Catlin Lake Fishing Guide, Essex County, New York

• Overview

  Catlin Lake is one of the Essex County waters in New York. Land around it is lake country bush. It measures some 651 acres, and wind has room to build across it. Size puts it in the front rank of our Essex County list. Start from Tupper Lake, 17 miles down the road. The big place round here is Albany, 98 miles distant. It sits well inside the county, so one set of rules covers it.

• Where to Fish on Catlin Lake

  Nothing in our records gives a depth for this one. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. Bays and points beat straight shoreline every time on water like this. Species logged across Essex County include brown trout, brook trout and white sucker. What holds for the county may not hold for this water. Treat Catlin Lake as a water to read rather than to cover.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Seasonal averages run from 14°F in January up to 64°F in July. Winter shuts things down for a spell, then spring reopens them fast. Winter fishing happens on the ice here, with open water back around mid April. On the long-run averages the water opens up around mid April and starts locking again about early December. Early summer and early autumn carry the open-water season. Keep it in mind when planning a trip to Catlin Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Public sources are silent on who controls the bank. No made access appears within a short radius, so plan to park on a verge and walk. Largemouth respond to soft plastics tight to cover; go weedless where the growth is heavy. Parking is often the real limit rather than the bank itself. Access can change hands, so last year's answer may not hold. Long Pond at 1.7 miles is the sensible second choice. Check the position at Catlin Lake before loading the car.