Lake Trout Lakes by State

14 of the best lake trout fishing locations in the Northeast

by OTW Staff January 1, 2023

MAINE

1) Moosehead Lake: Nestled in the mountains of northwestern Maine, Moosehead is the second-largest lake in New England and serves as the headwaters of the Kennebec River. Here, lake trout grow large on rainbow smelt, their primary forage.

2) Sebago Lake: The deepest and second-largest lake in Maine, Sebago has an average depth of 101 feet, a depth at which lake trout are known to reside as they fatten up on alewives and rainbow smelt.

lake trout with fresh wound from a lamprey — This lake trout was sporting a fresh wound from a lamprey above its pectoral fin. In the 1900’s, lampreys contributed to the eradication of lakers in Lake Ontario. Since the 1970s, stocking efforts and lamprey population-control methods have allowed the lakers to thrive in Ontario once again.

NEW HAMSHIRE

3) Big Diamond Pond: In 2020, this 181-acre pond gave up the New Hampshire state record lake trout, which weighed over 37 pounds. It was 9 pounds heavier than the previous state record laker!

4) Lake Winnipesaukee: Stretching 21 miles long and 9 miles wide, with a maximum depth of 180 feet, trophy lake trout have more than enough space to roam as they chase schools of rainbow smelt in the icy depths.

5) Squam Lake: Situated northwest of the much larger Lake Winnipesaukee, Squam Lake is an approachable 7 miles long with a maximum depth of 98 feet. Lake trout are plentiful in number and size thanks to a strong forage base of rainbow smelt.

VERMONT

6) Lake Champlain: Lake trout are abundant in New England’s largest lake, where they occasionally swim within casting distance of shore, though they are more reliably found in 70 to 150 feet of water.

7) Lake Willoughby: This 5-mile-long lake in northeastern Vermont reaches depths of 185 feet, and aside from abundant yellow perch, salmonids dominate the scene. Along with lake trout, rainbow trout and landlocked Atlantic salmon swim in its cold, clean waters.
Chris Megan and Jon Peterson with lake trout Chris Megan was fishing through six inches of ice over 180 feet of water when he caught this laker with Maine Guide Jon Peterson.

MASSACHUSETTS

8) Wachusett Reservoir: Located in central Massachusetts, the second-largest water body in the state serves as part of the water supply system for metropolitan Boston. Fed by several rivers, the 7-mile-long, 120-foot-deep reservoir provides a rich fishery for lake trout, though anglers are restricted to shore fishing only.

9) Quabbin Reservoir: Quabbin is the largest inland body of water in Massachusetts. It reaches depths of 151 feet and produces quality lake trout due to its ample smelt population.

NEW YORK

10) Seneca Lake: In the deepest Finger Lake (with depths up to 618 feet), lake trout are a popular target for fishermen trolling lures that imitate alewives.

11) Kensico Reservoir: In New York’s Westchester County, this vast 144-foot-deep reservoir covers just over 3 miles and hosts a healthy lake trout population. They fatten up on alewives, often referred to as sawbellies by local fishermen.

NEW JERSEY

12) Merrill Creek Reservoir: The deepest manmade lake in New Jersey has a maximum depth of 235 feet and a surprising surface area of just over 1 mile. Even so, lake trout to 20 pounds have been caught here.

13) Round Valley Reservoir: With a surface area of almost 4 miles and a maximum depth of 180 feet, this mountain lake has produced lake trout to 30 pounds. They once enjoyed naturally reproducing alewives, but common shiners and scuds now make up the bulk of their diet.

PENNSYLVANIA

14) Raystown Lake: This nearly 28-mile-long reservoir is the largest lake that sits entirely within Pennsylvania state lines. Its maximum depth is 200 feet, providing plenty of space for stocked lake trout to compete for alewives and shiners with other stocked species like walleye and striped bass.