Lake · Port Henry, Essex, New York
Lake Champlain at Port Henry
Current Lake Rating
Unavailable
A condition rating is not available from the current lake evidence.
Rating confidence: Low
Should I Go?
Not Enough Data
Fishing guidance for this destination based on available lake conditions, weather, and seasonal context. It is not a boating, swimming, ice, or access-safety rating.
Why
- Not enough current water information is available to recommend a reliable fishing window
- Live water observations could not be retrieved at this time.
Current Readings
Key lake readings are not available right now.
Better Nearby Options
Checking nearby StrikeTracks waters…
Weather Near Lake
Current Weather
Clear
Temperature
64°F
Feels like
64°F
Wind
4 mph N
Wind gust
4 mph
Current precipitation
0.00 in
Updated
Sep 5, 2026, 1:30 AM
Recent Rainfall
Estimated precipitation near this lake
Last 6 hours
0.00 in
Last 24 hours
0.00 in
Last 48 hours
0.00 in
Little recent rainfall near this lake.
Next 24 Hours
Sat 4 AM
Clear
Temp 62°F
Chance 1%
Precip 0.00 in
Wind 5 mph
Sat 8 AM
Clear
Temp 63°F
Chance 2%
Precip 0.00 in
Wind 6 mph
Sat 12 PM
Mostly clear
Temp 70°F
Chance 2%
Precip 0.00 in
Wind 10 mph
Sat 4 PM
Mostly clear
Temp 73°F
Chance 5%
Precip 0.00 in
Wind 12 mph
Sat 8 PM
Clear
Temp 65°F
Chance 6%
Precip 0.00 in
Wind 10 mph
Sun 12 AM
Overcast
Temp 63°F
Chance 8%
Precip 0.00 in
Wind 9 mph
Four-Day Forecast
Sat, Sep 5
Overcast
High 74°F / Low 60°F
Chance 10%
Precip 0.00 in
Max gust 23 mph
Sun, Sep 6
Rain
High 72°F / Low 55°F
Chance 13%
Precip 0.09 in
Max gust 19 mph
Mon, Sep 7
Overcast
High 78°F / Low 51°F
Chance 2%
Precip 0.00 in
Max gust 14 mph
Tue, Sep 8
Overcast
High 77°F / Low 57°F
Chance 3%
Precip 0.00 in
Max gust 8 mph
Weather and rainfall are estimated for this lake's coordinates. Local conditions can vary, especially in mountainous terrain and during isolated storms.
Recent rainfall can influence lake level and access, but the timing and magnitude depend on watershed size, soil conditions, and reservoir operations where applicable.
Weather data: Open-Meteo
Lake Elevation History
Elevation is reported relative to the datum used by this USGS monitoring site. Elevations from different lakes or datums should not be directly compared.
Loading historical elevation…
Fishery Profile
Documented species you may encounter at Lake Champlain.
Species images are AI-generated illustrations for visual reference and may simplify natural variation. Fishery records are based on the cited agency sources. About fish illustrations
Fishery overview
Large NY/VT border lake with primary lake trout and landlocked salmon fisheries, plus brook, brown, and rainbow trout under border-water trout limits. Port Henry is a documented lake trout fishing area with a DEC state boat launch.
Target species
Lake Trout
Salvelinus namaycush
- Expectation
- Primary
- Population
- Stocked
- Native status
- native
- Confidence
- High confidence
DEC documents lake trout as a primary Lake Champlain coldwater fishery managed with stocking and sea lamprey control. Port Henry is identified among lake trout fishing areas.
Source: NYSDEC
Landlocked Salmon
Salmo salar
- Expectation
- Primary
- Population
- Stocked
- Native status
- introduced
- Confidence
- High confidence
NY/VT border-water regulations list landlocked salmon for Lake Champlain; Adirondack/Lake Champlain DEC pages treat landlocked salmon as a primary coldwater target alongside lake trout.
Source: NYSDEC
Brown Trout
Salmo trutta
- Expectation
- Common
- Population
- Stocked
- Native status
- introduced
- Confidence
- Medium confidence
DEC Lake Champlain trout category includes brown trout under border-water trout limits.
Source: NYSDEC
Rainbow Trout
Oncorhynchus mykiss
- Expectation
- Common
- Population
- Stocked
- Native status
- introduced
- Confidence
- Medium confidence
DEC Lake Champlain trout category includes rainbow trout under border-water trout limits.
Source: NYSDEC
Brook Trout
Salvelinus fontinalis
- Expectation
- Present
- Population
- Stocked
- Native status
- native
- Confidence
- Medium confidence
DEC Lake Champlain trout regulations define trout as brook, brown, and rainbow trout (and hybrids). Brook trout are present but secondary to lake trout and landlocked salmon in the open-lake fishery.
Source: NYSDEC
Fishery characteristics
- Composition
- Stocked
- Great Lakes tributary
- No
- Flow regime
- Natural flow
Deep border lake with coldwater habitat supporting lake trout and landlocked salmon. Sea lamprey control and stocking are primary management tools for lake trout recovery.
Best seasons
- Spring
- Summer
- Fall
- Winter
Common techniques
- Boat fishing
- Shore fishing
- Spinning
- Trolling
Access and Public Fishing Rights
NYSDEC documents a state boat launch in the village of Port Henry and additional Lake Champlain launches along the New York shore. Confirm current launch status on DEC boat launch pages.
Stocking information
Lake trout and landlocked salmon fisheries are supported by interstate management including stocking and sea lamprey control. DEC notes lake trout were re-established through management after historical extirpation.
- Stocked
Lake Trout
Stocked · NYSDEC
- Stocked
Landlocked Salmon
Stocked · NYSDEC
- Stocked
Brown Trout
Stocked · NYSDEC
- Stocked
Rainbow Trout
Stocked · NYSDEC
- Stocked
Brook Trout
Stocked · NYSDEC
Regulation sections
Legal regulations are summarized below for convenience. Official linked rules control. This app does not determine whether you are physically within a regulation reach.
Lake Champlain NY/VT Border Waters
Lake Champlain and tributaries to the first impassable barrier (New York/Vermont border water)
NY/VT border-water special regulations apply lake-wide for trout, lake trout, landlocked salmon, and other listed species. Reciprocal license rules with Vermont apply with stated exceptions.
- Season
- Border-water seasons and limits for lake trout, landlocked salmon, and trout (brook, brown, rainbow) apply all year unless otherwise noted on the official border-waters page.
- Methods
- No more than 2 lines per person; each line may have no more than 2 baited hooks or 2 artificial lures. Ice fishing permitted with additional line limits November 15–April 30. Separate tributary restrictions exist but are not lake-wide.
Official sources
Regulations can change. Always verify current rules on the official NYSDEC page before fishing; linked official regulations control.
Hatch Match
General fly suggestions
- Midge larvaGeneral stillwater midge-style family — not a live Chironomidae Hatch claim.
- Woolly-bugger-style streamerGeneral stillwater streamer family. Not a baitfish or kokanee Hatch event.
- Ant or beetleGeneral shoreline terrestrial family — not a local Hatch calendar.
These are general fishing suggestions, not a report of insects currently hatching at this destination.
Location and Access
Cataloged lake location
Port Henry, Essex, New York
The map marker represents the cataloged waterbody or monitoring location and may not indicate legal parking or public access. Confirm access through the official information before visiting.
Lake Details
Town
Port Henry
County
Essex
DEC Region
5
Management Category
Border Great Lakes–connected lake
Regulation Scope
Lake Champlain border waters
Regulation Summary
New York/Vermont border-water special regulations apply on Lake Champlain.
Surface Area
291200 acres
Maximum Depth
400 ft
Average Depth
64 ft
Target Species
Lake Trout, Landlocked Salmon, Brook Trout, Brown Trout, Rainbow Trout
Public Access
Public
Boat Launch
Available
Description
USGS/NYSDEC monitoring location on Lake Champlain at Port Henry, Essex County. Lake-wide physical statistics follow the Lake Champlain Basin Program: about 455 square miles (291,200 acres), 400 ft maximum depth, and 64 ft average depth. Other official summaries have cited roughly 435–436 square miles; LCBP figures are used here. NYSDEC documents a state boat launch in the village of Port Henry. Special New York/Vermont border-water fishing regulations apply.
