Lake Colby fishing

Lake Colby fishing has Brown Trout, Rainbow Trout, Atlantic Salmon, and Brook Trout on the stocking report. Also recorded: largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, yellow perch, rock bass, brown bullhead, and pumpkinseed. It is stocked about 3.9 times a year since 2011, most often in April and November. Species guides list dawn, day, and dusk for Brown Trout, Brook Trout, and yellow perch, dawn and dusk for Rainbow Trout, largemouth bass, and smallmouth bass, and dawn, dusk, and night for rock bass.

Lake Colby
Photo: Mwanner, CC BY-SA 3.0
Last stocked
November 2025
Atlantic Salmon
Plants on record
59
Since 2011
Species stocked
4 (+6 also recorded)
Average size
13.2 in
Elevation
1,556 ft

Fish at Lake Colby

4 stocked · 6 confirmed present

Atlantic Salmon Stocked · 24 plants · last November 2025

Last stocked November 2025 · avg 20.9 in · 24 plants

Atlantic Salmon species guide
Rainbow Trout Stocked · 19 plants · last March 2025 Best: dawn, dusk

Last stocked March 2025 · avg 8.2 in · 19 plants

Best: dawn, dusk

Rainbow Trout species guide
Brown Trout Stocked · 15 plants · last June 2025 Best: dawn, day, dusk

Last stocked June 2025 · avg 7.5 in · 15 plants

Best: dawn, day, dusk

Brown Trout species guide
Brook Trout Stocked · 1 plant · last October 2017 Best: dawn, day, dusk

Last stocked October 2017 · avg 15.3 in · 1 plant

Best: dawn, day, dusk

Brook Trout species guide

How Lake Colby is stocked

Source: New York State Department of Environmental Conservation.

Fish stocked in 2011

7,390

Fish stocked in 2012

6,570

Fish stocked in 2013

5,975

Fish stocked in 2014

7,732

Fish stocked in 2015

9,420

Fish stocked in 2016

6,407

Fish stocked in 2017

6,350

Fish stocked in 2018

6,010

Fish stocked in 2019

7,490

Fish stocked in 2020

5,253

Fish stocked in 2021

6,053

Fish stocked in 2022

6,415

Fish stocked in 2023

6,389

Fish stocked in 2024

6,837

Fish stocked in 2025

8,687

Stocking history

Source: New York State Department of Environmental Conservation.
Date Species Quantity Avg. length Source
November 2025Atlantic Salmon2525.5 inreport
November 2025Atlantic Salmon4211.5 inreport
June 2025Brown Trout2,0208 inreport
April 2025Brown Trout3,0309.1 inreport
March 2025Rainbow Trout3,5709 inreport
November 2024Atlantic Salmon14718 inreport
November 2024Atlantic Salmon3026 inreport
April 2024Rainbow Trout3,5709 inreport
April 2024Brown Trout3,0909 inreport
December 2023Atlantic Salmon3923 inreport
November 2023Atlantic Salmon4024.4 inreport
November 2023Atlantic Salmon2023.6 inreport
April 2023Brown Trout2,8900.7 inreport
April 2023Rainbow Trout3,4008.5 inreport
November 2022Atlantic Salmon2519 inreport
November 2022Atlantic Salmon10014 inreport
June 2022Brown Trout2,8909.5 inreport
April 2022Rainbow Trout3,4008.5 inreport
November 2021Atlantic Salmon10429 inreport
November 2021Atlantic Salmon2926 inreport
May 2021Rainbow Trout2,9608 inreport
April 2021Rainbow Trout2,9608.5 inreport
November 2020Atlantic Salmon5126 inreport
November 2020Atlantic Salmon10219 inreport
April 2020Rainbow Trout2,5508 inreport
April 2020Rainbow Trout2,5508 inreport
November 2019Atlantic Salmon8028 inreport
June 2019Rainbow Trout1,0008.8 inreport
April 2019Rainbow Trout3,4008 inreport
April 2019Brown Trout3,0108 inreport
November 2018Atlantic Salmon9027 inreport
May 2018Rainbow Trout2,9608 inreport
April 2018Brown Trout2,9608 inreport
November 2017Atlantic Salmon4020 inreport
October 2017Brook Trout10015.3 inreport
April 2017Rainbow Trout3,4008 inreport
April 2017Brown Trout2,8108.2 inreport
November 2016Atlantic Salmon77–report
April 2016Rainbow Trout3,4008.6 inreport
April 2016Brown Trout2,9308.2 inreport
November 2015Rainbow Trout3,0004.9 inreport
November 2015Atlantic Salmon2513.5 inreport
November 2015Atlantic Salmon8513.5 inreport
May 2015Brown Trout2,9107.8 inreport
April 2015Rainbow Trout3,4008.5 inreport
November 2014Atlantic Salmon5223.6 inreport
October 2014Brown Trout5,0005.4 inreport
May 2014Rainbow Trout2,6808.7 inreport
November 2013Atlantic Salmon10521.5 inreport
April 2013Rainbow Trout3,4008.1 inreport
April 2013Brown Trout2,4708.1 inreport
November 2012Atlantic Salmon1501.2 inreport
April 2012Rainbow Trout3,4008.2 inreport
April 2012Brown Trout3,0208.2 inreport
December 2011Brown Trout1,0006.1 inreport
November 2011Atlantic Salmon7524 inreport
November 2011Atlantic Salmon3524 inreport
May 2011Rainbow Trout3,4007.9 inreport
May 2011Brown Trout2,8808.3 inreport

Access and facts

Nearest town
Saranac Lake
Shore access
Yes
Boat ramp
No
ADA accessible
Yes
Facilities
restrooms

DEC hand launch and fishing access on Route 86, 2 miles north of Saranac Lake village, across from Adirondack Medical Center, with parking for about 30 cars. The launch and privy are wheelchair accessible. Harrietstown's Latour Park on the shore allows shore fishing.

Drafted by AI from the cited sources and checked before publishing.

View larger map · Open in Google Maps · Directions

Advisories, closures, regulations and water conditions change. Check the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation before you go.

About Lake Colby

Photo of Lake Colby
Mwanner, CC BY-SA 3.0

Nearest lakes

Kiwassa Lake 3.4 mi last stocked June 2018 McKenzie Pond 3.6 mi last stocked May 2025 Ray Brook 4.3 mi last stocked April 2024 Owl Pond 5.1 mi last stocked September 2025 Lake Clear 5.2 mi last stocked June 2025

Common questions

What fish are at Lake Colby?

Fishing Lake Colby usually means Atlantic Salmon: Atlantic Salmon accounts for 24 of 59 plants on record, ahead of Rainbow Trout and 2 more. Atlantic Salmon was last stocked November 2025, averaging 20.9 in. Rainbow Trout was last stocked March 2025, averaging 8.2 in. Brown Trout was last stocked June 2025, averaging 7.5 in. Brook Trout was last stocked October 2017, averaging 15.3 in. largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, yellow perch, and rock bass, plus 2 more are recorded here outside the stocking reports.

When is Lake Colby stocked?

Last stocked November 2025. It is stocked about 3.9 times a year since 2011, most often in April and November.

How big are the fish stocked at Lake Colby?

Stocked fish average 13.2 in. Atlantic Salmon average 20.9 in. Rainbow Trout average 8.2 in. Brown Trout average 7.5 in. Brook Trout average 15.3 in.

How do you get on Lake Colby?

Shore fishing is available, there is no boat ramp, and it is ADA accessible. The nearest town is Saranac Lake. Facilities include restrooms. DEC hand launch and fishing access on Route 86, 2 miles north of Saranac Lake village, across from Adirondack Medical Center, with parking for about 30 cars. The launch and privy are wheelchair accessible. Harrietstown's Latour Park on the shore allows shore fishing.

Sources (7) +