Colgate Lake, New York: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  Set in Greene County, New York, this is Colgate Lake. The bank gives way to pine and birch. With some 29 acres of water, there is room for a boat but no need of one. Compared with other New York water on our list, it sits high. Nearest place of any size is Palenville, 6.6 miles away. The big place round here is Albany, 34 miles distant. It lies deep inside the county rather than near an edge.

• Where to Fish on Colgate Lake

  Depth is not on record here, so the bank has to tell you. Points where the flooded channel swings in are the reliable ones. A reservoir gives you a hard edge, a shelf, and not much else. Public occurrence data for Greene County names common carp, rudd, goldfish and brown trout. County records show what lives in the area; the local agency holds the water-by-water list. The shape of Colgate Lake rewards a slow walk along one bank.

• Seasonal Patterns

  July is the warm end of the year here, averaging about 65°F, while January sits near 19°F. Seasons are distinct, and each one fishes differently. Ice-out usually falls in mid April, and the weeks after it fish hardest. Break-up sits around mid April on average, with the water closing again about early December. Spring is short and heavy here; autumn is longer and steadier. The season on Colgate Lake follows the weather closely.

• Tackle & Baits

  We have no record of the rules that apply on this bank. There is recorded parking some half a mile off. Colgate Lake Wild Forest covers ground next to the water; its rules will apply on that side. Largemouth respond to soft plastics tight to cover; go weedless where the growth is heavy. Local rules can differ across the county line, so check where you stand. Signs go up and come down, so check on the day. Onteora Pond, 2.1 miles away, makes the obvious fallback. Confirm before you fish Colgate Lake.