North Branch Saranac River fishing

North Branch Saranac River fishing is stocked with Brook Trout and Brown Trout on a river section. It is stocked about 3.7 times a year since 2011, most often in April and May. Species guides list dawn, day, and dusk as the active times.

AI-generated illustration, not a photo of this lake
Last stocked
April 2025
Brook Trout
Plants on record
56
Since 2011
Species recorded
2
Average size
9.9 in
Elevation
1,105 ft

Fish at North Branch Saranac River

2 stocked · 0 confirmed present

Brown Trout Stocked · 31 plants · last April 2025 Best: dawn, day, dusk

Last stocked April 2025 · avg 11 in · 31 plants

Best: dawn, day, dusk

Brown Trout species guide
Brook Trout Stocked · 25 plants · last April 2025 Best: dawn, day, dusk

Last stocked April 2025 · avg 8.4 in · 25 plants

Best: dawn, day, dusk

Brook Trout species guide

The North Branch of the Saranac River is a great quality fishing location for trout in the Adirondacks. Anglers will find decent populations of brown trout, brook trout, and rainbow trout. The best access spots are between Oregon Brook and Clayburg, which is the section that flows from Clinton to Franklin County. (adirondack.net, accessed September 22, 2026)

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

How North Branch Saranac River is stocked

Source: New York State Department of Environmental Conservation.

Taylor Pond (7.7 mi) and Fern Lake (9.5 mi) were stocked more recently.

Fish stocked in 2011

6,530

Fish stocked in 2012

6,720

Fish stocked in 2013

6,145

Fish stocked in 2014

6,950

Fish stocked in 2015

6,180

Fish stocked in 2016

5,730

Fish stocked in 2017

6,900

Fish stocked in 2018

6,940

Fish stocked in 2019

6,950

Fish stocked in 2020

6,180

Fish stocked in 2021

5,140

Fish stocked in 2022

5,140

Fish stocked in 2023

5,140

Fish stocked in 2024

5,160

Fish stocked in 2025

4,930

Stocking history

Source: New York State Department of Environmental Conservation.
Date Species Quantity Avg. length Source
April 2025Brook Trout1,0109.4 inreport
April 2025Brown Trout3,5308.2 inreport
April 2025Brown Trout39012.8 inreport
April 2024Brook Trout1,4109.2 inreport
April 2024Brown Trout3,3609.5 inreport
April 2024Brown Trout39013.1 inreport
April 2023Brook Trout1,4109 inreport
April 2023Brown Trout3709.2 inreport
April 2023Brown Trout3,36013.2 inreport
April 2022Brook Trout1,4109 inreport
April 2022Brown Trout37013.5 inreport
April 2022Brown Trout3,3609 inreport
April 2021Brook Trout1,4108.8 inreport
April 2021Brown Trout3,3609.1 inreport
April 2021Brown Trout37013.5 inreport
April 2020Brook Trout8507.8 inreport
April 2020Brown Trout25013.1 inreport
April 2020Brown Trout6308.7 inreport
April 2020Brook Trout4,4508.2 inreport
May 2019Brook Trout1,3508 inreport
May 2019Brown Trout25013 inreport
May 2019Brown Trout7508.9 inreport
April 2019Brook Trout4,6008.3 inreport
May 2018Brown Trout25013.2 inreport
May 2018Brown Trout7408.1 inreport
April 2018Brook Trout1,3508 inreport
April 2018Brook Trout4,6008.1 inreport
May 2017Brown Trout25013.2 inreport
May 2017Brown Trout7009.1 inreport
April 2017Brook Trout1,3508.1 inreport
April 2017Brook Trout4,6008.1 inreport
May 2016Brown Trout25013.4 inreport
May 2016Brown Trout7308.5 inreport
April 2016Brook Trout1,0808.1 inreport
April 2016Brook Trout3,6708.2 inreport
May 2015Brook Trout1,1808.9 inreport
May 2015Brown Trout25013.1 inreport
May 2015Brown Trout7307.9 inreport
April 2015Brook Trout4,0208.2 inreport
May 2014Brook Trout1,3508.3 inreport
May 2014Brown Trout19013.7 inreport
May 2014Brown Trout609.2 inreport
May 2014Brown Trout7508.7 inreport
April 2014Brook Trout4,6008.5 inreport
May 2013Brook Trout6758 inreport
May 2013Brown Trout25013.2 inreport
May 2013Brown Trout6208.5 inreport
April 2013Brook Trout4,6008 inreport
May 2012Brook Trout1,3008.1 inreport
May 2012Brown Trout25013.8 inreport
May 2012Brown Trout7509 inreport
April 2012Brook Trout4,4208.2 inreport
June 2011Brown Trout25013.9 inreport
May 2011Brown Trout7209.7 inreport
April 2011Brook Trout1,2608.9 inreport
April 2011Brook Trout4,3009.3 inreport

Access and facts

Water type
river section
Nearest town
Clayburg
Shore access
Yes

DEC Public Fishing Rights angler parking sits along NY 3 (two areas in the Town of Saranac, one in Black Brook), on River Rd in Black Brook and on Goldsmith Rd in the Town of Franklin. A regional guide puts the best access between Oregon Brook and Clayburg.

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.

Nearest lakes

True Brook 5 mi last stocked April 2019 Military Pond 6.6 mi last stocked April 2025 Taylor Pond 7.7 mi last stocked May 2025 Fern Lake 9.5 mi last stocked June 2025 Black Brook Pond 10.4 mi last stocked May 2024

Common questions

What fish are at North Branch Saranac River?

Fishing North Branch Saranac River usually means Brown Trout: Brown Trout accounts for 31 of 56 plants on record, ahead of Brook Trout. Brown Trout was last stocked April 2025, averaging 11 in. Brook Trout was last stocked April 2025, averaging 8.4 in.

When is North Branch Saranac River stocked?

Last stocked April 2025. It is stocked about 3.7 times a year since 2011, most often in April and May.

How big are the fish stocked at North Branch Saranac River?

Stocked fish average 9.9 in. Brown Trout average 11 in. Brook Trout average 8.4 in.

How do you get on North Branch Saranac River?

Shore fishing is available. The nearest town is Clayburg. DEC Public Fishing Rights angler parking sits along NY 3 (two areas in the Town of Saranac, one in Black Brook), on River Rd in Black Brook and on Goldsmith Rd in the Town of Franklin. A regional guide puts the best access between Oregon Brook and Clayburg.

Which lakes near North Branch Saranac River were stocked more recently?

Taylor Pond (7.7 mi) and Fern Lake (9.5 mi) were stocked more recently.

Sources (3) +