Rainbow Lake fishing

Rainbow Lake fishing is stocked with Walleye on a natural lake. Also recorded: Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Northern Pike, Yellow Perch, Brown Bullhead, and Pumpkinseed. 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.

AI-generated illustration, not a photo of this lake
Last stocked
June 2024
Walleye
Plants on record
6
Since 2014
Species stocked
1 (+6 also recorded)
Average size
1.5 in
Elevation
1,671 ft

Fish at Rainbow Lake

1 stocked · 6 confirmed present

Walleye Stocked · 6 plants · last June 2024 Best: dawn, dusk, night

Last stocked June 2024 · avg 1.5 in · 6 plants

Best: dawn, dusk, night

Walleye species guide

How Rainbow Lake is stocked

Source: New York State Department of Environmental Conservation.

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

Fish stocked in 2014

7,400

Fish stocked in 2016

7,400

Fish stocked in 2018

7,412

Fish stocked in 2020

7,375

Fish stocked in 2022

7,400

Fish stocked in 2024

7,400

Stocking history

Source: New York State Department of Environmental Conservation.
Date Species Quantity Avg. length Source
June 2024Walleye7,4001.7 inreport
June 2022Walleye7,4001.5 inreport
June 2020Walleye7,3751.5 inreport
June 2018Walleye7,4121.5 inreport
June 2016Walleye7,400–report
June 2014Walleye7,4001.4 inreport

Access and facts

Water type
natural lake
Nearest town
Saranac Lake
Boat ramp
No
Float tube friendly
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.

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

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

Nearest lakes

Little Hope Pond 3.1 mi last stocked September 2025 Lake Kushaqua 3.4 mi last stocked April 2025 Sumner Brook 7.1 mi last stocked March 2020 Upper Saint Regis Lake 7.7 mi last stocked April 2025 Fishhole Pond 7.8 mi last stocked April 2022

Common questions

What fish are at Rainbow Lake?

Fishing Rainbow Lake usually means Walleye. All 6 plants on record are Walleye. Walleye was last stocked June 2024, averaging 1.5 in. Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Northern Pike, and Yellow Perch, plus 2 more are recorded here outside the stocking reports.

When is Rainbow Lake stocked?

Last stocked June 2024. It is stocked about 0.5 times a year since 2014, most often in June. No plants recorded in 2015, 2017, 2019, 2021, and 2023.

How big are the fish stocked at Rainbow Lake?

Walleye stocked at Rainbow Lake average 1.5 in.

How do you get on Rainbow Lake?

There is no boat ramp and it is float tube friendly. The nearest town is Saranac Lake. Facilities include 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.

Which lakes near Rainbow Lake were stocked more recently?

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

Sources (5) +