Throughout the Adirondacks, ice fishing is a winter tradition for many locals and everyone is ready to go just as soon as the ice becomes safe to get out on. Once there are 4-6 good inches of ice, we start to see ice shanties pop up on different lakes and ponds, and when the weekend hits, fishermen migrate to the hard water to devote a few hours or even a few days to ice fishing.
The Inlet area is an ice angler’s dream, as there are so many different options and species to fish for. Having lakes that are regularly stocked draws in ice fishermen from all over. From tiger muskie to perch, the fishing options in this beautiful, welcoming small town are endless.
Limekiln Lake
On Limekiln Lake, you can see locals setting up their tipups and jig poles fishing for splake. The lake is stocked with splake annually. Between splake and perch, ice fishermen can enjoy a ton of action and an enjoyable day on the ice. Limekiln Lake is known to be more popular in the winter for ice fishing than it is in the summer for open water fishing. To get to Limekiln Lake, head to the Limeklin Lake state campground. There are multiple areas where you can get on the ice from there.
Fourth Lake
Fourth Lake offers a wide variety of ice fishing opportunities. A large lake with significant depths and cold temperatures provides great habitats for numerous fish species. Some species that can be found in Fourth Lake in the deeper waters are Atlantic salmon, lake trout, and rainbow trout. In the shallower areas, anglers can find yellow perch, northern pike, and tiger muskie. Ice fishing for lake trout is popular on Fourth Lake as there are some fish in the lake that are over 30 inches. At the north end of the lake, there is a boat launch in the town of Inlet where you can access the ice.
Seventh Lake
Looking to add an extra day onto your ice fishing trip? Check out Seventh Lake. This lake is a popular ice fishing destination if you are targeting lake trout or landlocked salmon. It is a large lake with areas of both deep and shallow waters. You can access the ice on Seventh Lake from the boat launch in Inlet on Route 28.
Please remember to check in with the information center before heading out on any body of water. The info center can assist you with ice thickness and safety of the ice before you venture out. The info center may also be able to fill you in on the best areas to ice fish!
Having these three popular bodies of water in and around the Inlet area makes Inlet a popular destination for a multi-day ice fishing trip. Make Inlet your Adirondack home base, and get out and explore the different options for hard water season. Have a snowmobile? Bring it along! There are miles of meticulously groomed trails in the area waiting for you.
