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Susquehanna River 23 mi
Photo: Andre Carrotflower, CC BY-SA 4.0 
Broome County 32 mi
Photo: PointsofNoReturn, CC BY-SA 4.0 
Cannonsville Reservoir 39 mi
Photo: Vonsky87, CC BY-SA 3.0 
Skaneateles Lake 37 mi
Photo: John Menard, CC BY-SA 2.0
New York lakes and reservoirs
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Balsam Lake Fishing
A 139-acre New York lake in Chenango County.
Pick for smallmouth bassPiscifun Chaos Pro CNC baitcasting reel25% OFFSale $97.99 Photo of Susquehanna River: PointsofNoReturn, CC BY-SA 4.0
Fishing times todaySolunar periods, sunrise and moonrise for the county around Balsam Lake, today and the next 7 days.Best fishing times today
Chenango County
Balsam Lake in brief
NYS Hydrography outlines give Balsam Lake about 139 acres of open water in Chenango County. Stock up in Smithville Flats, roughly 11 miles away. DEC groups it under Central New York.
Boaters can use 1 mapped launch.
139acres
1launches
1shore sites
1counties
NYS Hydrography (NHD) outline, DEC Recommended Fishing Lakes and Ponds, Census places, retrieved October 24, 2026.
Access
DEC launches at Balsam Lake
- Balsam Swamp State Forest Launchhard surface ramp, 8 car-and-trailer spaces; managed by DEC
Angler parking and shore access, Balsam Lake
- Balsam Pond Fishiing Pier, Balsam Swamp State ForestFishing Pier, pier, bank fishing
DEC and local launches near Balsam Lake
- Public Launch on Otselic River near Marathon (north)Otselic River, 10 miles southwest
- Public Launch on Long Pond near Smithville FlatsLong Pond, 10 miles south
- Long Pond State Forest LaunchLong Pond, 10 miles southwest
- Papish Pond Multiple Use AreaPapish Pond, 11 miles west
- Long Pond State Forest Launch on Round PondRound Pond, 11 miles south
- Public Launch on Chenango River near Oxford (west)Chenango River, 11 miles southeast
DEC boat launch and fishing access layers, retrieved October 24, 2026.
Limits
Carrying fish home from Balsam 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 |
Unless a special listing below says otherwise, Balsam Lake follows the statewide freshwater rules.
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.
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Balsam Lake versus the lakes close by
| Lake | Distance | Acres | Launches | DEC species | Stocked 2023-26 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Balsam Lake | 139 | 1 | 0 | ||
| Bowman Lake | 5 miles southeast | 37 | 0 | 5 | yes |
| Long Pond, Chenango County | 10 miles southwest | 111 | 2 | 6 | yes |
| Chenango Lake, Chenango County | 17 miles east | 138 | 0 | 6 | yes |
| Guilford Lake | 17 miles southeast | 76 | 1 | 0 | yes |
| Whitney Point Lake | 17 miles southwest | 1,150 | 1 | 9 |
NYS Hydrography, DEC launch layers, DEC lake list and stocking lists, retrieved October 24, 2026.
Nearby
Places bordering Balsam Lake
Lakes to combine with a Balsam Lake trip
- Bowman Lake5 miles southeast
- Long Pond, Chenango County10 miles southwest
- Chenango Lake, Chenango County17 miles east
- Guilford Lake17 miles southeast
- Whitney Point Lake17 miles southwest
Where to grab bait before Balsam Lake
- Mayhood's Sporting Goods Inc.sporting goods store, Norwich, 12 miles
- Maken Frenz Plus Bait N Tackle Shopbait and tackle shop, Deruyter, 16 miles
- Eaton Reservoir Boat Launchmarina, Madison, 22 miles
- Hilltop Bait Shopbait and tackle shop, Afton, 24 miles
Places to sleep within reach of Balsam Lake
- Oxford12 miles
- Norwich12 miles
- Greene15 miles
County guides sharing Balsam Lake
- Chenango Countycounty seat Norwich
Piscifun
Reels and pliers from Piscifun for Balsam Lake trips
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Photographs
Camera views of lakes and streams around Balsam Lake
Photo: Andre Carrotflower, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: PointsofNoReturn, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Vonsky87, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: John Menard, CC BY-SA 2.0
Answers
Balsam Lake in a handful of answers
Under which DEC region does Balsam Lake fall?
Chenango County, DEC Central New York, about 11 miles from Smithville Flats.
How large does Balsam Lake measure?
Roughly 139 acres.
Is a public launch mapped beside Balsam Lake?
DEC data show 1 mapped launch, such as Balsam Swamp State Forest Launch.
Which species appear on the DEC list for Balsam Lake?
Its fish are not listed.
Which daily limits apply at Balsam Lake?
Largemouth and smallmouth bass (Jun 15 to Nov 30): 5; minimum 12"; Jun 15 – Nov 30.
May an out-of-towner wet a line at Balsam Lake?
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.
Is Balsam Lake on the DEC stocking lists?
It is not on the 2023 to 2026 DEC stocking lists.
Is there a bait store near Balsam Lake?
Mayhood's Sporting Goods Inc. is roughly 12 miles away.
Pencil in a day on Balsam Lake
Read the limits above, then choose a launch.