Amber Lake near Livingston Manor: Fishing Spots, Seasons and Access

• Overview

  In New York, Amber Lake belongs to Sullivan County. The bank is 1,939 feet above sea level. It runs to roughly 38 acres — big enough to hold fish away from the bank, small enough to learn. It sits higher than most water we list in New York. You are 3.8 miles from Livingston Manor. After that come Liberty at 12 miles and Fallsburg at 20 miles. A county boundary sits nearby, which can matter for local access rules.

• Where to Fish on Amber Lake

  We hold no survey for this water; read the slope of the shoreline instead. Held water runs deepest at the wall and shallows back to the inflow. Rip-rap along the wall holds fish that the open bank never does. Species logged across Sullivan County include brown trout, brook trout, smallmouth bass, white sucker and rainbow trout. The county list is broader than any single water. Fish Amber Lake where the bottom changes rather than where it looks deep.

• Seasonal Patterns

  July is the warm end of the year here, averaging about 66°F, while January sits near 20°F. Winter closes the water for a while, and the reopening is worth catching. Look for the thaw near early April; the fishing lifts straight after. On average, early April opens the water and mid December closes it again. The open run goes from the thaw to the freeze, and April through October covers most of it. Keep it in mind when planning a trip to Amber Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Ownership and access are not documented in what we hold. Nothing in the way of made access shows up nearby: no ramp, no car park, no path. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Rules differ from one water to the next round here. Close seasons apply to some species and not others. Should this one be busy, Edgewood Lakes is 1.4 miles off. Rules at Amber Lake are worth checking on the day.