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Pumpkinseed
Photo: Tommy Andriollo, CC BY 4.0 
Common Carp
Photo: Dezidor, CC BY-SA 3.0 
Lake Trout
Photo: Knepp Timothy, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Public domain 
American Eel
Photo: hug_78, CC BY 2.0
New York lakes and reservoirs
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Burden Lake Fishing
A 370-acre New York lake in Rensselaer County.
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Rensselaer County
A first visit to Burden Lake
Measured from its NHD outline, Burden Lake covers roughly 370 acres of Rensselaer County. The DEC record gives Municipal as owner. About 3 miles separates the water from Averill Park. Fisheries staff for Capital Region and Northern Catskills look after it.
The DEC species column lists smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, pumpkinseed, yellow perch, black crappie and chain pickerel. Launch type, per DEC: hand launch. For hard water, DEC notes ice fishing permitted.
370acres
0launches
7species 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 Burden Lake
This fish list for Burden 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 Burden Lake
No launch on Burden Lake shows in the DEC data, so the closest mapped ones follow.
Ramps in the neighborhood of Burden Lake
- Cherry Plain State ParkBlack River Pond, 8 miles east
- Grafton Lakes State Park on Dunham Reservoir near Poestenkill (south)Dunham Reservoir, 11 miles north
- Grafton Lakes State Park on Dunham Reservoir near Poestenkill (north)Dunham Reservoir, 12 miles northeast
- Grafton Lakes State Park on Mill PondMill Pond, 13 miles northeast
- Grafton Lakes State Park on Shaver PondShaver Pond, 13 miles north
- Grafton Lakes State Park on Second Pond near PoestenkillSecond Pond, 14 miles northeast
DEC boat launch and fishing access layers, retrieved October 24, 2026.
Limits
The take-home rules for Burden 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 Burden 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
Burden Lake and the lakes that ring it
| Lake | Distance | Acres | Launches | DEC species | Stocked 2023-26 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Burden Lake | 370 | 0 | 7 | ||
| Kinderhook Lake | 12 miles southwest | 345 | 0 | 5 | |
| Mill Pond, Rensselaer County | 13 miles northeast | 18 | 1 | 6 | |
| Shaver Pond | 13 miles northeast | 43 | 1 | 4 | yes |
| Second Pond, Rensselaer County | 14 miles northeast | 30 | 2 | 8 | yes |
| Long Pond, Rensselaer County | 14 miles northeast | 119 | 2 | 8 | yes |
NYS Hydrography, DEC launch layers, DEC lake list and stocking lists, retrieved October 24, 2026.
Nearby
Nearby to Burden Lake, by distance
More lakes a short drive from Burden Lake
- Kinderhook Lake12 miles southwest
- Mill Pond, Rensselaer County13 miles northeast
- Shaver Pond13 miles northeast
- Second Pond, Rensselaer County14 miles northeast
- Long Pond, Rensselaer County14 miles northeast
Tackle sellers serving Burden Lake
- C. Springer Welding & Marinamarina, Albany, 10 miles
- Bangla Bazar Halal Grocerysporting goods store, Albany, 11 miles
- Conroy's Baitbait and tackle shop, Albany, 12 miles
- Coeymans Landing Marinamarina, Albany, 15 miles
- Dick's Sporting Goods, Inc., 1 Crossgates Roadsporting goods store, Albany, 16 miles
- Diamond Reef Marinamarina, Saratoga, 17 miles
A day with a guide on Burden Lake
- T Masonfishing guide, Cropseyville
Home bases for trips to Burden Lake
- West Sand Lake3 miles
- Nassau7 miles
- Wynantskill7 miles
Burden Lake across county lines
- Rensselaer Countycounty seat Troy
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Piscifun kit that suits Burden Lake water
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Fish ID
The fish of Burden Lake, pictured one by one
Photo: Tommy Andriollo, CC BY 4.0
Photo: Dezidor, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Knepp Timothy, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Public domain
Photo: hug_78, CC BY 2.0
Answers
What gets asked about Burden Lake
How far is Burden Lake from the nearest New York town?
It lies in Rensselaer County, DEC Capital Region and Northern Catskills, about 3 miles from Averill Park.
What acreage is Burden Lake?
Close to 370 acres by state hydrography.
Where do I put a boat in at Burden Lake?
Not mapped; nearby launches are listed above.
What might bend the rod at Burden Lake?
Records show smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, pumpkinseed, yellow perch, black crappie, chain pickerel and common carp.
Which minimum sizes does DEC set at Burden Lake?
Largemouth and smallmouth bass (Jun 15 to Nov 30): 5; minimum 12"; Jun 15 – Nov 30.
Does Burden 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 Burden Lake stocked?
No DEC stocking is listed for it in 2023 to 2026.
Where is bait sold on the drive to Burden Lake?
Nearest on our list: C. Springer Welding & Marina, 10 miles.
Is ice fishing allowed on Burden Lake?
Ice Fishing Permitted, per DEC.
Put Burden Lake on the New York trip list
Get the DEC license squared away online first.