Lake Colby Fishing
A 310-acre New York lake in Franklin County.
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A first visit to Lake Colby
Measured from its NHD outline, Lake Colby covers roughly 310 acres of Franklin County. The DEC record gives DEC as owner. About 2 miles separates the water from Saranac Lake. Fisheries staff for Eastern Adirondacks and Lake Champlain look after it.
The DEC species column lists brown trout, rainbow trout, atlantic salmon, smallmouth bass, largemouth bass and pumpkinseed. Launch type, per DEC: hand launch. For hard water, DEC notes ice fishing permitted. The DEC lists record 15 stocking years since 2011.
NYS Hydrography (NHD) outline, DEC Recommended Fishing Lakes and Ponds, Census places, retrieved October 24, 2026.
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This fish list for Lake Colby 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.
Launch ramps serving Lake Colby
No launch on Lake Colby shows in the DEC data, so the closest mapped ones follow.
Ramps in the neighborhood of Lake Colby
- Public Launch on Moose PondMoose Pond, 5 miles northeast
- Saranac Lakes Wild Forest Launch on Little Clear PondLittle Clear Pond, 7 miles west
- Saranac Lakes Wild Forest Launch on Little Green PondLittle Green Pond, 7 miles west
- Public Launch on Jones PondJones Pond, 8 miles north
- Public Launch on Osgood PondOsgood Pond, 8 miles northwest
- Public Launch on Rainbow LakeRainbow Lake, 8 miles north
DEC boat launch and fishing access layers, retrieved October 24, 2026.
The take-home rules for Lake Colby
| 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 Lake Colby.
Local rules for Lake Colby
| Species | Daily limit and size | Season | Listed under |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ice fishing | see DEC rules | open all year | Franklin County |
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.
Latest stocking years at Lake Colby
From 2023 through 2026, DEC logged 16 releases into Lake Colby, with brown trout the main fish.
| Year | Species | Type | Entries | Fish | Size |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Rainbow Trout | planned spring 2026 | 1 | 3,540 | 8 inches |
| 2026 | Brown Trout | planned spring 2026 | 1 | 3,060 | 8 inches |
| 2025 | Brown Trout | stocked | 2 | 5,050 | 8 in, 9.1 in |
| 2025 | Rainbow Trout | stocked | 1 | 3,570 | 9 in |
| 2025 | Landlocked Salmon | stocked | 2 | 67 | 11.5 in, 25.5 in |
| 2024 | Rainbow Trout | stocked | 1 | 3,570 | 9 in |
| 2024 | Brown Trout | stocked | 1 | 3,090 | 9 in |
| 2024 | Landlocked Salmon | stocked | 2 | 177 | 18 in, 26 in |
| 2023 | Rainbow Trout | stocked | 1 | 3,400 | 8.5 in |
| 2023 | Brown Trout | stocked | 1 | 2,890 | 0.7 in |
| 2023 | Landlocked Salmon | stocked | 3 | 99 | 23 in, 23.6 in, 24.4 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.
Lake Colby and the lakes that ring it
| Lake | Distance | Acres | Launches | DEC species | Stocked 2023-26 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lake Colby | 310 | 0 | 7 | yes | |
| Lake Flower | 3 miles southeast | 324 | 0 | 4 | |
| Lower Saranac Lake | 3 miles southwest | 2,151 | 0 | 4 | |
| Oseetah Lake | 4 miles south | 756 | 0 | 4 | |
| Moose Pond near Saranac Lake, Essex County | 5 miles northeast | 163 | 1 | 5 | yes |
| Lake Clear | 5 miles west | 1,108 | 0 | 5 | yes |
NYS Hydrography, DEC launch layers, DEC lake list and stocking lists, retrieved October 24, 2026.
Nearby to Lake Colby, by distance
More lakes a short drive from Lake Colby
- Lake Flower3 miles southeast
- Lower Saranac Lake3 miles southwest
- Oseetah Lake4 miles south
- Moose Pond near Saranac Lake, Essex County5 miles northeast
- Lake Clear5 miles west
Tackle sellers serving Lake Colby
- Lower Saranac Lake Boat Launchmarina, Franklin, 1 mile
- Lake Flower Boat Launchmarina, Essex, 2 miles
- Fogarty's Lake Flower Marinamarina, Essex, 2 miles
- Mountain Mist Boat Dockmarina, Essex, 2 miles
- Swiss Marine Incmarina, Saranac Lake, 3 miles
- Wiley's Fliesbait and tackle shop, Saranac Lake, 5 miles
A day with a guide on Lake Colby
- Battle Fish Charters LLCcharter, Saranac Lake
Home bases for trips to Lake Colby
- Saranac Lake2 miles
- Lake Placid9 miles
- Tupper Lake17 miles
Lake Colby across county lines
- Franklin Countycounty seat Malone
Piscifun kit that suits Lake Colby water
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The fish of Lake Colby, pictured one by one
Photo: Thesupermat, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Tommy Andriollo, CC BY 4.0
Photo: Knepp Timothy, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Public domain
Photo: hug_78, CC BY 2.0
What gets asked about Lake Colby
How far is Lake Colby from the nearest New York town?
It lies in Franklin County, DEC Eastern Adirondacks and Lake Champlain, about 2 miles from Saranac Lake.
What acreage is Lake Colby?
Close to 310 acres by state hydrography.
Where do I put a boat in at Lake Colby?
Not mapped; nearby launches are listed above.
What might bend the rod at Lake Colby?
Records show brown trout, rainbow trout, atlantic salmon, smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, pumpkinseed and yellow perch.
Which minimum sizes does DEC set at Lake Colby?
Largemouth and smallmouth bass (Jun 15 to Nov 30): 5; minimum 12"; Jun 15 – Nov 30. County special regulations name it as well; see the table above.
Does Lake Colby 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 Lake Colby stocked?
DEC lists 16 stockings, the latest in 2026.
Where is bait sold on the drive to Lake Colby?
Nearest on our list: Lower Saranac Lake Boat Launch, 1 mile.
Is ice fishing allowed on Lake Colby?
Ice Fishing Permitted, per DEC.
Put Lake Colby on the New York trip list
Get the DEC license squared away online first.