Stark Falls Reservoir Fishing
A 645-acre New York reservoir in St. Lawrence County.
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Stark Falls Reservoir in brief
NYS Hydrography outlines give Stark Falls Reservoir about 645 acres of open water in St. Lawrence County. Ownership on the DEC lake list reads Private. Stock up in Colton, roughly 13 miles away. DEC groups it under Western Adirondacks and Eastern Lake Ontario.
DEC names smallmouth bass, pumpkinseed, yellow perch, northern pike and walleye among its fish. DEC calls the launch trailer unimproved. Ice status: ice fishing permitted.
NYS Hydrography (NHD) outline, DEC Recommended Fishing Lakes and Ponds, Census places, retrieved October 24, 2026.
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Each chip for Stark Falls Reservoir traces back to the DEC lake list, a state record or a DEC stocking entry.
DEC Recommended Fishing Lakes and Ponds species column, DEC stocking lists and state records, retrieved October 24, 2026.
DEC launches at Stark Falls Reservoir
Boat access to Stark Falls Reservoir is not mapped, so see the nearby launches.
DEC and local launches near Stark Falls Reservoir
- Carry Falls Reservoir LaunchRaquette River, under a mile south
- Stark Falls Reservoir LaunchRaquette River, under a mile northwest
- Blake Falls Reservoir LaunchRaquette River, 2 miles north
- Rainbow Falls Reservoir LaunchRaquette River, 6 miles northwest
- Five Falls Reservoir LaunchRaquette River, 7 miles northwest
- Public Launch on Clear Pond near ParishvilleClear Pond, 8 miles north
DEC boat launch and fishing access layers, retrieved October 24, 2026.
Carrying fish home from Stark Falls Reservoir
| 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, Stark Falls Reservoir 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.
Stark Falls Reservoir versus the lakes close by
| Lake | Distance | Acres | Launches | DEC species | Stocked 2023-26 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stark Falls Reservoir | 645 | 0 | 5 | ||
| Carry Falls Reservoir | 4 miles south | 3,074 | 0 | 6 | |
| Rainbow Falls Reservoir | 5 miles north | 666 | 0 | 7 | |
| Clear Pond, St. Lawrence County | 8 miles north | 36 | 1 | 0 | yes |
| Lake Ozonia | 13 miles northeast | 409 | 1 | 6 | yes |
| Pine Pond, St. Lawrence County | 14 miles south | 16 | 0 | 1 | yes |
NYS Hydrography, DEC launch layers, DEC lake list and stocking lists, retrieved October 24, 2026.
Places bordering Stark Falls Reservoir
Lakes to combine with a Stark Falls Reservoir trip
- Carry Falls Reservoir4 miles south
- Rainbow Falls Reservoir5 miles north
- Clear Pond, St. Lawrence County8 miles north
- Lake Ozonia13 miles northeast
- Pine Pond, St. Lawrence County14 miles south
Where to grab bait before Stark Falls Reservoir
- Tupper Lake Boat Launchmarina, Franklin, 22 miles
- Raquette River Outfitterssporting goods store, Franklin, 22 miles
- Saranac Lake Boat Launchmarina, Franklin, 22 miles
- Raquette River Boat Launch aka The Crushermarina, Franklin, 23 miles
Places to sleep within reach of Stark Falls Reservoir
- Potsdam19 miles
- Tupper Lake21 miles
- Canton23 miles
County guides sharing Stark Falls Reservoir
- St. Lawrence Countycounty seat Canton
Reels and pliers from Piscifun for Stark Falls Reservoir trips
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Camera views of lakes and streams around Stark Falls Reservoir

Photo: Tony Webster, CC BY 2.0

Photo: TheTurducken, CC BY 2.0

Photo: Mwanner, CC BY-SA 3.0

Photo: Idawriter, CC BY-SA 3.0
Stark Falls Reservoir in a handful of answers
Under which DEC region does Stark Falls Reservoir fall?
St. Lawrence County, DEC Western Adirondacks and Eastern Lake Ontario, about 13 miles from Colton.
How large does Stark Falls Reservoir measure?
Roughly 645 acres.
Is a public launch mapped beside Stark Falls Reservoir?
DEC keeps no launch record for this water.
Which species appear on the DEC list for Stark Falls Reservoir?
The DEC roster names smallmouth bass, pumpkinseed, yellow perch, northern pike and walleye.
Which daily limits apply at Stark Falls Reservoir?
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 Stark Falls Reservoir?
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 Stark Falls Reservoir on the DEC stocking lists?
It is not on the 2023 to 2026 DEC stocking lists.
Is there a bait store near Stark Falls Reservoir?
Tupper Lake Boat Launch is roughly 22 miles away.
Can I ice fish Stark Falls Reservoir?
Ice status on file: Ice Fishing Permitted.
Pencil in a day on Stark Falls Reservoir
Read the limits above, then choose a launch.

