The Speculator Region and Hamilton County encourages catch and release
fishing. Please take only what you need; release the rest.
| Lake Pleasant |
| Lake Pleasant offers clear, natural surroundings with apx.
9.6 miles of shoreline. It has a good population of brown and
rainbow trout due to hefty stockings by DEC. Because of a thriving
rainbow smelt population, browns and rainbows grow large here.
Pickerel can be found in weedy areas. Lake Pleasant is a good
bet for trout because both species are all over. During the summer,
anglers catch rainbows using lanterns and chumming with corn.
Winter anglers catch big browns by using smelt for bait. The
lake holds significant numbers of smallmouth bass and offers
some excellent early season walleye.
Access: Anglers can access Lake Pleasant from an unpaved town
launch bear the outlet at Sacandaga River or from a boat launch
on the pavilion side of the Speculator Bridge. Lake Pleasant
Marine also has a launch.
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| Sacandaga Lake |
| Sacandaga Lake has many bays and 13.2 miles of shoreline, of
which approximately half is forever wild state forest preserve.
A navigable channel connects Sacandaga Lake with Lake Pleasant.
This water is home to panfish and brown and rainbow trout. Sacandaga
Lake also has smallmouth bass, walleye and pickerel.
Access: Anglers will find public access at Moffitt Beach State
Campground.
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| Piseco Lake |
| Piseco Lake offers 21.3 miles of shoreline and has traditionally
received lake trout stockings. In recent years landlocked
salmon have been added to the annual stockings. Because of abundant
populations of lakers and landlocks, Piseco Lake sees heavy angling
pressure, especially during the winter. Ice fishing actually
comprises 80 percent of the pressure here. In the spring, the
best catches of trout and salmon are taken by trolling near creeks.
Piseco Lake has good numbers of whitefish.
Access: Three DEC campsites with launches provide quality
access to the lake.
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| Oxbow Lake |
| The majority of Oxbow Lake’s 4.3 mile shoreline is state
forest preserve. The lake has good largemouth and smallmouth
bass fishing. Look for largemouths near fallen trees, and check
out the rocky areas along the north shore for smallies. Bass
here grow to three pounds. The south shore is sandy with significant
development so it does not attract bass. Oxbow Lake has a plentiful
pumpkinseed population and a decent number of pickerel.
Access: Anglers access the lake from an unofficial launch
at the east end and from a private launch (small fee) at mid-lake
on the south shore.
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| Lake Algonquin |
| Lake Algonquin offers a shallow, warm water lake having 6.1
miles of shoreline. It features a long attractive navigable inlet
from the Sacandaga River. Lake Algonquin is home to largemouth
bass, pickerel and panfish.
Access: A public boat launch is located on the backside of
the lake.
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| Fawn Lake |
| Fawn Lake offers a wilderness outing for wild lake
trout. Shore
fishing near deep-water areas is productive in the spring. When
trout season opens on April 1st, anglers jig for lakers through
the ice. Fawn Lake also has some smallmouth bass and pickerel.
Access: Fawn Lake can be reached via a one-quarter mile hike.
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