Brown Trout Stocked · 16 plants · last May 2025 Best: dawn, day, dusk Rushford Lake fishing
Rushford Lake fishing is stocked with Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout, and Brook Trout on a reservoir. Also recorded: Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Yellow Perch, Rock Bass, Pumpkinseed, Bluegill, and 5 more. It is stocked about 2.1 times a year since 2011, most often in April and May. Species guides list dawn and dusk for Rainbow Trout, Smallmouth Bass, and Common Carp, dawn, day, and dusk for Brown Trout, Brook Trout, and Yellow Perch, and dawn, dusk, and night for Walleye, Rock Bass, and Crappie.
- Last stocked
- May 2025
- Rainbow Trout
- Plants on record
- 32
- Since 2011
- Species stocked
- 3 (+11 also recorded)
- Average size
- 8.8 in
- Elevation
- 1,412 ft
Fish at Rushford Lake
Brown Trout Stocked · 16 plants · last May 2025 Best: dawn, day, dusk 
Rainbow Trout Stocked · 15 plants · last May 2025 Best: dawn, dusk 
Brook Trout Stocked · 1 plant · last June 2021 Best: dawn, day, dusk 
Smallmouth Bass Confirmed present Best: dawn, dusk Best: dawn, dusk
Smallmouth Bass species guide
Walleye Confirmed present Best: dawn, dusk, night Best: dawn, dusk, night
Walleye species guide
Yellow Perch Confirmed present Best: dawn, day, dusk Best: dawn, day, dusk
Yellow Perch species guide
Rock Bass Confirmed present Best: dawn, dusk, night Best: dawn, dusk, night
Rock Bass species guide
Pumpkinseed Confirmed present Best: dusk Best: dusk
Pumpkinseed species guide
Bluegill Confirmed present Best: dawn, day, dusk Best: dawn, day, dusk
Bluegill species guide
Brown Bullhead Confirmed present Best: dusk, night Best: dusk, night
Brown Bullhead species guide
Common Carp Confirmed present Best: dawn, dusk Best: dawn, dusk
Common Carp species guide White Sucker Confirmed present
Northern Hognose Sucker Confirmed present
Crappie Confirmed present Best: dawn, dusk, night Best: dawn, dusk, night
Crappie species guideRushford Lake is stocked annually with brown and rainbow trout in the spring by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation. The fishery also includes bass, crappie, carp, perch, suckers, bullhead, and sunfish. Anglers have access at two points: the Balcom Beach area offers shore fishing and a free trailered boat launch for fishing boats, while an area off Dam Road provides shore fishing. (en.wikipedia.org, accessed September 22, 2026)
Drafted by AI from the cited sources and checked before publishing.
How Rushford Lake is stocked
Allen Lake (6.4 mi), East Koy Creek (10.4 mi), and Ischua Creek (17.7 mi) were stocked more recently. Allen Lake is also stocked with Brook Trout, Brown Trout, and Rainbow Trout, East Koy Creek is also stocked with Brown Trout, and Ischua Creek is also stocked with Brook Trout, Brown Trout, and Rainbow Trout.
Fish stocked in 2011
7,300
Fish stocked in 2012
5,400
Fish stocked in 2013
5,110
Fish stocked in 2014
4,550
Fish stocked in 2015
5,340
Fish stocked in 2016
5,350
Fish stocked in 2017
7,400
Fish stocked in 2018
6,450
Fish stocked in 2019
5,390
Fish stocked in 2020
32,850
Fish stocked in 2021
19,980
Fish stocked in 2022
5,330
Fish stocked in 2023
5,330
Fish stocked in 2024
5,630
Fish stocked in 2025
5,600
Stocking history
| Date | Species | Quantity | Avg. length | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 2025 | Rainbow Trout | 3,990 | 11.3 in | report |
| May 2025 | Brown Trout | 1,610 | 8.3 in | report |
| May 2024 | Brown Trout | 1,640 | 9.2 in | report |
| May 2024 | Rainbow Trout | 3,990 | 10 in | report |
| May 2023 | Rainbow Trout | 3,800 | 9.5 in | report |
| May 2023 | Brown Trout | 1,530 | 9.2 in | report |
| May 2022 | Rainbow Trout | 3,800 | 9 in | report |
| May 2022 | Brown Trout | 1,530 | 9.5 in | report |
| June 2021 | Brook Trout | 15,000 | 3.7 in | report |
| May 2021 | Rainbow Trout | 3,310 | 10 in | report |
| May 2021 | Brown Trout | 1,670 | 10 in | report |
| June 2020 | Brown Trout | 30,000 | 3.2 in | report |
| April 2020 | Rainbow Trout | 2,850 | 8.3 in | report |
| May 2019 | Brown Trout | 1,590 | 9 in | report |
| April 2019 | Rainbow Trout | 3,800 | 9 in | report |
| May 2018 | Brown Trout | 1,570 | 9.2 in | report |
| May 2018 | Brown Trout | 1,570 | 9 in | report |
| April 2018 | Rainbow Trout | 3,310 | 9.3 in | report |
| November 2017 | Brown Trout | 3,600 | 5.7 in | report |
| May 2017 | Rainbow Trout | 3,800 | 9.3 in | report |
| May 2016 | Rainbow Trout | 3,800 | 9.5 in | report |
| May 2016 | Brown Trout | 1,550 | 9.6 in | report |
| May 2015 | Rainbow Trout | 3,800 | 9.5 in | report |
| May 2015 | Brown Trout | 1,540 | 9.4 in | report |
| May 2014 | Rainbow Trout | 3,000 | 9.3 in | report |
| May 2014 | Brown Trout | 1,550 | 9.2 in | report |
| May 2013 | Rainbow Trout | 3,800 | 8.5 in | report |
| May 2013 | Brown Trout | 1,310 | 9 in | report |
| May 2012 | Brown Trout | 1,600 | 8.9 in | report |
| April 2012 | Rainbow Trout | 3,800 | 9 in | report |
| May 2011 | Brown Trout | 3,500 | 9.6 in | report |
| April 2011 | Rainbow Trout | 3,800 | 9.2 in | report |
Access and facts
- Water type
- reservoir
- Nearest town
- Rushford
- Shore access
- Yes
- Boat ramp
- Yes
Two public fishing spots sit on the north shore. Balcom Beach has shore access and an improved trailer launch, reached from Route 243 via Balcom Beach Road to Old State Road. The second is the picnic area on the north side of Caneadea Dam, where Lake Road (formerly Dam Road) ends.
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.
About Rushford Lake
The lake is drawn down 40 feet each winter. (en.wikipedia.org, accessed September 22, 2026)
Drafted by AI from the cited sources and checked before publishing.
Nearest lakes
Common questions
What fish are at Rushford Lake?
Fishing Rushford Lake usually means Brown Trout: Brown Trout accounts for 16 of 32 plants on record, ahead of Rainbow Trout and one more. Brown Trout was last stocked May 2025, averaging 8.6 in. Rainbow Trout was last stocked May 2025, averaging 9.4 in. Brook Trout was last stocked June 2021, averaging 3.7 in. Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Yellow Perch, and Rock Bass, plus 7 more are recorded here outside the stocking reports.
When is Rushford Lake stocked?
Last stocked May 2025. It is stocked about 2.1 times a year since 2011, most often in April and May.
How big are the fish stocked at Rushford Lake?
Stocked fish average 8.8 in. Brown Trout average 8.6 in. Rainbow Trout average 9.4 in. Brook Trout average 3.7 in.
How do you get on Rushford Lake?
Shore fishing is available and there is a boat ramp. The nearest town is Rushford. Two public fishing spots sit on the north shore. Balcom Beach has shore access and an improved trailer launch, reached from Route 243 via Balcom Beach Road to Old State Road. The second is the picnic area on the north side of Caneadea Dam, where Lake Road (formerly Dam Road) ends.
Which lakes near Rushford Lake were stocked more recently?
Allen Lake (6.4 mi), East Koy Creek (10.4 mi), and Ischua Creek (17.7 mi) were stocked more recently. Allen Lake is also stocked with Brook Trout, Brown Trout, and Rainbow Trout, East Koy Creek is also stocked with Brown Trout, and Ischua Creek is also stocked with Brook Trout, Brown Trout, and Rainbow Trout.