Fishing Spots in Essex County
Fishing Locations in Essex County by Fish Species
The tables below list the fishing waters in Essex County by fish species. Only the brook trout table offers a comprehensive list of all waters to fish for this species in the county. All other species tables only include the top fishing locations, which can be viewed graphically on the accompanying Top Fishing Waters Map.
Before going fishing, check the Freshwater Fishing Regulations Guide for current regulations.
(*) Denotes waters where the use or possession of bait fish is prohibited. Review the Baitfish Regulations for more details. Unwanted introductions of minnows/bait fish are a primary factor in the decline of brook trout fisheries.
| Name of Water | Name of Township | Forest Preserve Unit or 15 Minute Quadrangle Name |
|---|---|---|
| Alder Creek | Schroon | Hammond Pond Wild Forest / Pharaoh Lake Wilderness |
| Bailey Pond * | Schroon | Hoffman Notch Wilderness |
| Barnes Pond * | Minerva | Vanderwhacker Mountain Wild Forest |
| Bartlett Pond * | North Elba | McKenzie Mountain Wilderness |
| Bass Lake * | North Hudson | Hammond Pond Wild Forest |
| Beaver Brook | Wilmington | Wilmington Wild Forest / Sentinel Range Wilderness |
| Beaver Pond | Minerva | Schroon Lake Quadrangle |
| Brevoort Brook | Crown Point | Ticonderoga/Paradox Lake Quadrangles |
| Big Brown Brook | Wilmington | Wilmington Wild Forest |
| Big Cherry Patch Pond * | North Elba | Saranac Lakes Wild Forest |
| Big Marsh Pond * | North Hudson | High Peaks Wilderness |
| Black Pond * (Rhododendron) | Keene | High Peaks Wilderness |
| Black Pond * | Minerva | Vanderwhacker Mountain Wild Forest |
| Black Pond * | North Elba | High Peaks Wilderness |
| Bloody Pond * | Crown Point | Hammond Pond Wild Forest |
| Boquet River ^ | Elizabethtown | Giant Mountain Wilderness/Boquet River Primitive Areas / Hammond Pond Wild Forest |
| Brothers Pond, Lower * | Moriah | Hammond Pond Wild Forest |
| Bullhead Pond * | Minerva | Newcomb Quadrangle |
| Burge Pond * | Schroon | Pharaoh Lake Wilderness |
| Cascade Brook | Keene | High Peaks Wilderness |
| Center Pond * | Minerva | Vanderwhacker Mountain Wild Forest |
| Challis Pond * | North Hudson | Hammond Pond Wild Forest |
| Chapel Pond * | Keene | Giant Mountain Wilderness |
| Clements Pond * | Jay | Wilmington Wild Forest |
| Clifford Brook | Keene | Sentinel Range Wilderness |
| Cold Brook | St Armand | Taylor Pond Wild Forest |
| Cotters Pond * | Schroon | Pharaoh Lake Wilderness |
| Courtney Pond * | North Hudson | Hammond Pond Wild Forest |
| Crab Pond * | Schroon | Pharaoh Lake Wilderness |
| Dunk Pond * | Minerva | Hudson Gorge Wilderness |
| E. Br. Ausable River | Keene | Hammond Pond Wild Forest/ Wilmington Wild Forest / Sentinel Range Wilderness / Giant Mountain Wilderness |
| Eagle Nest Pond | Moriah | Hammond Pond Wild Forest |
| Giant Washbowl * | Keene | Giant Mountain Wilderness |
| Goose Pond * | Schroon | Pharaoh Lake Wilderness |
| Goose Puddle * | Moriah | Pharaoh Lake Wilderness |
| Grizzle Ocean * | Ticonderoga | Pharaoh Lake Wilderness |
| Gulf Brook | Keene | Hurricane Mountain Wilderness |
| Gull Pond * | Schroon | Pharaoh Lake Wilderness |
| Hatch Pond | North Hudson | Hammond Pond Wild Forest |
| Henderson Lake * | Newcomb | High Peaks Wilderness |
| Hewitt Pond * | Minerva | Vanderwhacker Mountain Wild Forest |
| Hoisington Brook | Westport | Port Henry/ Elizabethtown Quadrangle |
| Horseshoe Pond * | Schroon | Vanderwhacker Mountain Wild Forest |
| Howard Pond * | North Hudson | Hammond Pond Wild Forest |
| Huntley Pond * | Minerva | Hudson Gorge Wilderness |
| Johns Brook | Keene | High Peaks Wilderness |
| Kelso Brook | Minerva | Newcomb/ Schroon Lake Quadrangle |
| Latham Pond * | Newcomb | High Peaks Wilderness |
| Lewis Brook | Jay | Sentinel Range Wilderness |
| Lilypad Pond * | Ticonderoga | Pharaoh Lake Wilderness |
| Little Rock Pond * | Ticonderoga | Pharaoh Lake Wilderness |
| Livingston Pond * | Newcomb | High Peaks Wilderness |
| Long Pond * | North Elba | McKenzie Mountain Wilderness |
| Lower Cascade Lake * | Keene | High Peaks Wilderness |
| Marion Pond * | Schroon | Hoffman Notch Wilderness |
| Mill Brook | Moriah | Port Henry Boat Launch |
| Minerva Stream | Minerva | Vanderwhacker Mountain Wild Forest/ Hoffman Notch Wilderness |
| Mineville Club Pond | Moriah | Port Henry Quadrangle |
| Moose Mt. Pond * | North Hudson | Hammond Pond Wild Forest |
| Moose Pond * | Newcomb | High Peaks Wilderness |
| Moose Pond * | North Elba | High Peaks Wilderness |
| Muller Pond Brook | Schroon | Vanderwhacker Mountain Wild Forest |
| Newcomb Lake * | Newcomb | Vanderwhacker Mountain Wild Forest |
| Otter Pond * | Ticonderoga | Pharaoh Lake Wilderness |
| Palmer Dam Pond | North Hudson | Vanderwhacker Mountain Wild Forest |
| Pharaoh Lake * | Schroon | Pharaoh Lake Wilderness |
| Phelps Brook | Crown Point/Moriah | Elizabethtown/Paradox Lake |
| Platt Brook | Schroon | Hoffman Notch Wilderness |
| Putnam Creek | Crown Point/ Ticonderoga | Pharaoh Lake Wilderness / Putnam Pond Campground |
| Preston Pond, Upper & Lower * | North Hudson | High Peaks Wilderness |
| Rankin Pond * | Minerva | Vanderwhacker Mountain Wild Forest |
| Ray Brook Pond | North Elba | Saranac Lakes Wild Forest |
| Rock Pond * | Ticonderoga | Pharaoh Lake Wilderness |
| Rocky Branch | Jay | Jay Mountain Wilderness |
| Rogers Brook | Schroon | Hoffman Notch Wilderness |
| Round Pond * | Keene | High Peaks Wilderness |
| Shaw Pond * | Newcomb | High Peaks Wilderness |
| Big Sherman Pond * | Minerva | Vanderwhacker Mountain Wild Forest |
| Shingletree Pond * | North Hudson | Elizabethtown Quadrangle |
| South Meadow Brook * | North Elba | High Peaks Wilderness |
| Spectacle Pond * | Schroon | Pharaoh Lake Wilderness |
| Springhill Pond * | Ticonderoga | Pharaoh Lake Wilderness |
| Spruce Hill Brook | Keene | Hammond Pond Wild Forest / Giant Mountain Wilderness / Hurricane Mountain Wilderness |
| Stacy Brook | Westport | Port Henry/ Elizabethtown Quadrangle |
| Stony Pond * | Minerva | Vanderwhacker Mountain Wild Forest |
| Styles Brook | Keene | Wilmington Wild Forest /Jay Mountain Wilderness |
| Sweeney Brook | Schroon | Schroon Lake Quadrangle |
| Tom Peck Pond * | North Elba | Saranac Lakes Wild Forest |
| Triangle Pond * | North Hudson | Hammond Pond Wild Forest |
| Trout Brook | Schroon/ Minerva | Hoffman Notch Wilderness / Vanderwhacker Mountain Wild Forest |
| Trout Pond * | Moriah | Hammond Pond Wild Forest |
| Twenty-Ninth Pond * | Minerva | Vanderwhacker Mountain Wild Forest |
| Twin Ponds, Upper & Lower * | North Hudson | Hammond Pond Wild Forest |
| Upper Cascade Lake * | North Elba/ Keene | High Peaks Wilderness |
| Upper Twin Pond * | Keene | High Peaks Wilderness |
| W. Br. Ausable River | North Elba | Lake Placid Quadrangle |
| Ward Pond * | Newcomb | High Peaks Wilderness |
| Warren Pond * | North Elba | McKenzie Mountain Wilderness |
| White Brook | Wilmington | Wilmington Wild Forest |
| Whortleberry Pond * | Schroon | Pharaoh Lake Wilderness |
| Willsboro Club | Willsboro | Willsboro Quadrangle |
| Winch Pond * | Wilmington | High Peaks Wilderness |
| Wolf Pond * | North Hudson | Vanderwhacker Mountain Wild Forest |
| Wolf Pond Brook | North Hudson | Vanderwhacker Mountain Wild Forest |
Top Fishing Waters for Brown Trout
| Name of Water | Name of Township | Forest Preserve Unit or 15 Minute Quadrangle Name |
|---|---|---|
| Cheney Pond | Minerva | Vanderwhacker Mountain Wild Forest |
| Chubb River | North Elba | Saranac Lakes Wild Forest / High Peaks Wilderness |
| Clear Pond * | Ticonderoga | Pharaoh Lake Wilderness |
| Connery Pond | North Elba | McKenzie Mountain Wilderness / Saranac Lakes Wild Forest |
| Eagle Lake | Crown Point/ Ticonderoga | Hammond Pond Wild Forest / Pharaoh Lake Wilderness |
| Hudson River | Minerva | Vanderwhacker Mountain Wild Forest / Hudson Gorge Wilderness / Blue Mountain Wild Forest |
| Long Pond * | North Elba | McKenzie Mountain Wilderness |
| Lost Pond * | Ticonderoga | Pharaoh Lake Wilderness |
| Mill Brook | Moriah | Port Henry Boat Launch |
| Munson Pond | North Hudson | Hammond Pond Wild Forest |
| Owen Pond * | North Elba | Sentinel Range Wilderness |
| Vanderwhacker Pond | North Hudson | Vanderwhacker Mountain Wild Forest |
| W. Br. Ausable River | Jay/ Keene/ Wilmington | Ausable Forks/Lake Placid |
Top Fishing Waters for Rainbow Trout
| Name of Water | Name of Township | Forest Preserve Unit or 15 Minute Quadrangle Name |
|---|---|---|
| Ausable River | Chesterfield | Ausable Forks |
| Bass Lake * | North Hudson | Hammond Pond Wild Forest |
| Goose Pond * | Schroon | Pharaoh Lake Wilderness |
| Lake Placid | North Elba | McKenzie Mountain Wilderness/Saranac Lakes Wild Forest |
| Mirror Lake | North Elba | Lake Placid Quadrangle |
| Moose Pond * | St Armand | McKenzie Mountain Wilderness |
| Paradox Lake | Schroon | Hammond Pond Wild Forest/Pharaoh Lake Wilderness |
| Saranac River | St Armand | McKenzie Mountain Wilderness/Saranac Lakes Wild Forest |
| Springhill Pond * | Ticonderoga | Pharaoh Lake Wilderness |
Top Fishing Waters for Lake Trout
| Name of Water | Name of Township | Forest Preserve Unit or 15 Minute Quadrangle Name |
|---|---|---|
| Lake Champlain | various | Schuyler Island Primitive Area/Split Rock Wild Forest/Crown Point Historic Area |
| Lake Placid | North Elba | McKenzie Mountain Wilderness/Saranac Lakes Wild Forest |
| Mirror Lake | North Elba | Lake Placid Quadrangle |
| Paradox Lake | Schroon | Hammond Pond Wild Forest/Pharaoh Lake Wilderness |
| Pharaoh Lake * | Schroon | Pharaoh Lake Wilderness |
| Schroon Lake | Schroon | Scaroon Manor Day Use Area/Hammond Pond Wild Forest |
Top Fishing Waters for Splake
| Name of Water | Name of Township | Forest Preserve Unit or 15 Minute Quadrangle Name |
|---|---|---|
| Goose Pond * | Schroon | Pharaoh Lake Wilderness |
Top Fishing Waters for Landlocked Salmon
| Name of Water | Name of Township | Forest Preserve Unit or 15 Minute Quadrangle Name |
|---|---|---|
| Boquet River | Willsboro/ Essex | Giant Mountain Wilderness/Boquet River Primitive Area/Hammond Pond Wild Forest/Taylor Pond Wild Forest |
| Lake Champlain | various | Schuyler Island Primitive Area/Split Rock Wild Forest/Crown Point Historic Area |
| Schroon Lake | Schroon | Scaroon Manor Day Use Area/Hammond Pond Wild Forest |
Top Fishing Waters for Smallmouth Bass
| Name of Water | Name of Township | Forest Preserve Unit or 15 Minute Quadrangle Name |
|---|---|---|
| Eagle Lake | Crown Point/ Ticonderoga | Hammond Pond Wild Forest/Pharaoh Lake Wilderness |
| Lake Champlain | various | Schuyler Island Primitive Area/Split Rock Wild Forest/Crown Point Historic Area |
| Paradox Lake | Schroon | Hammond Pond Wild Forest/Pharaoh Lake Wilderness |
| Schroon Lake | Schroon | Scaroon Manor Day Use Area/Hammond Pond Wild Forest |
Top Fishing Waters for Largemouth Bass
| Name of Water | Name of Township | Forest Preserve Unit or 15 Minute Quadrangle Name |
|---|---|---|
| Eagle Lake | Crown Point/ Ticonderoga | Hammond Pond Wild Forest/Pharaoh Lake Wilderness |
| Lake Champlain | various | Schuyler Island Primitive Area/Split Rock Wild Forest/Crown Point Historic Area |
| Lincoln Pond | Elizabethtown | Hammond Pond Wild Forest/Lincoln Pond Campground |
| Paradox Lake | Schroon | Hammond Pond Wild Forest/Pharaoh Lake Wilderness |
| Putnam Pond | Ticonderoga | Pharaoh Lake Wilderness/Putnam Pond Campground |
Top Fishing Waters for Northern Pike
| Name of Water | Name of Township | Forest Preserve Unit or 15 Minute Quadrangle Name |
|---|---|---|
| Eagle Lake | Crown Point/ Ticonderoga | Hammond Pond Wild Forest/Pharaoh Lake Wilderness |
| Lake Champlain | various | Schuyler Island Primitive Area/Split Rock Wild Forest/Crown Point Historic Area |
| Lake Flower | North Elba | Saranac Lakes Wild Forest |
Top Fishing Waters for Pickerel
| Name of Water | Name of Township | Forest Preserve Unit or 15 Minute Quadrangle Name |
|---|---|---|
| Lake Champlain | various | Schuyler Island Primitive Area/Split Rock Wild Forest/Crown Point Historic Area |
Top Fishing Waters for Walleye
| Name of Water | Name of Township | Forest Preserve Unit or 15 Minute Quadrangle Name |
|---|---|---|
| Harris Lake | Newcomb | Vanderwhacker Mountain Wild Forest/Lake Harris Campground |
| Franklin Falls Flow | St Armand | Taylor Pond Wild Forest/McKenzie Mountain Wilderness |
