New York
Saranac River
Location Snapshot
Saranac River is an Adirondack-to-Lake-Champlain river system combining inland trout water with a lower migratory salmon fishery. The principal supported targets are landlocked salmon and brown trout, with rainbow trout, brook trout, and smallmouth bass providing additional species variety within the same fishery.
Information Only
StrikeTracks does not currently provide a live condition rating for this destination. Destination and fishery information is still available.
Fishing Overview
The Saranac River rises in the Adirondacks and is a Lake Champlain tributary with landlocked salmon.
Fishery Profile
Documented species you may encounter at Saranac River.
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
Target species
Brown Trout
Salmo trutta
- Expectation
- Primary
- Population
- Stocked
- Native status
- introduced
- Confidence
- High confidence
Source: NYSDEC
Landlocked Salmon
Salmo salar
- Expectation
- Primary
- Population
- Migratory
- Native status
- introduced
- Confidence
- High confidence
Source: NYSDEC
Rainbow Trout
Oncorhynchus mykiss
- Expectation
- Common
- Population
- Stocked
- Native status
- introduced
- Confidence
- High confidence
Source: NYSDEC
Brook Trout
Salvelinus fontinalis
- Expectation
- Present
- Population
- Wild
- Native status
- native
- Confidence
- Medium confidence
Source: NYSDEC
Smallmouth Bass
Micropterus dolomieu
- Expectation
- Present
- Population
- Established
- Native status
- introduced
- Confidence
- Medium confidence
Source: NYSDEC
Fishery characteristics
- Composition
- Mixed wild and stocked
- Great Lakes tributary
- No
- Flow regime
- Mixed flow regime
Best seasons
- Spring
- Summer
- Fall
Common techniques
- Boat fishing
- Fly fishing
- Nymphing
- Shore fishing
- Spinning
- Streamers
Stocking information
- Stocked
Brown Trout
Stocked · NYSDEC
- Stocked
Rainbow 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.
Saranac River Morrisonville to Kent Falls Catch and Release.
From the Millstone Monument located at the intersection of Sand Road and NYS Route 22B in Morrisonville upstream to Kent Falls Dam (Catch and Release).
Catch and Release inland trout stream category; artificial lures only, all year.
- Upstream
- Kent Falls Dam.
- Downstream
- Millstone Monument at Sand Road and NYS Route 22B in Morrisonville.
- Season
- Catch and Release all year.
- Methods
- Artificial lures only.
- Harvest
- Catch and Release only; all fish must be released.
Saranac River North Branch to Stord Brook Catch and Release.
From marked boundary 100 yards upstream of its confluence with the North Branch Saranac River upstream 1.4 miles to Stord Brook (Catch and Release).
Catch and Release inland trout stream category; artificial lures only, all year.
- Upstream
- Stord Brook.
- Downstream
- Marked boundary 100 yards upstream of confluence with the North Branch Saranac River.
- Season
- Catch and Release all year.
- Methods
- Artificial lures only.
- Harvest
- Catch and Release only; all fish must be released.
Saranac River Plattsburgh Landlocked Salmon Reach.
From Catherine Street bridge upstream to Imperial Mill Dam.
Lower-river Lake Champlain tributary landlocked salmon reach; Lake Champlain and tributaries special regulations apply. Distinct from inland trout segments farther upstream.
- Upstream
- Imperial Mill Dam.
- Downstream
- Catherine Street bridge.
- Season
- Lake Champlain and tributaries seasons and limits apply; fall weighted-bait and related gear restrictions are listed on the Border Waters special regulations page.
- Methods
- Fishing from boats prohibited on this reach. Hook-gap, hours, and unweighted bait/lure restrictions apply as listed for the Saranac River on Border Waters special regulations; floating lures with one free-swinging hook are permitted on the Saranac River exception.
Saranac River Pup Hill to North Branch Stocked-Extended.
From 1500 ft east of Pup Hill Road bridge crossing upstream to the marked boundary 100 yards upstream of its confluence with the North Branch Saranac River (Stocked-Extended).
Stocked-Extended inland trout stream category.
- Upstream
- Marked boundary 100 yards upstream of confluence with the North Branch Saranac River.
- Downstream
- 1500 ft east of Pup Hill Road bridge crossing.
- Season
- April 1–October 15 harvest season under Stocked-Extended limits; October 16–March 31 catch and release, artificial lures only.
- Harvest
- Stocked-Extended: April 1–October 15 daily limit 3 with no more than 1 longer than 12 inches.
Saranac River Union Falls Upper-River Seasonal Closure.
From Hough Brook at Union Falls Flow upstream to Franklin Falls Flow Dam.
Upper-river seasonal fishing closure. Distinct from the Plattsburgh landlocked salmon reach.
- Upstream
- Franklin Falls Flow Dam.
- Downstream
- Hough Brook at Union Falls Flow.
- Season
- Fishing is prohibited from March 16 through April 30.
Hatch Match
General fly suggestions
- Parachute-style dryGeneral attractor dry family — not a claim that a named mayfly is hatching.
- Pheasant-tail-style nymphGeneral nymph family for trout rivers without destination hatch timing.
- Elk-hair-style dryGeneral dry/attractor family. Pattern choice only — not a report that caddis are hatching.
- Woolly-bugger-style streamerGeneral streamer family. Not a forage or insect Hatch event.
These are general fishing suggestions, not a report of insects currently hatching at this destination.
Location and Access
Cataloged river location
Franklin, 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.
River Details
County
Franklin
DEC Region
5
Management Category
Adirondack river
Regulation Scope
Saranac River reaches in Region 5.
Regulation Summary
Region 5 special and statewide regulations may apply by reach.
Target Species
Brown Trout, Rainbow Trout, Brook Trout, Smallmouth Bass
Access, Parking, and Regulations
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