Red Lake
Red Lake
Currently, no lake associate exists. If you want to start a lake association, please get in touch with Indian River Lakes Conservancy.
Red Lake is home to all kinds of wildlife from a large variety of birds to an abundance of reptiles and all sorts of mammals including bear.
The natural areas surrounding the lake host patches of different types of wild berries. Red Lake enthusiasts have snorkeled some of the shoals and have observed every known species of fish listed by the DEC as inhabitants of Red Lake, plus carp (which aren't listed).
Some have said that the name Red Lake was shortened from Red Man’s Lake, so called for the “Red Men” who liked to fish and hunt there. Others assert the lake is simply named for the reddish cast of the water. Whichever of these tales is true, one thing is certain; Red Lake was one of the first of the Indian River Lakes to reach popularity. The lake is easily reached by water route of the Indian River. This made it a popular spot, more than 200 years ago when roads were few in the northern part of Theresa, for picnics and fishing.
Fish Species
Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Black Crappie, Bluegill, Brown Bullhead, Northern Pike, Walleye, and Yellow Perch
Invasive Species
On Land: Hemlock wooly Adelgid
Aquatic: Eurasian Watermilfoil
Lake Geography & Statistics
Its steep bluffs and forested shorelines make Red Lake one of the most beautiful of the Indian River Lakes. Though only about four miles north of Theresa by land, the winds and curves of the Indian River make for a six-mile journey. The mystery of the river’s sinuous curves and high bluffs make the trip, in former years as well as now, a delightful experience.
Red Lake is about 2 miles long and a half mile wide at its widest. Near the lake’s outlet to the Indian River is a sandy point where many Native American relics have been discovered and where members of the early Simonds family settled.
Wildlife & Water Quality
Although it has not been overcome by numerous cottages, the lake is not without its challenges. The mercury content, believed to come from atmospheric contamination, has resulted in a fish consumption advisory. The NYSDEC maintains a monitoring program on the lake due to the mercury content.
NYSDOH Mercury Advisory for Walleye is “Up to 1 Meal/Month” and for All Other Fish, “Up to 4 Meal/Month” Pregnant women and children under 15 should not eat any fish.
Red Lake Yore
by Marilyn Neulieb
In days of old, the two Shelley brothers had a reputation. Both single, they managed a dairy farm located on the shores of Red Lake and, in winter, transported their milk in 10-gallon stainless-steel milk cans to the milk plant in Theresa with their racing skates over the frozen Red Lake. And I’ve been told that their skate blades were long. Sledding those cans across Red Lake and the Indian River took strength. They holed up all winter with one brother doing the domestic chores (and, boy, could he cook) and the other, outdoor chores. The milk plant in Theresa was on High Street by the once railroad tracks. This yore was told to me by the late and former Theresa highway Superintendent Cliff Smith. He attended one of the Shelley boys’ parties. It was food galore, all from their land. and could last a weekend. What fun!
When spring arrived, they got their milk out via Honey Hill Road. It is a honey of a road. It is so steep I would not venture to bicycle downhill. The rubber brake blocks would burn out and I would be swearing, “Level off, level off.” This is a testament to the varied topography of this beautiful land.
Cliff Smith told me that if I rummaged along the cliff off Honey Hill Road, I would find the skeletal remains of a horse. One day a cart got before-the-horse. The driver jumped, the horse went over the cliff. He did not know if the driver, who survived, was a Shelley boy. Since, their lakeside farm has been divided into lots and have been sold and resold several times.
A mystery still exists regarding arrowheads the brothers found on Red Lake. I understand that the word got around. When their house burned, there was no trace of the arrowheads. Arrowheads do not burn.
Lake Life
Red Lake is generally a quiet, peaceful lake and the only watercraft observed are kayaks, canoes, and a few motorboats are generally small fishing vessels.
Occasionally a skier or a tuber is observed, however, it is mostly traversed by fishing boats or kayakers.
Indian River Lakes Conservancy’s Red Lake Preserve is a 116-acre nature preserve with 2 miles of trail. Red Lake Preserve protects 2,500 feet of Red Lake’s pristine shoreline.
Places to Expore
Located in Upstate New York near the Thousand Islands Region, this area is a haven for natural beauty, recreation, and wildlife.
Visit the Indian River Lakes region to hike, paddle, and connect with an incredible community.
