Fishing at Balfour Lake, Essex County, New York

• Overview

  Essex County in New York is where Balfour Lake sits. The surface lies 1,785 feet up. Surface area is around 93 acres, which gives you real water without needing a boat. The bank runs about 2.3 miles all the way round, so one visit can cover most of it. Few waters listed in Essex County are bigger. North Elba sits 27 miles from here and is the nearest stop. Albany is the closest city, 84 miles away. It sits well inside its county, with no border complications.

• Where to Fish on Balfour Lake

  Depth is not on record here, so the bank has to tell you. The productive water is a rod length or two out, not a hundred. Read the surface for the wind lane, then fish the edge of it. Species logged across Essex County include brown trout, brook trout, white sucker and pumpkinseed. These are county-wide records, so not all of them will be in this water. Work Balfour Lake in sections rather than trying to cover it.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The warmest month averages 64°F, the coldest about 15°F. Spring and autumn carry the fishing; summer and winter test it. Firm cover through the cold months, then open water from mid April. Open water usually runs from mid April until about early December. Just after the ice goes and just before it returns, the fishing lifts. Balfour Lake runs to that rhythm year in and year out.

• Tackle & Baits

  There is no clear statement anywhere on who can fish it. This is a natural basin, not a dammed one. A campsite lies half a mile away for anyone staying over. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. Take the rules with you rather than trusting memory. Fishing rules and camping rules are set separately here. For a change of water, Little Rankin Pond is 1.1 miles distant. Where Balfour Lake is concerned, a local answer beats a written one.