Fishing Big Shallow in St. Lawrence County, New York

• Overview

  Big Shallow is listed under St. Lawrence County, New York. Elevation runs to 1,680 feet. It covers about 7 acres, so this is small water you can walk round in under an hour. On size it sits at the modest end of our St. Lawrence County list. Tupper Lake lies 27 miles from the water. For a city, Kingston is 77 miles off. No border sits close enough to matter.

• Where to Fish on Big Shallow

  There is no published depth for this one, so start shallow and work out. Where the bottom changes texture, fish gather; find that line. Bays and points beat straight shoreline every time on water like this. Across St. Lawrence County, recorded fish include rock bass, smallmouth bass, pumpkinseed, yellow perch and white sucker. Read it as a county summary, not a water-by-water list. Anyone new to Big Shallow should walk it once before setting up.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Temperature averages peak at 64°F in July and bottom out at 13°F in January. A solid cap is the normal state through winter. The lid usually goes in late April, which opens the strongest weeks of the year. Averages place the thaw at late April and the freeze at early December. The middle of summer slows a little, with dawn and dusk carrying it. The season on Big Shallow follows the weather closely.

• Tackle & Baits

  Access status is simply unknown for this water. 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. Check whether a boat is allowed before you tow one. Rules for boats are stricter than rules for the bank in many places. Failing this one, try Washbowl, 0.2 miles away. For Big Shallow in particular, ask before you travel.