Skaneateles Lake fishing

Fishing at Skaneateles Lake has Rainbow Trout, Atlantic Salmon, Lake Trout, Smallmouth Bass, Largemouth Bass, and Walleye, and 9 more on the stocking report. 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 and Crappie.

Last stocked

May 1, 2025

Plants on record

58

Since 2011

Species recorded

2

Average size

6.8 in

Elevation

862 ft

Access and facts

Nearest town
Skaneateles
Boat ramp
Yes
ADA accessible
Yes

DEC-listed public hard surface launch on Skaneateles Lake in Skaneateles. Parking for 24 cars and trailers.

Sources: access , shore_notes , nearest_town , speciesFound , fishing_notes , watch_outs

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How Skaneateles Lake is stocked

The first plant of the year usually falls in the first week of April. In 2025 it was May 1, 2025, later than usual.

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 at Skaneateles Lake

Fishing Skaneateles Lake is most likely to be for Rainbow Trout. Rainbow Trout accounts for 39 of 58 plants on record, ahead of Atlantic Salmon.

Rainbow Trout 39 plants
Plants
39 of 58
Last stocked
May 1, 2025
Average length
6.6 in

Seasons and rigs are on the Rainbow Trout guide.

Atlantic Salmon 19 plants
Plants
19 of 58
Last stocked
May 1, 2025
Average length
7.1 in

Seasons and rigs are on the Atlantic Salmon guide.

Fishing Skaneateles Lake

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.

Sources: dec.ny.gov

What to watch for

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.

Fish stocked per year

  • 49,6002011
  • 43,7102012
  • 29,0002013
  • 44,0502014
  • 51,0002015
  • 32,2502016
  • 29,0002017
  • 25,0002018
  • 25,5502019
  • 29,0002020
  • 30,4502021
  • 24,2302022
  • 26,0302023
  • 27,0002024
  • 24,2802025

Stocking history

Showing 15 of 58 plants Showing 58 plants

Source: New York State Department of Environmental Conservation.
Date Species Quantity Avg. length Source
May 1, 2025 Rainbow Trout 15,000 8.7 in report
May 1, 2025 Atlantic Salmon 9,280 6.75 in report
October 1, 2024 Rainbow Trout 3,000 4.3 in report
May 1, 2024 Atlantic Salmon 9,000 7.4 in report
April 1, 2024 Rainbow Trout 15,000 8.5 in report
October 1, 2023 Rainbow Trout 3,000 3.6 in report
May 1, 2023 Atlantic Salmon 8,030 7.5 in report
April 1, 2023 Rainbow Trout 15,000 8.5 in report
October 1, 2022 Rainbow Trout 770 4 in report
May 1, 2022 Atlantic Salmon 8,460 6.5 in report
April 1, 2022 Rainbow Trout 15,000 8 in report
October 1, 2021 Rainbow Trout 1,450 4.5 in report
April 1, 2021 Atlantic Salmon 9,000 6.5 in report
April 1, 2021 Rainbow Trout 15,000 8.4 in report
April 1, 2021 Rainbow Trout 5,000 6.3 in report
April 1, 2020 Rainbow Trout 15,000 8.5 in report
April 1, 2020 Rainbow Trout 5,000 6.2 in report
March 1, 2020 Atlantic Salmon 9,000 6.5 in report
May 1, 2019 Atlantic Salmon 1,443 12 in report
May 1, 2019 Atlantic Salmon 1,557 12 in report
May 1, 2019 Atlantic Salmon 2,550 7.4 in report
April 1, 2019 Rainbow Trout 15,000 7.8 in report
April 1, 2019 Rainbow Trout 5,000 6.2 in report
May 1, 2018 Rainbow Trout 12,000 8 in report
May 1, 2018 Rainbow Trout 4,000 6.1 in report
April 1, 2018 Atlantic Salmon 9,000 7 in report
April 1, 2017 Rainbow Trout 15,000 7.8 in report
April 1, 2017 Rainbow Trout 5,000 5.9 in report
April 1, 2017 Atlantic Salmon 9,000 6.7 in report
June 1, 2016 Rainbow Trout 3,250 8.9 in report
April 1, 2016 Rainbow Trout 15,000 7.6 in report
April 1, 2016 Rainbow Trout 5,000 6 in report
April 1, 2016 Atlantic Salmon 9,000 7.1 in report
October 1, 2015 Rainbow Trout 20,000 5.6 in report
June 1, 2015 Atlantic Salmon 2,000 7 in report
May 1, 2015 Rainbow Trout 5,000 6.2 in report
April 1, 2015 Rainbow Trout 15,000 7.9 in report
April 1, 2015 Atlantic Salmon 9,000 7.1 in report
October 1, 2014 Rainbow Trout 14,500 6.4 in report
May 1, 2014 Rainbow Trout 3,000 8.1 in report
May 1, 2014 Rainbow Trout 5,000 5.8 in report
April 1, 2014 Rainbow Trout 12,000 8.1 in report
April 1, 2014 Atlantic Salmon 9,000 6.8 in report
March 1, 2014 Rainbow Trout 550 8.7 in report
May 1, 2013 Atlantic Salmon 9,000 6.6 in report
April 1, 2013 Rainbow Trout 15,000 7.4 in report
April 1, 2013 Rainbow Trout 5,000 6 in report
October 1, 2012 Rainbow Trout 7,210 3.7 in report
June 1, 2012 Atlantic Salmon 9,200 2.7 in report
May 1, 2012 Rainbow Trout 4,800 5.6 in report
May 1, 2012 Atlantic Salmon 9,000 6.6 in report
April 1, 2012 Rainbow Trout 13,500 7.1 in report
December 1, 2011 Rainbow Trout 2,600 6.5 in report
November 1, 2011 Rainbow Trout 9,000 6 in report
October 1, 2011 Rainbow Trout 9,000 3.2 in report
May 1, 2011 Atlantic Salmon 9,000 5.5 in report
April 1, 2011 Rainbow Trout 15,000 7.1 in report
April 1, 2011 Rainbow Trout 5,000 5 in report
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Species found here

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

Species stocked here

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

Nearest lakes