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Lake Trout
Photo: Knepp Timothy, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Public domain 
Black Crappie
Photo: USFWS Mountain-Prairie, Public domain 
Pumpkinseed
Photo: Tommy Andriollo, CC BY 4.0 
American Eel
Photo: hug_78, CC BY 2.0
New York lakes and reservoirs
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Hoel Pond Fishing
A 462-acre New York pond in Franklin County.
Pick for lake troutPiscifun Carbon X ultralight spinning reel28% OFFSale $57.99 Photo of Lower Saranac Lake: Mwanner, CC BY-SA 3.0
Franklin County
A first visit to Hoel Pond
Measured from its NHD outline, Hoel Pond covers roughly 462 acres of Franklin County. The DEC record gives DEC as owner. About 8 miles separates the water from Paul Smiths. Fisheries staff for Eastern Adirondacks and Lake Champlain look after it.
The DEC species column lists lake trout, atlantic salmon, smallmouth bass, largemouth bass and yellow perch. The access data show 1 mapped launch. Launch type, per DEC: hand launch. The DEC lists record 15 stocking years since 2011.
462acres
1launches
5species on file
15years stocked
NYS Hydrography (NHD) outline, DEC Recommended Fishing Lakes and Ponds, Census places, retrieved October 24, 2026.
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Species DEC records at Hoel Pond
This fish list for Hoel Pond 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 Hoel Pond
- Saranac Lakes Wild Forest Launch on Hoel Pondhand launch, parking: 10 spaces (dec park field); managed by DEC
Ramps in the neighborhood of Hoel Pond
- Public Launch on Polywog PondPolywog Pond, 1 mile south
- Saranac Lakes Wild Forest Launch on Floodwood PondFloodwood Pond, 3 miles southwest
- Saranac Lakes Wild Forest Launch on Follensby Clear Pond NorthFollensby Clear Pond North, 3 miles southeast
- Fish Creek Pond Campground & Day Use AreaFish Creek Pond, 3 miles south
- Saranac Lakes Wild Forest Launch on Little Green PondLittle Green Pond, 3 miles east
- Saranac Lakes Wild Forest Launch on Little Clear PondLittle Clear Pond, 3 miles east
DEC boat launch and fishing access layers, retrieved October 24, 2026.
Limits
The take-home rules for Hoel Pond
| 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 Hoel Pond.
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.
Stocking
Latest stocking years at Hoel Pond
From 2023 through 2025, DEC logged 6 releases into Hoel Pond, with landlocked salmon the main fish.
| Year | Species | Type | Entries | Fish | Size |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Lake Trout | stocked | 1 | 950 | 6 in |
| 2025 | Landlocked Salmon | stocked | 1 | 520 | 6.45 in |
| 2024 | Landlocked Salmon | stocked | 2 | 4,500 | 1.5 in, 7 in |
| 2024 | Lake Trout | stocked | 1 | 780 | 7 in |
| 2023 | Landlocked Salmon | stocked | 1 | 450 | 6.5 in |
DEC Fish Stocking Lists (Actual), 2023 to 2025, and DEC Current Season Spring Trout Stocking, 2026 (data.ny.gov), retrieved October 24, 2026. New York stocking.
Compare
Hoel Pond and the lakes that ring it
| Lake | Distance | Acres | Launches | DEC species | Stocked 2023-26 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hoel Pond | 462 | 1 | 5 | yes | |
| Polliwog Pond | 1 mile south | 214 | 1 | 1 | yes |
| Green Pond, Franklin County | 1 mile southeast | 65 | 0 | 1 | yes |
| Follensby Clear Pond | 2 miles south | 495 | 1 | 5 | yes |
| Horseshoe Pond | 2 miles south | 88 | 0 | 2 | yes |
| Rat Pond | 2 miles east | 34 | 0 | 1 | yes |
NYS Hydrography, DEC launch layers, DEC lake list and stocking lists, retrieved October 24, 2026.
Nearby
Nearby to Hoel Pond, by distance
More lakes a short drive from Hoel Pond
- Polliwog Pond1 mile south
- Green Pond, Franklin County1 mile southeast
- Follensby Clear Pond2 miles south
- Horseshoe Pond2 miles south
- Rat Pond2 miles east
Tackle sellers serving Hoel Pond
- Saranac Lake Boat Launchmarina, Franklin, 2 miles
- Raquette River Boat Launch aka The Crushermarina, Franklin, 8 miles
- Lower Saranac Lake Boat Launchmarina, Franklin, 10 miles
- Lake Flower Boat Launchmarina, Essex, 12 miles
- Fogarty's Lake Flower Marinamarina, Essex, 12 miles
- Mountain Mist Boat Dockmarina, Essex, 12 miles
A day with a guide on Hoel Pond
- Battle Fish Charters LLCcharter, Saranac Lake
Home bases for trips to Hoel Pond
- Tupper Lake10 miles
- Saranac Lake11 miles
- Lake Placid19 miles
Hoel Pond across county lines
- Franklin Countycounty seat Malone
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Piscifun kit that suits Hoel Pond water
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Fish ID
The fish of Hoel Pond, pictured one by one
Photo: Knepp Timothy, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Public domain
Photo: USFWS Mountain-Prairie, Public domain
_(53084649608).jpg){kind=link}
Photo: Tommy Andriollo, CC BY 4.0
Photo: hug_78, CC BY 2.0
Answers
What gets asked about Hoel Pond
How far is Hoel Pond from the nearest New York town?
It lies in Franklin County, DEC Eastern Adirondacks and Lake Champlain, about 8 miles from Paul Smiths.
What acreage is Hoel Pond?
Close to 462 acres by state hydrography.
Where do I put a boat in at Hoel Pond?
Start at Saranac Lakes Wild Forest Launch on Hoel Pond, one of 1 mapped launch.
What might bend the rod at Hoel Pond?
Records show lake trout, atlantic salmon, smallmouth bass, largemouth bass and yellow perch.
Which minimum sizes does DEC set at Hoel Pond?
Largemouth and smallmouth bass (Jun 15 to Nov 30): 5; minimum 12"; Jun 15 – Nov 30.
Does Hoel Pond need a trout stamp?
Trout and salmon need no stamp in New York; the DEC freshwater license ($25.00 resident, $50.00 nonresident, $5.00 for residents 70 and older) covers them.
How often is Hoel Pond stocked?
DEC lists 6 stockings, the latest in 2025.
Where is bait sold on the drive to Hoel Pond?
Nearest on our list: Saranac Lake Boat Launch, 2 miles.
Put Hoel Pond on the New York trip list
Get the DEC license squared away online first.