To Drop A Line In Tupper Lake.

For the love of fishing 

For some, fishing is about the thrill of reelin' in the next big trophy fish. For others, it's about the tranquility and solitude that you find alone on the river — just a man and his boat. And for many, it may be all about bonding time with their children, or for simply blowing off steam from that 9-to-5 grind with their buddies. Whatever it is that drives you to cast a line, we are sure the waters in and around the Tupper Lake and Piercefield region will call your name. But rather than take our word for it, here are 10 reasons to put the Adirondacks on your "must fish" list.

1. Water, water everywhere!

Whether it's a roadside view of the water as you drive into town, or a 360-degree vantage from a nearby mountain peak, you will immediately notice there are a seemingly endless amount of places to find your next honey hole. Nestled among Adirondack mountains, Tupper Lake is blessed with a variety of deep water lakes, shallow weedy ponds, meandering rivers, babbling brooks, and backcountry streams. You could easily spend years casting a line without fishing the same hole twice. That's a challenge worth taking on!

2. One fish, two fish

Enough about water — you're ready to get right to the point and find out what is lurking beneath the surface, right? In Big Tupper Lake alone you will find not one, not two, but 13 different species of fish. According to the New York state DEC, the lake is home to northern pike, walleye, smallmouth bass, yellow perch, brown bullhead, lake whitefish, rainbow smelt, pumpkinseed, landlocked Atlantic salmon, lake trout, redbreast sunfish, cisco, and tiger muskie (muskellunge).

3. Fish stocking 101

While the abundant smelt population in our lake makes the walleye, northern pike, perch, and bass populations self sustaining, there is also a significant stocking effort that cranks those numbers up even higher. Each spring, the local DEC fish hatchery, with the help of volunteers, releases over 3,000 landlocked salmon and 10,000 lake trout into Big Tupper Lake. Multiply that over the years and that is one boatload of fish (sorry, we couldn't resist). Additionally, nearby ponds and lakes also have similar annual stocking policies.

4. A river runs through it

Scratch that — make it two! Tupper Lake is blessed to have not one, but two healthy rivers running into it. From the south you will find the Bog River, which cascades into the lake via Bog River Falls, a popular fishing hole. At the other end, the 146-mile long Raquette River meanders into the lake via Simon Pond and then out through the north via Raquette Pond. In short, you can enjoy lake, pond, and river fishing without ever leaving your boat.

5. Accessible shoreline

No boat? No problem! The waterways in and around Tupper Lake offer a wide variety of accessible spots to fish from shore. Whether it be pondside, riverside, lakeside, or from one of our many fully accessible fishing overlooks, you are sure to discover the ideal fishing hole without having to venture out on the lake.

Insider tip: If ADA compliant fishing overlooks are what you're looking for, these are your locations: Piercefield Flow, Horseshoe Pond, Raquette Pond via the Tupper Lake Municipal Park, and John Dillon Park.

6. Discover the wildlife

Beyond the fish, the other half of what makes fishing such an enjoyable activity is the wildlife. And no, we're not talking about your wild fishing buddy. From the common loon and river otters to white-tailed deer and moose, it is highly likely you will get a beautiful glimpse of Adirondack wildlife while you are waterside (plus, of course, whatever that buddy of yours is up to).

7. Refuel the tank!

After a day on the water you are sure to be hungry. Lucky for you, back in town the growing food scene is ready to help you refuel that tank. From burger joints, pizza shops, and diners, to pubs, delis, and home-style restaurants, you'll discover the perfect plate to fulfill that craving. So whether it is an early-morning breakfast, a grab-and-go lunch, or an end-of-the-day feast, Tupper Lake eateries have you covered.

8. Got beer?

You asked for it! Tupper Lake has two awesome breweries located just a stone throw from your fishing hole. So why not pull up a stool and enjoy a cold one as you swap fish stories with the locals? After all, that is where you might find the best tips for that secret fishing hole.

9. Get wild at The Wild Center

Whether you are looking for a fun activity for the whole family, a rainy day backup, or an up-close look at the fish that brought you to Tupper Lake in the first place, make sure to set aside time to visit The Wild Center. The 81-acre campus that makes up this living nature museum has earned praise from around the world for how it lets visitors of all ages get closer to the natural world. Discover swimming otters, sunbathing turtles, and a wide variety of native fish species indoors. Then venture out on the nature trails, enjoy the Raquette River oxbow, and don't forget the world-renowned Wild Walk, where you will get a treetop view of the Adirondack landscape.

10. And last but not least, are you ready to break the record!?

Since no fishing story is complete without one good fish tale, here is ours. Due to a combination of the deep depths of the lake (it's over 115 feet in some places), the large forage base of smelt, and the data received from various fish surveys over the years, New York state fisheries biologists believe the state record walleye may very well live in the murky depths of Big Tupper Lake. Is is really in there, or is it just a legend... the only way to find out is to come to cast a line!

Cast away

Don't let another summer go by without discovering the thrill of fishing in the Tupper Lake region. Browse through our lodging, book a room, and get ready to enjoy some much needed time by the water.