Rainbow Trout Stocked · 19 plants · last April 2025 Best: dawn, dusk Balfour Lake fishing
Balfour Lake fishing has Brown Trout, Rainbow Trout, and Lake Trout on the stocking report. It is stocked about 1.8 times a year since 2011, most often in April and May. Species guides list dawn, day, and dusk for Brown Trout, dawn and dusk for Rainbow Trout, and dawn for Lake Trout.
- Last stocked
- April 2025
- Rainbow Trout
- Plants on record
- 27
- Since 2011
- Species recorded
- 3
- Average size
- 8.7 in
- Elevation
- 1,786 ft
Fish at Balfour Lake
Rainbow Trout Stocked · 19 plants · last April 2025 Best: dawn, dusk 
Brown Trout Stocked · 7 plants · last May 2018 Best: dawn, day, dusk 
Lake Trout Stocked · 1 plant · last May 2015 Best: dawn How Balfour Lake is stocked
No plants recorded in 2016.
Fish stocked in 2011
1,390
Fish stocked in 2012
1,420
Fish stocked in 2013
1,300
Fish stocked in 2014
1,240
Fish stocked in 2015
1,890
Fish stocked in 2017
1,370
Fish stocked in 2018
1,300
Fish stocked in 2019
750
Fish stocked in 2020
1,120
Fish stocked in 2021
1,300
Fish stocked in 2022
1,500
Fish stocked in 2023
1,500
Fish stocked in 2024
1,580
Fish stocked in 2025
1,580
Stocking history
| Date | Species | Quantity | Avg. length | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| April 2025 | Rainbow Trout | 790 | 9 in | report |
| April 2025 | Rainbow Trout | 790 | 12 in | report |
| May 2024 | Rainbow Trout | 790 | 10 in | report |
| May 2024 | Rainbow Trout | 790 | 10 in | report |
| May 2023 | Rainbow Trout | 750 | 9 in | report |
| May 2023 | Rainbow Trout | 750 | 9 in | report |
| April 2022 | Rainbow Trout | 1,500 | 8.5 in | report |
| May 2021 | Rainbow Trout | 650 | 9 in | report |
| April 2021 | Rainbow Trout | 650 | 8.5 in | report |
| April 2020 | Rainbow Trout | 560 | 8.8 in | report |
| April 2020 | Rainbow Trout | 560 | 8.8 in | report |
| May 2019 | Rainbow Trout | 750 | 8.5 in | report |
| May 2018 | Rainbow Trout | 650 | 9 in | report |
| May 2018 | Brown Trout | 650 | 8.1 in | report |
| May 2017 | Rainbow Trout | 750 | 8.5 in | report |
| May 2017 | Brown Trout | 620 | 8 in | report |
| May 2015 | Rainbow Trout | 750 | 9.7 in | report |
| May 2015 | Brown Trout | 640 | 7.8 in | report |
| May 2015 | Lake Trout | 500 | 6.2 in | report |
| May 2014 | Rainbow Trout | 590 | 8.6 in | report |
| May 2014 | Brown Trout | 650 | 8.1 in | report |
| May 2013 | Rainbow Trout | 750 | 9 in | report |
| May 2013 | Brown Trout | 550 | 8.6 in | report |
| May 2012 | Rainbow Trout | 750 | 8.3 in | report |
| May 2012 | Brown Trout | 670 | 8.2 in | report |
| May 2011 | Rainbow Trout | 750 | 7.8 in | report |
| May 2011 | Brown Trout | 640 | 8.3 in | report |
Access and facts
- Nearest town
- Minerva
State parking area off Route 28N with a wheelchair-accessible hand launch 200 ft from the lot. ROOST says walk-in shore fishing is mostly at the state access point and suggests a canoe or kayak and fishing the deeper middle of the lake for the larger trout.
Drafted by AI from the cited sources and checked before publishing.
Advisories, closures, regulations and water conditions change. Check the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation before you go.
Nearest lakes
Common questions
What fish are at Balfour Lake?
Fishing Balfour Lake usually means Rainbow Trout: Rainbow Trout accounts for 19 of 27 plants on record, ahead of Brown Trout and one more. Rainbow Trout was last stocked April 2025, averaging 9.1 in. Brown Trout was last stocked May 2018, averaging 8.2 in. Lake Trout was last stocked May 2015, averaging 6.2 in.
When is Balfour Lake stocked?
Last stocked April 2025. It is stocked about 1.8 times a year since 2011, most often in April and May. No plants recorded in 2016.
How big are the fish stocked at Balfour Lake?
Stocked fish average 8.7 in. Rainbow Trout average 9.1 in. Brown Trout average 8.2 in. Lake Trout average 6.2 in.
How do you get on Balfour Lake?
The nearest town is Minerva. State parking area off Route 28N with a wheelchair-accessible hand launch 200 ft from the lot. ROOST says walk-in shore fishing is mostly at the state access point and suggests a canoe or kayak and fishing the deeper middle of the lake for the larger trout.
Which lakes near Balfour Lake were stocked more recently?
Hewitt Pond (1.9 mi) and Stony Pond (1.9 mi) were stocked more recently.