Skaneateles Lake fishing

Skaneateles Lake fishing has Rainbow Trout and Atlantic Salmon on the stocking report. Also recorded: Lake trout, smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, walleye, chain pickerel, cisco, and 7 more. It is stocked about 3.9 times a year since 2011, most often in April and May. Species guides list dawn and dusk for Rainbow Trout, smallmouth bass, and largemouth bass, dawn for Lake trout, and dawn, dusk, and night for walleye, rock bass, and black crappie.

Skaneateles Lake
Photo: John Menard, CC BY-SA 2.0
Last stocked
May 2025
Rainbow Trout
Plants on record
58
Since 2011
Species stocked
2 (+13 also recorded)
Average size
6.8 in
Elevation
862 ft

Fish at Skaneateles Lake

2 stocked · 13 confirmed present

Rainbow Trout Stocked · 39 plants · last May 2025 Best: dawn, dusk

Last stocked May 2025 · avg 6.6 in · 39 plants

Best: dawn, dusk

Rainbow Trout species guide

Skaneateles Lake is the fifth largest of the Finger Lakes, located in Onondaga, Cortland, and Cayuga counties. This lake is one of the cleaner Finger Lakes. Lake run rainbow trout are the main gamefish, and they enter Grout Brook, which is a tributary of Skaneateles Lake at the south end, in the early spring to spawn. (dec.ny.gov, accessed September 22, 2026)

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

How Skaneateles Lake is stocked

Source: New York State Department of Environmental Conservation.

Fall Brook (2.2 mi), Otisco Lake (4 mi), and Dutch Hollow Brook (7.4 mi) were stocked more recently. Dutch Hollow Brook is also stocked with Rainbow Trout.

Fish stocked in 2011

49,600

Fish stocked in 2012

43,710

Fish stocked in 2013

29,000

Fish stocked in 2014

44,050

Fish stocked in 2015

51,000

Fish stocked in 2016

32,250

Fish stocked in 2017

29,000

Fish stocked in 2018

25,000

Fish stocked in 2019

25,550

Fish stocked in 2020

29,000

Fish stocked in 2021

30,450

Fish stocked in 2022

24,230

Fish stocked in 2023

26,030

Fish stocked in 2024

27,000

Fish stocked in 2025

24,280

Stocking history

Source: New York State Department of Environmental Conservation.
Date Species Quantity Avg. length Source
May 2025Rainbow Trout15,0008.7 inreport
May 2025Atlantic Salmon9,2806.75 inreport
October 2024Rainbow Trout3,0004.3 inreport
May 2024Atlantic Salmon9,0007.4 inreport
April 2024Rainbow Trout15,0008.5 inreport
October 2023Rainbow Trout3,0003.6 inreport
May 2023Atlantic Salmon8,0307.5 inreport
April 2023Rainbow Trout15,0008.5 inreport
October 2022Rainbow Trout7704 inreport
May 2022Atlantic Salmon8,4606.5 inreport
April 2022Rainbow Trout15,0008 inreport
October 2021Rainbow Trout1,4504.5 inreport
April 2021Atlantic Salmon9,0006.5 inreport
April 2021Rainbow Trout15,0008.4 inreport
April 2021Rainbow Trout5,0006.3 inreport
April 2020Rainbow Trout15,0008.5 inreport
April 2020Rainbow Trout5,0006.2 inreport
March 2020Atlantic Salmon9,0006.5 inreport
May 2019Atlantic Salmon1,44312 inreport
May 2019Atlantic Salmon1,55712 inreport
May 2019Atlantic Salmon2,5507.4 inreport
April 2019Rainbow Trout15,0007.8 inreport
April 2019Rainbow Trout5,0006.2 inreport
May 2018Rainbow Trout12,0008 inreport
May 2018Rainbow Trout4,0006.1 inreport
April 2018Atlantic Salmon9,0007 inreport
April 2017Rainbow Trout15,0007.8 inreport
April 2017Rainbow Trout5,0005.9 inreport
April 2017Atlantic Salmon9,0006.7 inreport
June 2016Rainbow Trout3,2508.9 inreport
April 2016Rainbow Trout15,0007.6 inreport
April 2016Rainbow Trout5,0006 inreport
April 2016Atlantic Salmon9,0007.1 inreport
October 2015Rainbow Trout20,0005.6 inreport
June 2015Atlantic Salmon2,0007 inreport
May 2015Rainbow Trout5,0006.2 inreport
April 2015Rainbow Trout15,0007.9 inreport
April 2015Atlantic Salmon9,0007.1 inreport
October 2014Rainbow Trout14,5006.4 inreport
May 2014Rainbow Trout3,0008.1 inreport
May 2014Rainbow Trout5,0005.8 inreport
April 2014Rainbow Trout12,0008.1 inreport
April 2014Atlantic Salmon9,0006.8 inreport
March 2014Rainbow Trout5508.7 inreport
May 2013Atlantic Salmon9,0006.6 inreport
April 2013Rainbow Trout15,0007.4 inreport
April 2013Rainbow Trout5,0006 inreport
October 2012Rainbow Trout7,2103.7 inreport
June 2012Atlantic Salmon9,2002.7 inreport
May 2012Rainbow Trout4,8005.6 inreport
May 2012Atlantic Salmon9,0006.6 inreport
April 2012Rainbow Trout13,5007.1 inreport
December 2011Rainbow Trout2,6006.5 inreport
November 2011Rainbow Trout9,0006 inreport
October 2011Rainbow Trout9,0003.2 inreport
May 2011Atlantic Salmon9,0005.5 inreport
April 2011Rainbow Trout15,0007.1 inreport
April 2011Rainbow Trout5,0005 inreport

Access and facts

Nearest town
Skaneateles
Shore access
Yes
Boat ramp
Yes
ADA accessible
Yes
Facilities
restrooms

DEC's launch is on the northwest side of the lake, with trailer parking for about 35 rigs; town launches are at Mandana and Scott. Shore anglers fish from the DEC launch, the Scott launch, the village park and dock at the north end, and DEC's cartop launch at Glen Haven on the south end.

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.

About Skaneateles Lake

Anglers should note that Skaneateles has limited weed growth. However, some weed growth is present at the south end and to a lesser extent at the north end of the lake. (dec.ny.gov, accessed September 22, 2026)

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

Photo of Skaneateles Lake
John Menard, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo of Skaneateles Lake
See1,Do1,Teach1, CC BY 2.0

Nearest lakes

Fall Brook 2.2 mi last stocked November 2025 Bear Swamp Creek 3.1 mi last stocked June 2017 Otisco Lake 4 mi last stocked June 2025 Spafford Creek 6.1 mi last stocked March 2025 Dutch Hollow Brook 7.4 mi last stocked October 2025

Common questions

What fish are at Skaneateles Lake?

Fishing Skaneateles Lake usually means Rainbow Trout: Rainbow Trout accounts for 39 of 58 plants on record, ahead of Atlantic Salmon. Rainbow Trout was last stocked May 2025, averaging 6.6 in. Atlantic Salmon was last stocked May 2025, averaging 7.1 in. Lake trout, smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, and walleye, plus 9 more are recorded here outside the stocking reports.

When is Skaneateles Lake stocked?

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

How big are the fish stocked at Skaneateles Lake?

Stocked fish average 6.8 in. Rainbow Trout average 6.6 in. Atlantic Salmon average 7.1 in.

How do you get on Skaneateles Lake?

Shore fishing is available, there is a boat ramp, and it is ADA accessible. The nearest town is Skaneateles. Facilities include restrooms. DEC's launch is on the northwest side of the lake, with trailer parking for about 35 rigs; town launches are at Mandana and Scott. Shore anglers fish from the DEC launch, the Scott launch, the village park and dock at the north end, and DEC's cartop launch at Glen Haven on the south end.

Which lakes near Skaneateles Lake were stocked more recently?

Fall Brook (2.2 mi), Otisco Lake (4 mi), and Dutch Hollow Brook (7.4 mi) were stocked more recently. Dutch Hollow Brook is also stocked with Rainbow Trout.

Sources (8) +