Fishing Barnes Lake in Orange County, New York

• Overview

  The Orange County end of New York holds Barnes Lake. It lies 892 feet above sea level. This is a pocket water of some 15 acres, and every part of it is reachable from the bank. Central Valley lies 2.1 miles from the water. After that come Highland Mills at 2.8 miles and Woodbury at 3 miles. Being near a boundary, it pays to know which side you are fishing.

• Where to Fish on Barnes Lake

  Open data we checked carries no depth for this water. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. Weed, then depth: that is the order to fish a water of this kind. Orange County records list common carp, brook trout, bluegill, pumpkinseed and brown trout among the fish reported. Those are county-wide records, so not every one of them will be in this water. Fish Barnes Lake to its features, not to its size.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The range across the year is 26°F to 71°F. A long season, with weather mattering more than the month. Some winters give nothing at all, so plan for open water. The cooler months are the comfortable ones to fish here. Keep it in mind when planning a trip to Barnes Lake. Late summer often means an early start or nothing at all.

• Tackle & Baits

  The paperwork position is blank for this one. Mapping shows no built access close by; expect to walk in from wherever you can leave the car. Bass water: a Texas-rigged worm near cover, a spinnerbait when you need to cover ground. State or provincial rules still apply whatever the bank status. Some water is controlled locally without a sign saying so. Lake Massawippa sits 0.4 miles off and takes the overflow. Where Barnes Lake is concerned, a local answer beats a written one.