Rainbow Lake fishing

Fishing at Rainbow Lake is on a natural lake, stocked with Walleye, Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Northern Pike, Yellow Perch, and Brown Bullhead, and 1 more. It is stocked about 0.5 times a year since 2014, most often in June. Species guides list dawn, dusk, and night for Walleye, dawn and dusk for Largemouth Bass and Smallmouth Bass, and dawn, day, and dusk for Northern Pike and Yellow Perch.

Last stocked

June 1, 2024

Plants on record

Since 2014

Species recorded

Average size

1.5 in

Elevation

1,671 ft

Access and facts

Water type: natural lake
Nearest town: Saranac Lake
Boat ramp: Yes
Facilities: camping

Hand-launch access on Clark Wardener Road (0.1-mile carry), plus a boat launch at Buck Pond Campground on connected Lake Kushaqua (day-use fee when the campground is open). Four primitive tent sites line the shore; much of the rest is private.

Sources: water_type , access , shore_notes , facilities , nearest_town , speciesFound

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How Rainbow Lake is stocked

The first plant of the year usually falls in the first week of June. In 2024 it was June 1, 2024, about when it usually is.

No plants recorded in 2015, 2017, 2019, 2021, and 2023.

Little Hope Pond (3.1 mi), Lake Kushaqua (3.4 mi), and Upper Saint Regis Lake (7.7 mi) were stocked more recently.

Fish at Rainbow Lake

Fishing Rainbow Lake is most likely to be for Walleye. All 6 plants on record are Walleye.

Walleye 6 plants

Plants: 6 of 6
Last stocked: June 1, 2024
Average length: 1.5 in

Seasons and rigs are on the Walleye guide.

Fish stocked per year

7,4002014
7,4002016
7,4122018
7,3752020
7,4002022
7,4002024

Stocking history

Source: New York State Department of Environmental Conservation.
Date	Species	Quantity	Avg. length	Source
June 1, 2024	Walleye	7,400	1.7 in	report
June 1, 2022	Walleye	7,400	1.5 in	report
June 1, 2020	Walleye	7,375	1.5 in	report
June 1, 2018	Walleye	7,412	1.5 in	report
June 1, 2016	Walleye	7,400	–	report
June 1, 2014	Walleye	7,400	1.4 in	report

Species found here

Confirmed present independent of the stocking records above, not from a stocking event.

Largemouth Bass : NYSDEC lake survey species list. (source)
Smallmouth Bass : NYSDEC lake survey species list. (source)
Northern Pike : NYSDEC lake survey species list. (source)
Yellow Perch : NYSDEC lake survey species list. (source)
Brown Bullhead : NYSDEC lake survey species list. (source)
Pumpkinseed : NYSDEC lake survey species list. (source)

Species stocked here

Walleye (6)

Depth-by-season, top lures, and bait notes for each species stocked here are on its own species guide, linked above.