Saratoga Lake


Saratoga Lake is a lake in the eastern part of Saratoga County, New York. The lake is approximately long, about wide at its widest point, and about deep.
The Lake is surrounded by the City of Saratoga Springs on the north west, the Town of Malta on the south west, the Town of Stillwater on the south east, and the Town of Saratoga on the north east. New York State Route 9P is a highway that runs along the southern end and eastern side of the lake, and then crosses its outlet in the north.
The lake's major source is the Kayaderosseras Creek which enters the lake from the north west, and the outlet is Fish Creek, which exits the lake from the north and flows into the Hudson River at Schuylerville, New York.

Fishing

Fish species present in the lake are walleye, smallmouth bass, black crappie, yellow perch, redbreast sunfish, bluegill, northern pike, tiger muskie, largemouth bass, carp, pumpkinseed sunfish, and brown bullhead. There is a state owned hard surface ramp boat launch off Union Avenue on the north shore.

History

The name Saratoga is said to derive from the native Se-rach-ta-gue, meaning hillside country of the great river; however several completely different interpretations have been proposed.
Archeological evidence shows Native American occupation dating back to 7000BC.
The first European to visit the lake may have been the Jesuit Isaac Jogues in 1642. The Saint Isaac Jogues Chapel, on the Lake in Stillwater, commemorates his mission.

Rowing

The sport of rowing has a long history on Saratoga Lake, especially along Fish Creek. "In July 1874, the Rowing Association of American Colleges hosted the University Race for the Championship at Saratoga." Columbia won what was reported as "the most exciting race ever witnessed." Other participants were Wesleyan, Harvard, Williams, Cornell, Dartmouth, Princeton, Trinity, and Yale. Competitions were held annually thereafter for several years.
This tradition was revived in 1986 with the first Head of the Fish Regatta which, by 2010, had grown to be "the second largest regatta in the country, by volume of boats entered."

Places on Saratoga Lake

The north end of the lake, around Fish Creek, contains a public boat launch and many private marinas while the middle and southern areas are less densely developed.
Episode 5 of the Twilight Zone, "Walking Distance", has a reference to renting a cottage on Saratoga Lake.