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Pumpkinseed
Photo: Tommy Andriollo, CC BY 4.0 
Lake Trout
Photo: Knepp Timothy, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Public domain 
Black Crappie
Photo: USFWS Mountain-Prairie, Public domain 
American Eel
Photo: hug_78, CC BY 2.0
New York lakes and reservoirs
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Ballston Lake Fishing
A 269-acre New York lake in Saratoga County.
Pick for largemouth bassPiscifun Chaos Pro CNC baitcasting reel25% OFFSale $97.99 Photo of Saratoga Lake: Tyler A. McNeil, CC BY-SA 4.0
Saratoga County
A first visit to Ballston Lake
Measured from its NHD outline, Ballston Lake covers roughly 269 acres of Saratoga County. The DEC record gives Municipal as owner. About 3 miles separates the water from Country Knolls. Fisheries staff for Eastern Adirondacks and Lake Champlain look after it.
The DEC species column lists largemouth bass and pumpkinseed. The access data show 1 mapped launch. Launch type, per DEC: hand launch. For hard water, DEC notes ice fishing permitted.
269acres
1launches
2species on file
1counties
NYS Hydrography (NHD) outline, DEC Recommended Fishing Lakes and Ponds, Census places, retrieved October 24, 2026.
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Species DEC records at Ballston Lake
This fish list for Ballston Lake draws on DEC listings and stocking files, not a netting survey.
DEC Recommended Fishing Lakes and Ponds species column, DEC stocking lists and state records, retrieved October 24, 2026.
Access
Launch ramps serving Ballston Lake
- Public Launch on Ballston Lakehand launch, parking: 20 spaces (dec park field); managed by Municipal
Ramps in the neighborhood of Ballston Lake
- Aqueduct ParkMohawk River/Barge Canal, 6 miles south
- Mohawk Landing Nature PreserveMohawk River, 8 miles south
- Lock 7 ParkMohawk River/Barge Canal, 9 miles south
- Public Launch on Hudson River near Mechanicville (north)Hudson River, 9 miles east
- Gateway Landing ParkMohawk River/Barge Canal, 9 miles southwest
- Rotterdam Kiwanis ParkMohawk River/Barge Canal, 10 miles southwest
DEC boat launch and fishing access layers, retrieved October 24, 2026.
Limits
The take-home rules for Ballston Lake
| Species | Daily limit and size | Season |
|---|---|---|
| Lake trout | 3; minimum 21" | Apr 1 – Oct 15 |
| Largemouth and smallmouth bass (Jun 15 to Nov 30) | 5; minimum 12" | Jun 15 – Nov 30 |
| Largemouth and smallmouth bass (Dec 1 to Jun 14) | No harvest; Catch and release only | Dec 1 – Jun 14 |
| Muskellunge | 1; minimum 40" | Jun 1 – Nov 30 |
| Tiger muskellunge | 1; minimum 30" | May 1 – Mar 15 |
| Northern pike | 5; minimum 18" | May 1 – Mar 15 |
| Chain pickerel | 5; minimum 15" | May 1 – Mar 15 |
| Walleye | 5; minimum 15" | May 1 – Mar 15 |
| Black and white crappie | 25; minimum 10" | All year |
| Yellow perch | 50 | All year |
| Sunfish | 25 | All year |
| American eel | 25; minimum 9" | All year |
Statewide seasons and sizes set the baseline at Ballston Lake.
2026 DEC freshwater fishing regulations (statewide table effective April 1, 2026); county special regulations from the DEC region pages; retrieved October 24, 2026, figures checked against the DEC pages October 25, 2026.
Compare
Ballston Lake and the lakes that ring it
| Lake | Distance | Acres | Launches | DEC species | Stocked 2023-26 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ballston Lake | 269 | 1 | 2 | ||
| Round Lake near Round Lake, Saratoga County | 4 miles east | 356 | 0 | 6 | |
| Saratoga Lake | 8 miles northeast | 3,772 | 1 | 8 | yes |
| Collins Lake | 9 miles southwest | 60 | 0 | 6 | |
| Mariaville Lake | 16 miles southwest | 130 | 0 | 7 | |
| Tomhannock Reservoir | 17 miles east | 1,709 | 0 | 8 |
NYS Hydrography, DEC launch layers, DEC lake list and stocking lists, retrieved October 24, 2026.
Nearby
Nearby to Ballston Lake, by distance
More lakes a short drive from Ballston Lake
- Round Lake near Round Lake, Saratoga County4 miles east
- Saratoga Lake8 miles northeast
- Collins Lake9 miles southwest
- Mariaville Lake16 miles southwest
- Tomhannock Reservoir17 miles east
Tackle sellers serving Ballston Lake
- Mohawk Valley Marinemarina, Schenectady, 6 miles
- Bass Pro CL Parksporting goods store, Clifton Park, 7 miles
- Water's Edge Marinamarina, Schenectady, 8 miles
- Mohawk Harbor Marinamarina, Schenectady, 8 miles
- Arrowhead Marina and RV Parkmarina, Schenectady, 10 miles
- Albany Marine Servicesmarina, Albany, 10 miles
A day with a guide on Ballston Lake
- Justy-Joe Charterscharter, Wilton
- The Backwater Guide Servicefishing guide, Schuylerville
- White Dog Trail Companyfishing guide, Clifton Park
Home bases for trips to Ballston Lake
- Country Knolls3 miles
- Ballston Spa5 miles
- East Glenville6 miles
Ballston Lake across county lines
- Saratoga Countycounty seat Ballston Spa
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Fish ID
The fish of Ballston Lake, pictured one by one
Photo: Tommy Andriollo, CC BY 4.0
Photo: Knepp Timothy, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Public domain
Photo: USFWS Mountain-Prairie, Public domain
_(53084649608).jpg){kind=link}
Photo: hug_78, CC BY 2.0
Answers
What gets asked about Ballston Lake
How far is Ballston Lake from the nearest New York town?
It lies in Saratoga County, DEC Eastern Adirondacks and Lake Champlain, about 3 miles from Country Knolls.
What acreage is Ballston Lake?
Close to 269 acres by state hydrography.
Where do I put a boat in at Ballston Lake?
Start at Public Launch on Ballston Lake, one of 1 mapped launch.
What might bend the rod at Ballston Lake?
Records show largemouth bass and pumpkinseed.
Which minimum sizes does DEC set at Ballston Lake?
Largemouth and smallmouth bass (Jun 15 to Nov 30): 5; minimum 12"; Jun 15 – Nov 30.
Does Ballston Lake need a trout stamp?
Anglers 16 and older need a DEC freshwater fishing license: $25.00 a year for residents, $50.00 for nonresidents, $5.00 for residents 70 and older, with 1-day and 7-day options.
How often is Ballston Lake stocked?
No DEC stocking is listed for it in 2023 to 2026.
Where is bait sold on the drive to Ballston Lake?
Nearest on our list: Mohawk Valley Marine, 6 miles.
Is ice fishing allowed on Ballston Lake?
Ice Fishing Permitted, per DEC.
Put Ballston Lake on the New York trip list
Get the DEC license squared away online first.