Payne Lake trout stocking
Watson, Lewis County, New York · lake · about 1,232 ft elevation
Payne Lake was last stocked 30 months ago (May 1 to 31, 2024). We have 7 stockings on record since May 1, 2017. Most stockings come in May. Species stocked: brook trout.
- Number 27 of 41 stocked waters in Lewis County by stocking days.
- Stocked less often than most New York waters on our record.
River conditions
Nearest USGS gage: INDEPENDENCE RIVER AT DONNATTSBURG NY (6 km away, on a different stream or lake).
- Flow
- 220 cfs
- much higher than usual for the last six weeks
- Gage height
- 4.18 ft
Latest reading Nov 9, 2026, 8:30 AM UTC. USGS data are provisional. Gage page at USGS.
Weather at Payne Lake
- Overnight46°FMostly Cloudy2% rain · wind 3 mph
- Friday62°FPartly Sunny11% rain · wind 3 mph
- Friday Night42°FRain Showers Likely60% rain · wind 2 mph
- Saturday54°FRain Showers97% rain · wind 3 mph
- Saturday Night34°FRain Showers97% rain · wind 5 mph
- Sunday51°FRain Showers Likely74% rain · wind 7 mph
Forecast from the National Weather Service for this location, refreshed hourly.
When is Payne Lake stocked?
Most stockings come in May.
By month, all years
Year by year
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 1 | |||||||||||
| 2023 | 1 | |||||||||||
| 2022 | 1 | |||||||||||
| 2020 | 1 | |||||||||||
| 2019 | 1 | |||||||||||
| 2018 | 1 | |||||||||||
| 2017 | 1 |
What is stocked
| Species | Stockings | Fish | Fish per stocking | Typical size |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brook trout | 7 | 3,400 | 486 | 8.5 in |
Stocking history
20241 stocking · 550 fish
| Date | Species | Fish | Size |
|---|---|---|---|
MayLatest sometime this month | Brook trout | 550 | 9.3 in |
20231 stocking · 500 fish
| Date | Species | Fish | Size |
|---|---|---|---|
May sometime this month | Brook trout | 500 | 9.1 in |
20221 stocking · 500 fish
| Date | Species | Fish | Size |
|---|---|---|---|
May sometime this month | Brook trout | 500 | 8.5 in |
20201 stocking · 350 fish
- May brook trout, 350 fish
20191 stocking · 500 fish
- May brook trout, 500 fish
20181 stocking · 500 fish
- May brook trout, 500 fish
20171 stocking · 500 fish
- May brook trout, 500 fish
From New York fish and wildlife agency reports, collected nightly and kept after the agency takes them down. Agencies revise reports; check the agency's report before you go. Seasons and limits: New York fishing regulations.
Where is Payne Lake?
Watson, Lewis County, New York. Approximate: the marker is the USGS place-name point for this water, not an agency location.
Stocked waters near Payne Lake
- Cleveland Lakelake · 1 mistocked Sep 2025
- Little Otter Lakelake · 4 mistocked Jun 2022
- Crystal Creekstream · 8 mistocked May 2020
- Black Creekstream · 8 mistocked May 2024
- Otter Creekstream · 8 mistocked May 2025
- Pine Lakelake · 10 mistocked Sep 2025
- Whetstone Creekstream · 10 mistocked Apr 2024
- Sunday Creekstream · 11 mistocked May 2024
All stocked waters in Lewis CountyStocked this week in New York
Questions about Payne Lake
- When was Payne Lake last stocked?
- The latest reported stocking was May 1 to 31, 2024 (brook trout, 550 fish), according to New York agency reports.
- How often is Payne Lake stocked?
- Across all years on record, most stockings come in May.
- Is Payne Lake stocked often?
- Number 27 of 41 stocked waters in Lewis County by stocking days. Stocked less often than most New York waters on our record. We count each day the agency reported stocking it.
- What kind of trout are stocked in Payne Lake?
- Brook trout (7 stockings, 3,400 fish).