St. Lawrence County Angler's Guide

Wherever you are in St. Lawrence County, great fishing is only minutes away. From the foothills of the Adirondacks to the St. Lawrence River, the North Country offers fishing opportunities for everyone. Dozens of rivers, lakes, reservoirs, and streams offer peaceful surroundings, a variety of species, strong fish populations, and good public access. Despite the outstanding fishing, though, county waters receive relatively light angling pressure.

St. Lawrence is truly a "county for all seasons" and a "county for all anglers." Consider the possibilities: downrigging for muskies at Massena, ice fishing for yellow perch and northern pike at Chippewa Bay, jigging for walleyes on the Raquette River reservoirs, canoeing for smallmouth bass on the Grasse River, shorefishing for catfish on the Oswegatchie, flyfishing for brown trout on the St. Regis River, small boating for lake trout at Trout Lake and rainbows at Star Lake, trolling for trophy brook trout at Cranberry Lake, jigging for black crappies and casting for largemouth bass at Black Lake, and wilderness hikes for native brook trout.

The majestic St. Lawrence River forms the northern boundary of the county, state, and the U.S., and the scenery alone makes any outing a memorable experience. This powerful flow offers first-rate angling for muskies, walleyes, northern pike, smallmouth bass, and panfish along its entire length.

St. Lawrence River

Black Lake

The largest of the Indian River lakes, Black Lake has a 20 mile length and 60 miles of shoreline. A fisheries biologist once referred to the lake as a "fish factory." Indeed, this water does hold incredible populations of gamefish and panfish. A number of national publications have rated Black Lake among the ten best bass waters in the country. The lake's Crappie Marathons and outstanding ice fishing also contribute to its fine reputation.

Oswegatchie River

Meandering through St. Lawrence County from Newton Falls to Ogdensburg where it empties into the St. Lawrence River, the Oswegatchie River offers anglers 100 miles of fishable water. Nearly 40 public access sites dot the river. Good fishing exists for shore anglers, waders, and boaters who use canoes, car-top boats, or small trailered boats. Available species include smallmouth bass, walleye, northern pike, catfish, some largemouth bass, and the occasional muskie.
The headwaters of the Oswegatchie River above High Falls might be the county's best spot for fishing native brook trout in a remote setting. Accessible by a 13.5 mile canoe trip from Inlet and a portage around High falls, this stretch of river teems with native brookies albeit small ones.

Grasse River

The Grasse River for the most part, receives light angling pressure. Smallmouth bass, walleyes, and panfish can be found throughout most of the middle and lower stretches of the Grasse. Some sections hold northern pike and even muskies.

Plumb Brook

The Grasse River and Plumb brook rate highly for brown trout. Annual stockings of browns include nearly 700 in the South Branch of the Grasse in the Town of Clare, over 2,000 in the Grasse River in the Town of Russell, and over 4,000 in Plumb Brook in the Town of Russell.

Raquette River & Reservoirs

From the mouth of the River to the dam at Colton Flow, the Raquette is typical of other small rivers that flow through the county. Access is available at numerous points, fishing pressure is light, and gamefish range from crappies to muskie on the lower sections to trout in the upper regions.
The construction of hydroelectric dams on the Raquette River created a series of eight reservoirs called the Upper Impoundments. Carry Falls, Stark Falls, Blake Falls, Rainbow Falls, South Colton, Higley Flow, and Colton Flow reservoirs comprise this 30 mile stretch of river.

Lake Ozonia - St. Regis River

Special regulations allow year round fishing at this popular lake which receives annual DEC stockings of rainbow trout and splake numbering 5,000. In recent years, Lake Ozonia has also been stocked with lake trout, landlocked salmon, and brown trout. The browns are two year old trout measuring 15 inches. The high numbers of trout here overshadow the outstanding yellow perch fishing that exists.

The St. Regis River ranks among the county's most popular trout streams. Special regulations allow year round fishing on the St. Regis between Fort Jackson and Mill Street in the town of Hopkinton

Moon Lake - Wolf Lake

The 4,316 acre Wolf Lake State Forest by Trout Lake offers a unique opportunity for anglers who are willing to carry a canoe along a wooded trail to Wolf and Moon Lakes. Largemouth bass are found in these backwoods ponds that see few visitors.

Trout Lake - Sylvia Lake

Trout Lake has a reputation for offering quality rainbow trout and lake trout fishing.

Sylvia Lake resembles Trout Lake in several ways. Both are deep water lakes, both hold populations of rainbows and lakers, and both see early ice out because of low elevation.

Cranberry Lake
Five Ponds Wilderness Area
Star Lake

Anglers will find three types of fishing at Cranberry Lake: open water fishing on the lake itself, stream fishing at the Oswegatchie River outlet, and in the Five Ponds Wilderness Area where brook trout lurk in the backwoods ponds.

Star Lake is stocked with rainbow, brown and lake trout with canoe access by a short carry.

Massawepie Area

Massawepie Lake, Long Pond, Deer Pond, The Town Line Pond, and Pine Pond offer Adirondack trout fishing opportunities. Except for Pine Pond which requires a paddle across the lower end of Massawepie Lake, the waters have roadside access. In 1992, Canton angler Rick Mace set the New York State brook trout record by landing a 21 inch, 4 pound 13 ounce brookie at Deer Pond.

These are but a few of the many areas accessible to the public. There are far too many good spots to list. Share the St. Lawrence River with ocean going vessels, canoe lonely sections of the small rivers, or hike to remote ponds and brooks. Whether it's a trophy or a barrel of fish you're after, you can find it here.