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Washington County Ice Fishing

The table below lists the lakes and ponds in Washington County that are open to ice fishing. Please note that some waters are privately owned and it is the angler's responsibility to obtain the necessary permissions before fishing these waters.

Ice Fishing Seasons:

  • November 15 - April 30 - for those species in the General Angling Regulations for which there is no closed season or no minimum length.
  • November 15 - March 15 - for northern pike, pickerel, tiger muskellunge and walleye.

Two (2) hand lines and five (5) tip-ups may be used, except if noted in the Special Regulations section. All tip-ups must be marked with the name and address of the operator; the operator must be present when lines (either tip-ups or hand lines) are in the water. Ice shanties must be marked on the outside with the owner's name and address in letters at least three inches high. Shanties must be removed from all waters by March 15.

Note: Special regulations apply to waters with links.

Washington County Waters With Ice Fishing
Water Town Ownership Species
Bacon Pond Fort Ann Private NP, YP
Barkley Pond Hebron Private Pks, YP, NP
Brown's Pond Whitehall Private YP, RB, Pks
Carter Pond Greenwich Public Bgs, Pks, BC, NP
Copeland Pond Fort Ann Private YP, NP, Pks
Cossayuna Lake Argyle Public/Private BC, Bgs, Pks, YP, NP, T.Musky
Hadlock Pond Fort Ann Private YP, BC, Pks, NP
Hedges Lake Jackson Private NP, YP, BC, Bgs, Pks
Hudson River Fort Edward, Greenwich, Easton Public/Private WAE, NP, YP
Lake Champlain See Lake Champlain link at top of page
Lake George Putnam, Dresden, Fort Ann Public/Private LT, LLS, RT, BT, NP, C.Pkl, BC, YP, Bgs, Pks
Lake Lauderdale Jackson Public/Private T.Musky, Pks, Bgs, BC, YP
Lily Pond Hartford Private NP
Martin Ponds Granville Private NP, Pks
McDougall Lake Greenwich Private YP, Pks
Schoolhouse Lake Jackson Private YP, BC
Scott Lake Salem Unknown YP, Pks, BC, NP
Summit Lake Argyle Private YP, Pks, BC
Three Ponds Fort Ann Private NP, YP, Pks
Thurber Pond Fort Ann Private YP, Pks
Wall Street Pond Kingsbury Public C.Pkl, YP, Pks, RB

All Washington County waters: Pickerel, 1st Saturday in May - March 15, any size, limit of 5

The use, or possession for use, of alewife and blueback herring as baitfish is prohibited in all Washington County waters.


Fish Species Key

  • BC - Black crappie
  • Bgs - Bluegill
  • BT - Brown trout
  • C.Pkl - Chain pickerel
  • LLS - Landlocked salmon
  • LT - Lake trout
  • NP - Northern pike
  • Pks - Pumpkinseed
  • RB - Rock bass
  • RT - Rainbow trout
  • T.Musky - Tiger muskellunge
  • WAE - Walleye
  • YP - Yellow perch


Ice Fishing Special Regulations for Washington County
Water Species Season Length Limit Method
Lake George LT All year 23" 2 Ice fishing permitted
LLS All year 18" 2
Trout* All year Any 5

*Trout = brook, brown and rainbow; and hybrids of these species; and splake

Additional Ice Fishing Special Regulations for Washington County
Water Special Regulations
Lake George Use of live bait permitted. Possession or use of smelt as bait is prohibited.
Hudson River, from Troy Dam upstream to Bakers Falls in the Village of Hudson Falls, and its tributaries in this section to first barrier impassable to fish All species, all year: Catch and Release Fishing Only. All fish must be returned to the water immediately. Minnows, killifish, mudminnows, darters, sticklebacks, stonecats, smelt and suckers may be possessed for use as fish bait. Ice fishing permitted. Tip-ups are permitted