park as plowed. Bear Lake and Findley Lake in Chautauqua County also have plowed DEC access.

When do shanties have to come off?

DEC says ice shanties must be removed from all waters by March 15.