Saratoga County, NY Fishing: Awesome Fishing Opportunities in Upstate New York

Located in the eastern region of New York State, Saratoga County is one of the fastest-growing counties in the country. It is known for its thriving tech industry as part of the state’s ever-growing Tech Valley region and for its unparalleled quality of life, both of which may have contributed to its population growth in the last 10 years. But apart from its advanced industries, the county is very much in touch with its natural side. It has an enviable location, bordered by the Hudson River on the east and the Mohawk River on the south while sitting at the Adirondacks foothills. 

Saratoga County has always been important in the region, even before its formation in 1791. Before the western settlers came in, the region was an important hunting and fishing ground for prehistoric Native Americans. They named the region sah-rah-ka or sarach-togue, which means “the hill beside the river” or “place of the swift river”, referring to the area of the Hudson River that borders the county on the east. In the American Revolution in 1777, Saratoga County was the site of the Battle of Saratoga, now considered one of the major turning points that eventually led to the end of the revolution.

Today, Saratoga County remains an important part of the northeastern United States. As a tech and manufacturing region, it holds its mettle against California’s Silicon Valley, especially as many tech giants have begun to move their headquarters in the region. Many people have also chosen to settle in the county because of the opportunities it presents — both for their professional lives and recreational interests, promoting a standard of living that’s healthier and well-balanced.

As a tourist destination, Saratoga County is at the top of its game. As the home of one of the oldest horse racing venues in the country, Saratoga County is a top destination for people who are just as obsessed with horses as the county is. But apart from that, the county is a nature lover's wonderland, with many hiking and fishing trails, spectacular natural vistas at every turn, and the fishing! The county has not lost its pre-historic charm as it remains a prime fishing ground both for the recreational fisherman and the competitive angler.  

Saratoga County Fishing

Saratoga County has 13 towns and cities, many of which offer fantastic fishing grounds both for anglers seeking to break their records and for newbie fishers looking to practice a variety of fishing techniques. The county offers great access points to many of them, making the fishing experience as welcoming to residents and tourists alike.

As the county offers quite many great fishing spots, perhaps the best place to start is with its eponymous lake. Saratoga Lake is considered one of the top fisheries in the state. Annually stocked with about 8,600,000 walleyes, the lake is also home to other prime catch such as northern pike, yellow perch, brown bullhead, chain pickerel, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, redbreast sunfish, black crappie, rock bass, bluegill, and pumpkinseed. Bass, in particular, grow quite large in this body of water, with many anglers reporting catch of up to 21 inches regularly found in the lake. It’s important to note that most of the lake shoreline is privately owned, so anglers looking to fish the lake are best off fishing from a boat or at the Saratoga Lake State Boat Launch. There’s an 8 USD fee to park at the boat launch, but there is also another boat launch off Route 9P that’s free for public use. Fishermen targeting northern pike should fish on the weed beds right at the edge, while bass anglers will do well on the rocky shorelines.

Kayaderosseras Creek, fondly called Kaydeross by some locals, is another productive fishing spot in the region. This body of water itself feeds Saratoga Lake and is the biggest river that’s completely within the boundaries of Saratoga County. It is known for its trout fishing, particularly for its stocked brown trout, rainbow trout, and brook trout. In terms of fishing, it is divided into four sections: South Corinth, Porter Corners, Rock City Falls, and Milton Center-Ballston Spa.

In the town of Malta, anglers targeting largemouth bass will have a blast fishing in Lake Lonely. Largemouth bass in this body of water tend to be abundant in number and in good size and condition. Likewise, fishing for sunfish and northern pike can be quite productive here. Other fish species to be found in the 136-acre lake are smallmouth bass, chain pickerel, black crappie, pumpkinseed, and bluegill.

South of Malta, anglers can fish Round Lake in the town of the same name. It is relatively shallow and offers warm water fishery, attracting species such as largemouth bass, northern pike, black crappie, yellow perch, and brown bullhead. Anglers can access it via its shoreline. There’s a hard surface ramp for anglers launching trailered boats and a distinct boat launch for canoe and kayak fishers.

Another warm water fishery that you can fish from the pier is Ballston Lake in the town of Ballston. The lake also has a small boat launch in the northern part of the lake. Bigger boats can launch off the seasonal boat launch at Villago Pizzeria & Ristorante for a fee. It is a topnotch spot for largemouth bass, particularly in the weed beds, docks, and stumps around the shore. Other species anglers can find include a variety of panfish.

Surrounded by forests and rocky ridges, Moreau Lake flows within beautiful Moreau Lake State Park. While the state park is primarily known for its year-round hiking trails, it’s also a great fishing destination. At the northern edge of the lake, there’s a shallow and weedy part of the water that attracts plenty of chain pickerel and largemouth bass. Some of the best trails for fishing in the state park are the Lake Bonita Loop and the Mud Pond Loop. Both trails are best explored from March to November.

If you’re a competitive angler looking to break some records, then Great Sacandaga Lake should be on your list. The country record for the largest northern pike (at 46 lbs and 2 oz) was caught in this great lake in the 1940s. Today, it is still a prime fishing spot for northern pike along with stocked rainbow trout and walleye, as well as largemouth and smallmouth bass, yellow perch, rock bass, and brown bullhead. It is easily accessible as well, with four boat launches around the county: off Route 30 in Northville, there’s the Northville Boat Launch; on North Shore Road, you will find the Town of Day Boat Launch; at Mayfield, there’s the Northampton Beach Campground and Day Use Area boat launch; and lastly, Broadalbin has the Broadalbin Boat Launch site off Route 110.

If you’d like to fish solely from the shore, the Clifton Park area is your best friend. The best shore fishing spots here include Barney Road Pond, Dwaas Kill Nature Preserve, Crescent Park, and Vischer Ferry Lock 7 Dam. 

Fly fishing is one of the most popular fishing techniques in this part of New York State. Ice-fishing in the region, though, must not be dismissed. Many of its prime fishing waters are open to ice fishing, with many bodies of water remaining frozen late into the season.  

Top 10 Fish Species in Saratoga County, NY

The top 10 fish species in Saratoga County, NY include largemouth bass, northern pike, yellow perch, brown trout, rainbow trout, walleye, brown bullhead, sunfish, rock bass, and chain pickerel.

Seasonal Fishing

Fly fishing season for trout starts in April but the great fishing starts in earnest around May and will last until June, coming back around at the beginning of fall when the temperature starts to drop. At the height of summer, bass is the name of the game in Saratoga County. Ice fishing can start early in some parts of the county, with many lakes and streams freezing over quite early — though of course, it is the angler’s responsibility to make sure the ice is thick enough for safe ice fishing. Different bodies of water can hold different species during this time. Great Sacandaga Lake, Lake Lonely, and Saratoga are best for anglers targeting walleye, northern pike, and yellow perch, while those looking for the rare tiger muskellunge will find success in Round Lake. 

Get to Know What Makes Saratoga County Tick

Saratoga County is one of the fastest-growing regions in Upstate New York and for good reason. It’s a beautiful county that has plenty of interesting recreational facilities for residents and tourists alike.

1. Book a Fishing Charter

First time fishing in Saratoga County? Book a local guide who can take you to the most productive bodies of water and who can help you catch your target game fish.

2. Horse Around in Saratoga Springs

Horses are a source of great pride here in Saratoga. Here you will find one of the oldest horse race tracks in the country, the Saratoga Race Course, which attracts crowds during its opening and closing days from July to September. Watching a race here is one of the best ways to get to know the heart of the county.

Want to get even closer to horses? Try horseback riding at one of the farms and ranches in the county. There are plenty of places that offer guided horseback riding on the region’s trails and farms where you can get horseback riding lessons.

3. Experience Entertainment, Saratoga-Style

Arts and culture are important to Saratoga as well. There are several ways to find entertainment in the county. One of the best is seeing a show at the Saratoga Performing Arts Center, a hub for the most prestigious cultural events in Upstate New York located within the Saratoga Spa State Park. It hosts many equally prestigious companies including the Opera Saratoga, Philadelphia Orchestra, and New York City Ballet. 

Film lovers, on the other hand, will enjoy catching a drive-in movie in the town of Malta, at the Malta Drive-In Theater. This historic drive-in spot, one of the county’s well-loved destinations, has been around since the 1940s and hosts screenings from April to October.