Cobbs Hill Reservoir near Brighton: Fishing Spots, Seasons and Access

• Overview

  Cobbs Hill Reservoir belongs to Monroe County, New York. The ground round it is pine and birch. At 18 acres it is the sort of place you fish for an evening rather than a day. The nearest town is Brighton, 1.2 miles away. Beyond it, Rochester at 2.5 miles and Pittsford at 4.4 miles. The nearest edge is a long way off, so local rules apply throughout.

• Where to Fish on Cobbs Hill Reservoir

  Depth is unmeasured here, so let the shoreline guide you. Look for where the old bank line still shows under the surface. Rip-rap along the wall holds fish that the open bank never does. Survey and observation records for Monroe County include alewife, rainbow smelt, johnny darter, lake trout and common carp. Those are county-wide records, so not every one of them will be in this water. Take Cobbs Hill Reservoir a stretch at a time.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Long-term averages put July at about 72°F and January near 24°F. Winter shuts things down for a spell, then spring reopens them fast. Winter locks it down, and late March brings it back. Open water usually runs from late March until about late December. June through September is the settled part of the year, with the shoulders busier for fish. Keep it in mind when planning a trip to Cobbs Hill Reservoir.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing on record says whether the bank is open or closed. There is somewhere to leave the car, 120 yards off. Trout here take small spinners, spoons and, where fly water allows, a nymph or dry. Season dates differ by species, so read the table. Where the way in crosses private ground, ask first. Should this one be busy, Lake Riley is 0.3 miles off. Rules at Cobbs Hill Reservoir are worth checking on the day.